Infectious Diseases
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ACUTE TONSILITIS. (Follicular Inflammation of the Tonsils). Causes
Authors regard this as an infectious disease. It is met with more frequently in the young; infants may take it. Some authors state it can be communicated either through the secretions or by direct contact, as in the act of kissing (Koplik). It is freq... After Vaccination
Let the vaccinated place alone. Do not scratch it or otherwise transfer the virus where it is not wanted. Protect it by a bandage, or cloth which has been boiled and ironed with a hot iron. Try to keep the pustule unbroken, as a protection against germs... ANTHRAX. (Charbon, Wool Sorters' Disease, Splenic Fever)
This is "an acute infectious disease of animals, transmitted to man by inoculation into the wounds, or by inhalation of, or swallowing the germs." Butchers, tanners and shepherds are most liable to it. The exciting cause is the bacillus anthracis (anth... ASIATIC CHOLERA
This is an acute infectious disease caused by a specific organism and characterized by profuse watery discharges from the bowels and great prostration. Causes. Some inherit a weakness, making them more susceptible than others to this disease. Other c... BERI-BERI
Beri-beri is a disease rarely occurring in the United States. It is usually found in the warmer climates and peculiar to certain regions such as India, and Japan. It is characterized by paralysis and fatal effusion, also neuritis, which is an inflamm... BIG-JAW OR LUMP-JAW. (Actinomycosis)
This is an infectious disease of cattle, less frequently of man, and it is caused by what is called the "ray fungus." This grows in the tissues and develops a mass with a secondary chronic inflammation. This disease is widespread among cattle, and al... By whom should one be Vaccinated
The operation of vaccination should be performed always by a competent and responsible physician. To try to vaccinate one's self or one's family is poor economy, for it often results not only in a waste of money and of time, but in a false and dangerous... CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS
This is an acute infectious disease. It comes in epidemics, when there are many cases, or appears here and there as a separate case (sporadic). It is caused by a specific organism (germ) and the disease attacks the membranes of the brain and spinal cord... CERVICAL, TUBERCULOSIS (Scrofula)
This is common in children that are not well nourished, living in badly ventilated and crowded houses, and in the negroes. Chronic catarrh of the nose and throat and tonsilitis predispose to it. The glands under the lower jaw are usually the first invo... CHICKEN POX (Varicella)
This is an acute infectious disease, characterized by a peculiar eruption. Children are the ones usually attacked. It generally occurs before the tenth year. It is transmitted through the atmosphere. The period of coming on is usually fourteen days, bu... Chorea
Follows scarlet fever also, especially in girls from twelve to fifteen years. Diagnosis. In most cases it is easy to distinguish from other diseases. Dermatitis, inflammation of the skin ("Itis" always means inflammation). In dermatitis the throat sy... Common appearances after Vaccination
For a day or two nothing unusual should appear. A few days after that, if it succeeds regularly, the skin will become red, then a pimple will form, and on the pimple a little vesicle or blister which may be plainly seen on the fifth or sixth day. On th... Corn Sweat
The corn sweat can be used. Put from ten to twenty-five ears of corn in a boiler, boil thoroughly until the boiled corn smell appears, then put the corn ears into five packs, putting from two to five ears in a pack, according to the age of the patient. ... Cough in Measles
It is likely to be severe, straining and barking and hard to relieve. If it is too severe you can give, for a child one year old: Acetanelid 1/2 dram Dover's Powder 1/2 dram Mix and make into thirty powders. Give one-half powder... DENGUE. Break-bone Fever, Dandy Fever
This is an acute infectious disease characterized by pains in the joints and muscles, fever, an initial reddish swollen eruption and a terminal eruption of variable type. It occurs in the tropical regions and the warmer portions of the temperate zone. ... Diet in Infectious Diseases
Foods that can be used: Milk, milk-water, milk and lime-water, Mellin's food, malted milk, imperial granum, albumin water, rice water, oatmeal water, barley water, egg (white part), and barley water, arrowroot water, whey, whey and cream mixture, cream ... DIPHTHERIA
Diphtheria is an acute disease and always infectious. There is a peculiar membrane which forms on the tonsils, uvula, soft palate and throat and sometimes in the larynx and nose. It may form in other places such as in the vagina, bowels, on wounds or so... DYSENTERY
A group of inflammatory intestinal affections, either acute or chronic, and of infectious origin, characterized by frequent painful passages, (containing mucus and blood) or by loose movements. Acute Catarrhal Dysentery. This is the most common form i... ERYSIPELAS
Erysipelas is an infectious disease, and it is usually caused by a germ which we call "streptococcus pyogenes." The disease shows itself by its local symptoms, pain, swelling, etc., and also by general or constitutional symptoms such as fever, headache,... From Measles
By the rapid onset, absence of cold symptoms of the nose, eyes, and bronchial tubes, blotchy eruptions that occur in measles. There is no strawberry tongue in measles and no coughing at beginning. Recovery. The prognosis is favorable in uncomplicated ... GERMAN MEASLES
This is an acute self-limited disease and contagious. It has a mild fever, watery eyes, cough, sore throat and enlargement of the glands of the neck, not seen in the common measles. It has an eruption that may come the first day to the fourth. Incuba... GLANDERS
This is an acute disease of the horse and occasionally of man. It is called "glanders" when the affection appears in the nostrils, and is called "farcy" when in the skin. Causes. The bacilli is usually introduced from infected horses through the nose... GONORRHEA (Urethritis)
This can be called an infectious inflammation of the urethra, caused by the gonococcus, a microbe or germ, causing a specific inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra or vagina. Incubation. The time that elapses between the exposure and deve... GONORRHEAL ARTHITIS. (Gonorrheal Rheumatism)
This is more common in men than women. Occurring during, and at the end of or after inflammation of the urethra. It usually involves many joints, such as the temporal, maxillary and collar bone. The effusion in the joints is usually serious. Symptoms... HIP JOINT DISEASE. (Morbus Coxarius)
This is more common in children than in adults. Cause. It is usually tubercular. Symptoms. First stage. It may be overlooked; slight lameness, a little stiffness is noticed at times. The muscles begin to dwindle. Second stage. Child limps very p... HYDROPHOBIA
Rabies and hydrophobia are two different terms, meaning the same disease, the former meaning to rage or become mad. This term applies more especially to the disease as it exists in the maniacal form in the lower animals, while hydrophobia comes from the... INFECTION AND CONTAGION
These words are often used in such a way that a wrong impression is made. A disease may be infectious but not contagious. Malaria is an instance. Infection means an ability to enter the body from any source, wind, water, food or other persons and produc... INFLUENZA (La Grippe)
La Grippe is an acute infectious disease caused by a germ. It may be epidemic, attacking a large number of persons at one time, or it may continue in the same region for some time and is then called endemic. It is caused by a germ, discovered by a man n... INTERMITTENT MALARIAL FEVER
The symptoms of all these are the same, except that in tertian fever, the paroxysms occur every third day; in quartan they occur every fourth day. Quotidian occurs daily. The incubation time is unknown. It consists usually of three stages, cold, ho... KNEE JOINT DISEASE. (White Swelling)
This is simply a tuberculous knee. Treatment. Rest. Stop motion of the joint by some form of splint or plaster of Paris cast. Get a good physician at the beginning in these cases and you will save lots of after worry and blame for yourself. It does n... LARYNGEAL DIPHTHERIA, Formerly Called Membranous Croup
Diphtheria in the larynx may occur alone or with the pharyngeal kind, and was formerly called "Membranous Croup." After several days of hoarseness and coughing the breathing suddenly becomes hard, generally at night, and it is at first in paroxysms, bu... LEPRA ANAESTHETICA. (Nerve Leprosy)
Before the development of this form of leprosy there may be one or two years of ill-health. Usually the skin at this time becomes in localized patches over-sensitive, sometimes there is over-sensitiveness and special nerves, because of their enlargeme... LEPRA MACULOSA
This form is more common in tropical countries and is distinguished chiefly by its macular (spotty) lesions. In size they vary from a small coin to areas as large as a platter. They are diffused or circumscribed, roundish or shaped irregularly, yellowis... LEPRA TUBEROSA. (Tuberculated, Nodulated or Tegumentary (skin) Leprosy)
This nodular type comprises from ten to fifty per cent of cases. After the occurring of the symptoms just mentioned spotted lesions appear, which are bean to tomato in size, reddish brown or bronze-hued patches, roundish, oval or irregular in contour,... LEPROSY. Definition
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, caused by what is called the "Bacillus Leprae," and is characterized by the presence of tubercular nodules in the skin and mucous membranes (tubercular leprosy), or by changes in the nerves (anaesthetic leprosy).... Lives saved from smallpox in Michigan
Since the State Board of Health was established, many thousands of people in Michigan have been vaccinated because of its recommendations; and the statistics of deaths, published by the Secretary of State, show that at the close of the year 1906, the de... LOCKJAW. (Tetanus)
Tetanus or lockjaw, as it is commonly called, is an infectious disease and is characterized by painful and violent contractions of the voluntary muscles; it may be of the jaw alone or of a considerable part of the body. Causes. The intelligence and m... Make a record of your Vaccination
Do not fail to procure and preserve the certificate mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and also to make a personal record of the facts with regard to any vaccination of yourself or in your family. From it you may sometime learn that it is ten years s... MALARIA FEVER
Malarial fever is a group of diseases characterized by intermittent, quotidian (daily), tertian (every other day) or quartan (every fourth day) fever or remittent fever; there are also several pernicious types of this disease and chronic malarial condit... MALIGNANT ANTHRAX (swelling)
In this lesion is a pustule, with very marked swelling. It most frequently occurs on the eyelid and face and the swelling may terminate in fatal gangrene. 2. Internal anthrax. (a) Internal anthrax is caused by the introduction of the bacteria into th... MALTA FEVER
This occurs in the Mediterranean countries, India, China, the Philippines and Porto Rico. The fever is irregular or marked by intervals of "no fever" for two or more days with febrile relapses lasting one to three weeks. Constipation, anemia (scarcity o... MEASLES
Measles is an acute infectious disease, distinguished by a characteristic eruption on the mucous membranes and skin. It is very contagious and spreads through the atmosphere. Almost everyone is susceptible to measles and suffers at least one attack. The... MENINGITIS
This is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain alone, and generally commences with fever and severe headaches, with avoidance of light and noise as these are painful. In some cases we have delirium, stupor and coma. Treatment. Treatment ... MENINGITIS. Tubercular, (Basilar Meningitis)
This affection which is also known as acute hydrocephalus (meaning water on the brain), is essentially an acute tuberculosis in which the membranes of the brain, sometimes of the cord bear the brunt of the attack. It is more common in children than in ... MUMPS (Parotitis)
This is an acute infectious disease of one or both of the parotid glands, located at the angle of the jaw, and extending up to the ear, and, also, to other salivary glands. It appears only once. One attack gives immunity. It may come at any age; but app... PERNICIOUS MALARIAL FEVER
This is a very dangerous disease. The chief forms are the comatose, algid and hemorrhagic. (a) Comatose form is characterized by delirium or sudden coma (deep sleep) with light temperature. (b) The algid or asthenic form begins with vomiting and gr... PHARYNGEAL DIPHTHERIA
In typical cases this begins with slight difficulty in swallowing, and reddened throat (pharynx), then there is a general congestion of these parts, and membrane is seen on the tonsils. It is grayish white, then dull or yellowish; adherent and when remo... PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Whooping-Cough
The patient should be isolated and sleep in a large, well ventilated room. In spring and summer weather, the child is better in the open air all day. In the winter the child should be warmly clothed. Pine wood and a fairly high altitude are probably th... PLAGUE (BUBONIC PLAGUE)
Plague is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation and suppuration of the lymph nodes and cutaneous (skin) hemorrhages. It has long been known as the Plague or "Black Death," on account of its "flea-bite looking eruptions." This disease is be... PNEUMONIA (Lobar) Lung Fever
Inflammation of the lungs. This is an acute infectious disease characterized by an exudative inflammation of one or more lobes of the lungs, with constitutional symptoms due to the absorption of toxins (poison), the fever terminating by crisis (suddenly... Pneumonic Plague
The symptoms are those of a severe "lobular" pneumonia, with bloody sputum containing many bacilli. It is usually rapidly fatal. Death rate may reach ninety per cent. Treatment. Prevention. Prolonged isolation, disinfection of the discharges, cremati... PYEMIA
This means the presence in the blood of bacteria with resultant foci (places) of suppuration. Symptoms. They are local at first where the lesion is. The invasion of the general infection is marked by a severe chill, then high fever and sweating, repe... QUINSY. (Suppurative Tonsilitis)
In from two to four days the enlarged gland becomes softer and finally may break, sometimes in the pharynx; the breaking gives the patient great relief. Suffocation has sometimes followed the rupture of a large abscess and the entrance of the pus into ... REMITTENT OR CONTINUOUS MALARIAL FEVER (Aestivo-Autumnal Fever)
This form occurs in the temperate zone regions, especially in the summer and autumn. The symptoms vary greatly. The fever may be irregularly intermittent, but at longer intervals than the Tertian variety. The cold stage is often absent, and in the hot ... SCARLET FEVER. Definition
Scarlet fever is an acute infectious disease, with a characteristic eruption. Modes of Conveying. The nearer a person is to a patient the more likely one is to take or convey the disease. Clothing, bedding, etc., may retain the poison for months. Sca... SEPTICEMIA
The presence of bacteria in the blood, introduced from a local lesion (wound, injury, etc.) or with no obvious local infection. Symptom. If there is a local infection, symptoms of this precede the septicemia. The invasion may be sudden or gradual, wit... Septicemic Plague
This is characterized by symptoms of severe general infection, with hemorrhages, rapid course, and death in three or four days, without the development of swelling of the lymph nodes. Cultures from the blood show bacteria. ... Smallpox entirely prevented by re-vaccination
In the Bavarian army re- vaccination has been compulsory since 1843. From that date till 1857, not even a single case of unmodified smallpox occurred, nor a single death from smallpox. During the year of duty, Dr. Marson, physician of the London Smallp... SMALLPOX or Variola
Smallpox is an acute infectious disease. It has a sudden onset with a severe period of invasion which is followed by a falling of the fever, and then the eruption comes out. This eruption begins as a pimple, then a watery pimple (vesicle) which runs int... TOXEMIA, SEPTICEMIA; PYEJMIA
Toxemia refers to the group of symptoms and lesions caused by the presence in the blood of toxins (poison) usually resulting from bacterial growths. Septicemia refers to the condition caused by the presence in the blood of bacteria (microbes) as well... TUBERCULOSIS. (CONSUMPTION)
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus, tuberculosis, and characterized by the formation of nodules or diffuse masses of new tissue. Man, fowls and cows are chiefly affected. Indians, negroes and Irish are very susceptible. The ... TYPHOID FEVER
Typhoid fever is an acute infectious disease caused by a (Bacillus) germ, named after the discoverer (Eberth). This germ enters into the system, as stated below, locates itself in different organs, especially in the small intestine. It does its worst wo... TYPHUS FEVER, (Filth Disease)
Typhus fever is an acute, infectious disease, characterized by a sudden onset, marked nervous symptoms, and spotted rash and fever ending quickly after two weeks. Also called jail, camp, hospital, or ship fever. Filth has a great deal to do with its pr... Vaccination after exposure to Smallpox
Vaccination as late as the second day after known exposure to smallpox is believed to have prevented the smallpox; vaccination the third day after exposure has rendered the disease much milder than usual, and in a case in Iowa, vaccination on the seven... VACCINATION, Symptoms
At first a slight irritation at the place of vaccination. The eruption appears on the third or fourth day as a reddish pimple surrounded by a reddened surface. On the fifth or sixth day this pimple becomes a vesicle with a depressed center and filled wi... What to do during and after Vaccination
Do nothing to irritate the eruption, do not pull the scab off, when it drops off throw it in the fire. When the eruption is at its height show it to the doctor who performed the vaccination. If it is satisfactory, ask him for a certificate stating when... When should a person be Vaccinated
The sooner the better as a rule, and especially whenever there is much liability of exposure to smallpox. Children should be vaccinated before they are four months old; those who have never been vaccinated, should, except teething children, be vaccinat... Where should Vaccination be Performed
In a room or place free from persons suffering from disease, and from dust which may convey to the scratched surface germs of any communicable disease; certainly not in or near a room where there is erysipelas or consumption, nor in the presence of one... Who should be Vaccinated
Everybody, old and young, for his own interest, and that he may not become a breeding place for the distribution of smallpox to others, should seek that protection from smallpox which is afforded by vaccination alone. It is believed that all persons exc... Who should not be Vaccinated
Unless exposure to smallpox is believed to have taken place or likely to take place, teething children, pregnant women, persons suffering from measles, scarlet fever, erysipelas, or susceptible to and recently exposed to one of these diseases, persons ... WHOOPING-COUGH (Pertussis)
Whooping cough is an acute specific infectious, disease caused by a micro-organism. It is characterized in a majority of cases by a spasmodic cough, accompanied by a so-called whoop. It is not only infectious, but very contagious. It is propagated throu... Why Vaccinate
Because vaccination is a preventive of all forms of smallpox, and because by traveling, or by travelers, by articles received in the mail or from the stores or shops, or other various ways anyone at any time, may, without knowing it, be exposed to small... With what should one be Vaccinated
Because the potency of virus depends largely upon its being fresh, and it is so easy to obtain pure and fresh bovine virus, and because such bovine virus is efficient it is better in all cases to use only the pure and fresh bovine virus. ... YELLOW FEVER
Yellow fever is an acute infectious disease characterized by jaundice, hemorrhages, albuminuria (albumin in the urine). Cause. It is common in the West Indies and epidemic in nearby countries. It is most common in crowded, dirty, poorly drained portio...