[168 Mothers’ remedies]

Remains in the Room, how long?—­It may remain for months in a room, and extend over two years as recorded by Murchison.  We do not yet know how the poison obtains entrance to the body.  Hence, the need for thorough disinfection.

Age, Occurrence, Susceptibility.—­All children exposed to the disease do not contract the disease.  It is less contagious than measles.  A person who is exposed once, and does not take it, may take it at a future exposure.  It occurs at any age and in all countries.  It occurs oftener in autumn (September) and winter (February).  Isolated cases occur, and then it is called sporadic.  This disease attacks nursing children less frequently than older children.  It is not often seen during the first year of life.

How Often?—­As a rule, it attacks a person only once; yet there are recorded cases of well observed second and third attacks, but fortunately these are very rare.  I once attended a family where they had it and claimed to have had it before, but very lightly.

Incubation.—­The vast majority of cases develop within three to five days after exposure.  If eleven days elapse without the appearance of symptoms we may reasonably expect that the danger is past, at least in the great majority of cases exposed.

Contagiousness.—­There is danger of catching the disease during the stages of incubation, eruption and scaling.  It is most contagious in the last two stages.

Onset.—­Sometimes the onset is sudden; there may be a convulsion, preceded by a sharp rise in the temperature.  An examination in such cases may reveal a marked sore throat or a membranous deposit on the tonsils preceding the eruption, and nothing more.  A chill followed by fever and vomiting ushers in a large number of cases.  These may be mild or severe.  The severity of these symptoms usually indicates the gravity of the attack.

Rash.—­The rash or eruption appears from twelve to thirty-six hours after the onset, usually on the second day, and looks like a very severe heat rash, but is finer and thicker.  It consists of a very finely pointed rose-colored rash.  In mild cases it is hardly noticeable.  Usually it first appears on the upper part of the chest around the collar bones, spreads over the chest and around upon the back.  Also it is now seen on the neck, beneath the jaw, behind the ears and on the temples, thence spreads over the body.  There is a paleness about the mouth and wings of the nose, while the cheeks are flushed with a flame-like redness.  There is much itching if the rash is severe.  It attains the full development at the end of two or three days, and then gradually declines.  In some cases the rash is seen only twenty-four hours.

Fever.—­The fever rises rapidly in the first few hours to 104 or 105-8/10 degrees.  It remains high except in the morning, until the eruption reaches its full development and falls with the fading eruption, and in uncomplicated and typical cases, within six days becomes normal.