(Scarlata), either mild, or malignant with putrid sore throat, exhibits different forms of a disease which is propagated by a specific contagion, like small-pox or measles, and like them is believed by the best observers to attack a person only once during life; though the apparent exceptions to this remark are more numerous in scarlet fever than in the other two diseases above mentioned. It will be proper to notice separately, the mild and fatal scarlet fever; and to describe some cases, in which the symptoms are irregularly combined.

The milder form of scarlet fever is distinguished by the rash, with a moderate degree of fever, and with very little affection of the throat. The rash first appears in innumerable red points about the neck and face, and by the next day they are seen over the whole surface of the body. The skin is rough to the touch, and sometimes there are small vesicles. About the fourth day, the eruption is at its height, and on the fifth it begins to decline. The patient should be kept cool and quiet, should not be overloaded with bedclothes; his diet should be sparing, and cooling drinks and mild laxatives should be recommended.

In the severer forms of Scarletina the febrile symptoms at the commencement are more severe; there is a sensation of stiffness and pain on moving the neck, and it is also painful to swallow; the voice is thick, and the throat feels rough and strained. The heat of the surface rises in a most remarkable manner; not only to the sensations of the patient or observer does the heat seem greater, but the thermometer shows it to be 108° to 110°; that is more than ten degrees above the natural standard. There is sickness, headache, great restlessness, and delirium; the pulse is frequent, but feeble, and there is great languor and faintness. The tongue is of a bright red colour, especially at the sides and extremity, and the rising points are very conspicuous. This kind of scarlet fever is not unfrequently followed by great debility, or the occurrence of other diseases, as inflammation of the eyes, or dropsy, or an inflammatory state of the whole system, or water in the brain.

Treatment. It is in general proper to begin with giving an emetic, especially if we at all suspect the stomach to be loaded with undigested matter; and we are very soon after to exhibit laxative medicines, which are truly one of our most important remedies in this disease. The washing of the patient's body with cold water, is considered a good antidote to lessen the burning heat of the skin. The inflammatory state of the system which often follows scarlet fever, is not unfrequently accompanied with a swelling resembling dropical swelling; but we are not to regard this last as a sign of debility, or to be deterred from the use of active remedies.

In Malignant Scarlet Fever, with putrid sore throat, the putrescent symptoms are more rapid and severe, and the general system is much oppressed, the throat and neighbouring parts being affected with rapidly-spreading ulcerations. This form of scarlet fever begins like the preceding, but in a day or two shows symptoms of peculiar severity. The rash is usually faint, and the whole skin soon assumes a dark or livid red colour.

Treatment. Strong beef-tea should be given in as large quantities as possible, and wine and bark should be liberally administered; the throat must be injected with strong cleaning gargles.