Note 34 — TREATMENT OF SCARLET-FEVER.

"And something may be done by way of gargles, to correct the state of the throat, and to prevent the distressing and perilous consequences, which would otherwise be likely to flow from it. A weak solution of the chloride of soda may be employed for this purpose; and if the disease occur in a child that is not able to gargle, this solution may be injected into the nostrils and against the fauces, by means of a syringe or elastic bottle. The effect of this application is sometimes most encouraging. A quantity of offensive sloughy matter is brought away; the acid discharge is rendered harmless; the running from the nose and diarrhœa cease, &c."

"From several distinct and highly respectable sources, chlorine itself has been strongly pressed upon my notice, as a most valuable remedy in the severest forms of scarlet-fever." Watson, Principles and Practice of Physic.

Dr. Watson also recommends a drink, prepared of a drachm of chlorate of potass to a pint of water, and has found great improvement from the use of a pint to a pint and a half of this solution daily.

Brown gives his scarlet-patients the pure liquor calcii chloridi, or the aqua oxymuriatica in quantities of one teaspoonful every two or three hours and considers this remedy as almost a specific. A solution of the same remedy may be used as a gargle, and also as a wash; and if used internally, I would rather recommend it in preference to the pure liquor, in the hands of persons not used to medical practice. In putrid cases, also the packing sheet may be dipped in a thin solution of chloride.—From an aversion to drugs—very natural in a hydriatic physician—I have never tried medicated sheets, getting along very nicely without them, but I think they must have sufficient virtue to recommend themselves to physicians and parents, who would like to try them.