ORIGIN OF SCARLET FEVER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2221, 2 October 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

ORIGIN OF SCARLET FEVER.

\ ri:m vnicvßLK discovety— or, at all events, a mo'-t valuable and suggestive hint pointing towards a new discovery — is chronicled by the medical officer of the Loc.il Government Board in a recently issued repot t (says the Scotsman). If the investigators are upon the light track, we have a totally new and unexpected source indicated for one, of the most deadly of juvenile maladies — the scarlet lever. The discovery is one, too, which furnishes some reason for the belief that it will lead to the extinction or, at least, the great restriction of the disease. It has long been known that scarlet fever often follows the milk supply. But there was nothing in th • to suggest that the milk itself was in any diieet way chargeable with the production of the fever. If any one in the most remote degree concerned in tending the cows or distributing the milk had suffered from the fever, or had been in contact with those who had suffered from it, th* 1 milk would, of course, form a most ettioieut vehicle for diffusing the disease. This apparently explained the facts sufficiently. It appears, however, that the milk is more directly concerned than was supposed. The facts upon which this conclusion is based are these : — Numerous cases of scarlet fever m London were last December traced to a common source of milk supply. The dairy pioved to have been admit ably managed, and it was shown that no iudix idu.ils concerned in it had been directly connected with any case of scarlet fever. This atoused a suspicion that the cause was intimately connected with the milk itself. A series of investigations were carried on, the result of which was to show that certain cows had been suffering from an eruptive disease of the udder. Researches made by Dr. Klein show that this disease was easily transmitted from cow to cow, and that when calves were inoculated with it they suffered with the same disease. But when the matter obtained from the sore udders was cultivated in decoctions, animals inoculated with it Buttered from a much altered and agravated disease, not distinguishable, in fact, from scarlet fever. It need hardly be said that the matter will not rest where it is. Further experiments will be carried on, and those who are prosecuting them believe that they have got to the f on.* cl onyo of this devastating disease, and that the discovery of the cause will be nearly tantamount to a discovery of the remedy.

When* is a lady like a trout?— When she takes a fly that brings her to the bank. Dikciplink. — A correspondent of an American pappr tells an anecdote illustrating General Hancock's love of dignity and discipline. "He was in command of the train which brought General Grant's remains from Mount Gilead to Now York. General Hancock and his staff were in the coach next to the last. In the rear car was a party of Pennsylvania Militia officer*, who were popping an occasional bottle qf champagne and smoking quite sociably. (Jeneral Hancock saw from his cat what was going on m the rear. It did not comport with his ideas of the propiiwties of so solemn an occasion ; and, calling the conductor, he said, ' Will you please present my compliments to those gentlemen, with the request that they cease .smoking?' Iv a few moments the conductor returned with the announcement that the conwsal officers returned their compliments W ith n peiemptorv refusal to relinquish their cigars. ' Where is the next switch V asked Hancock. 'About fi\e miles below,' re plied the conductor. ♦ When you reach it if the smoking in tliat car has not ceased, switch it on to ;i side-track and le.weit. You may tell the gentlemen what I have said.' In two minutes there was not a cigar to bo seen in the last coach. Its occupants knew that Hancock meant just what he said.''