nly so long as peeling of the skin lasts. But it seems
probable that any catarrhal secretion from the nose, throat, or ear is
capable of communicating the germs from a patient to another person
for many days after other evidences of the disease are past. Scarlet
fever patients should always be isolated for as long a period as six
weeks--and better eight weeks--without regard to any shorter duration
of peeling, and if peeling continues longer, so should the isolation.

=Treatment.=--In case a physician is unobtainable the patient must be
put to bed in the most airy, sunshiny room, which should be heated to
70 deg. F., and from which all the unnecessary movables should be taken
out before the entrance of the patient. A flannel nightgown and light
bed clothing are desirable. The fever is best overcome by cold
sponging, which at the same time diminishes the nervous symptoms, such
as restlessness and delirium. The body is sponged--part at a
time--with water at the temperature of about 70 deg. F., after placing a
single thickness of old cotton or linen wet with ice or cold water
(better an ice cap) over the forehead. The part is thoroughly dried as
soon as sponged, and the process is repeated whenever the temperature
is over 103 deg. F. There need be no fear that the patient may catch cold
if only a portion of the body is exposed at any one time. If there is
any chilliness following sponging, a bag or bottle containing hot
water may be placed at the feet. It is well that a rubber bag
containing ice, or failing this a cold cloth, be kept continually on
the head while fever lasts. The throat should be sprayed hourly with a
solution of hydrogen peroxide (full strength) and the nose with the
same, diluted with an equal amount of water, three times a day. The
outside of the throat it is wise to surround with an ice bag, or
lacking this, a cold cloth frequently wet and covered with a piece of
oil silk (or rubber) and flannel.

The diet should consist of milk, broths, or thin gruels, and plenty of
water should be allowed. Sweet oil or carbolized vaseline should be
rubbed over the whole body night and morning during the entire
sickness and convalescence. The bowels must be kept regular by
injections or mild cathartics, and, after the fever subsides,
vegetables, fruit, cereals, and milk may be permitted, together with
meat or eggs once daily. It is imperative for the nurse and also the
mother to wear a gown and cap over the outside c