The treatment of the exanthemata by so-called antiseptic inunction : with observations on the period of incubation and the duration of infectiveness in scarlet fever : a paper read before the Association on June 27, 1894 / by H.G. Armstrong.

  • Armstrong, Henry George.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of the exanthemata by so-called antiseptic inunction : with observations on the period of incubation and the duration of infectiveness in scarlet fever : a paper read before the Association on June 27, 1894 / by H.G. Armstrong. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    being accomplished pan passu with the treatment of the patient. I doubt not but that we all wish that we could, and more especially that we could see onr way to in any way modify the regulation of our code, that there must be a period of at least six weeks’ isolation after scarlet fever, a rule which is almost as irksome to the school authorities, including the medical officer, as it is to the patient. Although Mr. Curgenven’s paper is specially directed to the treatment of scarlet fever, he is careful to tell us at the outset of it that the treatment is applicable to all forms of infectious disease, and he makes special mention of diphtheria, measles, and chicken-pox. He complains of the treatment he has received at the hands of the profession, in that they have not more readily accepted his method. He reminded us of the words of Pasteur, and warned us not to allow ourselves to be taken possession of by a sneering and barren scepticism. I would remind Mr. Curgenven that equally reprehensible with a barren scepticism is an unreasoning credulity. He asked for a trial of his method. The trial has been given. We are here this afternoon to discuss the result. In accordance with the suggestion of the Council, I issued a circular letter to the members of the Association, asking for their experience. I also applied to the medical super- intendents of the different fever hospitals in the metropolis. The question I put was, Whether in your experience, anti- sceptic inunction in the treatment of the exanthemata is efficacious :—{a) As a prevention of infection, {h) As exerting any specific power over the disease in shortening its course and preventing complications. The result I have tabulated in the following digest of the replies received :—