Cause.—Not known.
Pathology.—The blood is dark and diffluent the result of the intense fever and rapid work of the poison. The liver is somewhat enlarged and softened, as are also the kidneys and spleen. There is an extravasation into the pericardium which gives it an ecchymotic appearance. There is also a slight engorgement and infiltration of the capillaries. The muscular tissues are of a dark red color. The skin shows a characteristic rash and ecchymotic spots are found on the more dependent parts of the body after death.
Treatment.—Slow arterial injection and drainage of blood. On account of rash, apply bichloride of mercury 1 : 500. In the presence of fermentation, give the abdomen a special treatment.
For transportation of bodies dead of this disease, govern yourself according to the provisions of the transportation rules.
Varicella.
—Synonym.—Chicken-pox.
Definition.—An acute, specific, and infectious disease, characterized by an eruption that rapidly passes through the stage of papule, vesicle, and pustule, and terminates by dessication.
Cause.—This is not known. All attempts to isolate the microorganisms or the contagium, whatever that may be, have failed.
Pathology.—The only pathological lesion is the eruption that appears on the skin.
Treatment.—These cases should be thoroughly washed with 1 : 500 solution of bichloride of mercury, after which a thorough arterial and cavity injection should be given, consuming for this purpose an amount of fluid equal to 10 per cent. of the body weight in the arteries. Blood should be drained from the veins, and an amount of fluid equal to what is lost to the blood bottle should be injected in addition to the 10 per cent. mentioned above. After the body is placed in the casket, close the slide which should be of glass, and do not reopen again. Public funerals of these cases should be discouraged, to avoid the indiscriminate transfer of the disease.