"RASHES" OF CHILDHOOD
The following table gives all the characteristics of the rashes that accompany the eruptive fevers. The term "incubation" means the period of time which elapses between the time when the child was exposed to, or caught the disease, and the time when the child is taken sick. It is sometimes interesting to know where a child could have caught a disease; so if we know the incubation period we can tell exactly where the child was on the day, or days, when it was infected.
| Name | Incubation | Day of Rash | Character of Rash | Rash fades | Duration |
| Measles | 10-14 days | 4th day | Small red like spots resembling flea bites, first appearing on face and forehead, forming blotches with semi-lunar borders. | On the 7th day of fever | 6-10 days |
| Scarlet | 1-6 days occasionally longer | 2d day of fever | Bright scarlet, rapidly diffused, first on chest and upper extremities | On 5th day of fever | 8-9 days |
| Chicken-pox | 4-12 days | 2d day | Small rose vesicles, which do not become pustular | Slight scab of short duration | 6-7 days |
| Typhoid Fever | 10-14 days | 7-14 days | Rose colored papules elevated, few in number, limited to trunk, disappear on pressure | From 21-35 days | |
| Smallpox (Variola) | 10-14 days | 3d day of fever | Small, round, red hard, papules forming vescicles then pustules, first appearing on face and wrists | 9th day scabs form and about 14th day fall off | 14-21 days |
Other Rashes.—There are so-called "stomach" rashes which are a source of much worry to mothers. These rashes may appear at any time and they may be limited to certain parts or may cover most of the body. They may be bright red, or they may be simply a general discoloration. They may appear as blotches or they may spread all over, like the rash of scarlet fever when at its height.
These rashes are of no importance, except that they indicate some derangement of the gastro-intestinal tract. As a rule they indicate indiscriminate feeding or overfeeding. Children who have had too much candy or pastries, or who have been fed things which are unsuited to their age, frequently develop rashes. Such children should have a thorough cleaning out; a dose of castor oil is probably the best cathartic to give them.
The mother may readily learn to know the difference between a rash that is unimportant and one that indicates one of the eruptive diseases, if she gives the matter a little careful thought. In the first place a child who is about to become the victim of one of the eruptive diseases will be sick, and will have a fever for two or three days before any rash appears; while on the other hand a child may go to bed in good health and may next morning be covered with a general rash, or with large blotches, without any fever and without any evidence of ill-health, except the skin condition. In the second place, if the mother gives the child a cathartic and restricts the diet for a day the rash will disappear, and good spirits and good health will be maintained; on the other hand, the giving of a cathartic to a child who is the victim of an eruptive disease will not tend to diminish the rash, but may accentuate it.
Pimples: Blackheads (Acne).—This eruption is situated chiefly on the face. It may appear, however, on the back, shoulders, and on the chest. It is mostly seen in young men and women about the age of puberty. It appears as conical elevations of the size of a pea; they are red and tender on pressure, and have a tendency to form matter, or pus, in their center. In from four to ten days the matter is discharged but the red spots continue for some time longer.
"Blackheads" appear as slightly elevated spots of a black color out of which a small worm-like substance may be pressed. Pimples and blackheads are due to inflammation of the glands of the skin. The mouths of these glands become filled with dust which acts as a plug causing the retention of the oily matter of the gland which becomes inflamed and hence the pimples and blackheads. Certain constitutional conditions favor the development of these skin blemishes. Constipation, indigestion, bad blood from unsanitary and bad hygienic surroundings, self-abuse and bad sexual habits favor the appearance of these skin affections.
Treatment.—The patient must avoid tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, veal, pork, fats, candy, pastries, cheese, and all edibles that are known to disagree with the digestion of the patient. Constipation must be avoided; if necessary, laxatives may be taken to keep the bowel open. The blackheads must be squeezed out with an instrument made for the purpose, not with the finger nails. Pimples must be opened with a sterile needle. The parts should be washed three times a day with hot water and green soap, and the following mixture applied at night:—
| Zinc Oxide | ounces | 1/4 |
| Powdered calamine | ounces | 1/4 |
| Lime water | ounce | 6 |