The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseasesStitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Science
The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseases
Stitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Tropical medicine
_The Lymphatic System._—It is the presence of the plague bubo
which differentiates bubonic plague. There is no relation between
the size of the bubo and the severity of the attack. Axillary
buboes are the most fatal. A characteristic of these buboes is
their extreme tenderness, the pain causing the patient to draw up
the legs or assume any attitude which will relieve tension upon the
bubo. The size is mainly due to the periglandular infiltration or
oedema, which causes the glands of a group to be matted together.
The elevation of a plague bubo is rather diffuse, not pointed as
with venereal buboes. Femoro-inguinal buboes are about 6 times as
frequent as cervico-maxillary ones. There may be lymphangitis as
well as lymphadenitis.
_Cutaneous System._—The skin over the buboes often tends to become
necrotic and slough off. This however may occur elsewhere and
such lesions are termed “carbuncles.” Capillary haemorrhages of
the skin may cause petechiae and when the area is large they have
been designated “tokens.” In about 5% of cases there is a small
vesicle or pustule at the site of the flea bite as an indication of
reaction. The contents teem with plague bacilli. It is often termed
the primary lesion.
_The Liver, Spleen and Alimentary Tract._—The spleen may show
enlargement and tenderness on deep pressure, as may also the liver,
these organs being markedly congested. The tongue at first is
coated, with clean tip and sides. Nausea and vomiting frequently
occur and, as a rule, there is constipation. Haemorrhages from the
bowel may occur.
DIAGNOSIS
=Clinical Diagnosis.=—It is well to remember that we have a sure and
simple means of diagnosis by bacteriological means so that in the
first cases during an epidemic we should rest the determination of
the case as one of plague solely upon such methods.
One should be suspicious of any case of fever of rapid onset
in which there is marked dulling of intellect and impairment
of speech, as of one intoxicated, together with evidences of
rapidly developing heart weakness. In septicaemic plague we
practically have no other symptoms to guide us—there is not the
exquisitely tender bubo of bubonic plague nor the abundant, watery,
sanguinolent sputum of pneumonic plague.
Typhus fever probably more nearly resembles plague at its onset than
any other disease. There is marked clouding of the consciousness and
intense prostration as with plague and the eruption does not appear
before about the fourth day.
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