Symptoms

Erysipelas is an infectious disease caused by a specific micrococcus, and characterised by high fever and intense local inflammation of the skin and contiguous mucous membrane. There is usually more or less prostration and enfeeblement of the heart and circulation.

Dietetic Treatment

The indications for dietetic treatment are to support the strength by stimulants and nutritious foods, which must be adapted for easy digestion. When the temperature is high, and nausea and vomiting exist, nourishment should be taken in small quantities - an ounce or two at a time every hour. In ordinary cases, pancreatinised milk, beef peptonoids or albumoses and beef juice, eggnog, milk punch, and farinaceous gruels are recommended. Alcohol is needed and it is well tolerated, for it seems to be consumed in the system without intoxicating effects. From eighteen to twenty ounces of brandy or whisky may be given within twenty-four hours. In extreme cases an ounce an hour may be taken, or if allowance is made for sleep the individual doses may be increased. The liquor should be diluted with plain water, or with Vichy or carbonic water, or soda water. Aged or debilitated persons and young children especially need vigorous alcoholic stimulation. After the local inflammation subsides the period of convalescence requires a very nutritious diet, and fluids may gradually be replaced by beef, soft-cooked eggs, toast, bread and butter, and light farinaceous foods with cream.

If the disease invades the pharynx, an exclusive milk diet is necessary, and alcoholic stimulants as well as medicines, except those designed for local treatment, should be given per rectum to avoid increasing the local irritation.

Heuter favours the drinking of large quantities of hot tea to induce perspiration, but it is doubtful whether this in any way affects the cutaneous lesion.