Chicken-pox is an infectious disease resembling small-pox, but apparently not allied to it. The symptoms appear about thirteen days after exposure to infection, and begin with mild fever, followed in a day by the appearance of vesicles or blisters. They are distinguished from small-pox vesicles by not having a hard circle of inflammation round them, or a depression in the centre of them. In the course of a day or two the vesicles become pustules, on the fourth day dry up, and by the sixth day complete scabs are formed.
When these fall off they may leave a few pits. Sometimes several crops of vesicles appear in succession, and then the disease lasts longer.
General Treatment.–This disease is usually of such a mild character that very little in the way of treatment is needed. If there is considerable fever the patient should be kept in bed and on fever diet until it subsides.
Medicines.–(Every two hours.)
Antimonium tart. 6.–
In the early stage.
Mercurius 6.–
When matter appears in the vesicles.