THE CONTROL OF SCARLET FEVER

Year Published: 1934

Description: The University of Chicago produced this silent film titled “Scarlet Fever; Diagnosis & Treatment”. The film was provided under a grant by Lederle Laboratories. The series was broken into three films relaying the process of diagnosis and treatment. Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that swept through the 1820's-1850's, into the 1920's and remaining prominent into the 1950's. Symptoms include sore throat, characteristic flushed face, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and a red rash. The film shows a series of case studies and a detailed breakdown of the injection of anti-toxins. Intricate charts show how antitoxin therapy aides in recovery. The first section details diagnosis and specific treatment (:31) showing the case study of an adolescent boy. A throat swab test is conducted (:57). Circumorally pallor; a white area around the mouth is noted (1:12). The child's buttocks (1:24), lymph nodes (2:06) and tonsils are checked (2:22). Nostrils receive a poke (2:28). The boy sticks out his strawberry tongue (2:50). A case study on measles (3:41) show spots sprinkled over a boys abdomen (3:52). A doctor checks his lymph nodes (4:08). The patient moves a tongue over chapped lips (4:49). Koplik’s spots are diagnosed using blanching tests (5:07). How to read the test is detailed (5:21). An exposed female abdomen (5:29) is used for demonstration. An intradermal test is conducted (5:32). The inner elbow is wiped clear for administration (5:42). The antitoxin is administered after a 20 minute wait period (6:15). Directions show the preparation of the needle (6:29) and how to administer the antitoxin (7:31) intramuscularly. A young leg is stuck with the needle (7:54). A nose culture sample reveals hemolytic streptococci (8:31). Close shots of the slide follow (8:38). Clinical responses found the rash to fade approximately 18 hours after administration (8:50). A child's abdomen is checked (9:03). A rash appears eight hours later (9:16). Another note explains cases with sinus infections or Scarlet fever might require more than one dose (9:23) (important to control toxemia). Convalescent serum is noted not to be enough for the prevention or treatment of Scarlet fever (9:47). Amount of dosage is noted (9:47). The convalescent serum is compared to the therapeutic dose of Scarlet fever (10:06). Normal temperature is regained (10:43). Charts detail temperature curve without treatment of Scarlet fever (10:50). Another chart details the results from administration of improperly prepared serum (11:16). Temperature curves of Scarlet fever follow after treatment (11:43). The patient; in this case, was administered to the hospital on the 6th day (11:54). The site where paracentesis sulfates started to appear are noted (12:11) as well as first and second mastoiditis (12:21). Another chart details the curve of Scarlet fever antitoxin (12:46). A young child's feet are checked (13:38). A chart presents of the percentage of instances of complications with and without antitoxins (14:16). A prophylactic dose (16:43) of the antitoxin is noted to be able to protect those in contact with the infected. Immunization is discussed (16:58). A final chart details the need for following prophylactic antitoxins by active immunizations. A note explains the conditions of the case used for the study (17:23).

Complete Record: The University of Chicago produced this silent film titled “Scarlet Fever; Diagnosis & Treatment”. The film was provided under a grant by Lederle Laboratories. The series was broken into three films relaying the process of diagnosis and treatment. Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that swept through the 1820's-1850's, into the 1920's and remaining prominent into the 1950's. Symptoms include sore throat, characteristic flushed face, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and a red rash. The film shows a series of case studies and a detailed breakdown of the injection of anti-toxins. Intricate charts show how antitoxin therapy aides in recovery. The first section details diagnosis and specific treatment (:31) showing the case study of an adolescent boy. A throat swab test is conducted (:57). Circumorally pallor; a white area around the mouth is noted (1:12). The child's buttocks (1:24), lymph nodes (2:06) and tonsils are checked (2:22). Nostrils receive a poke (2:28). The boy sticks out his strawberry tongue (2:50). A case study on measles (3:41) show spots sprinkled over a boys abdomen (3:52). A doctor checks his lymph nodes (4:08). The patient moves a tongue over chapped lips (4:49). Koplik’s spots are diagnosed using blanching tests (5:07). How to read the test is detailed (5:21). An exposed female abdomen (5:29) is used for demonstration. An intradermal test is conducted (5:32). The inner elbow is wiped clear for administration (5:42). The antitoxin is administered after a 20 minute wait period (6:15). Directions show the preparation of the needle (6:29) and how to administer the antitoxin (7:31) intramuscularly. A young leg is stuck with the needle (7:54). A nose culture sample reveals hemolytic streptococci (8:31). Close shots of the slide follow (8:38). Clinical responses found the rash to fade approximately 18 hours after administration (8:50). A child's abdomen is checked (9:03). A rash appears eight hours later (9:16). Another note explains cases with sinus infections or Scarlet fever might require more than one dose (9:23) (important to control toxemia). Convalescent serum is noted not to be enough for the prevention or treatment of Scarlet fever (9:47). Amount of dosage is noted (9:47). The convalescent serum is compared to the therapeutic dose of Scarlet fever (10:06). Normal temperature is regained (10:43). Charts detail temperature curve without treatment of Scarlet fever (10:50). Another chart details the results from administration of improperly prepared serum (11:16). Temperature curves of Scarlet fever follow after treatment (11:43). The patient; in this case, was administered to the hospital on the 6th day (11:54). The site where paracentesis sulfates started to appear are noted (12:11) as well as first and second mastoiditis (12:21). Another chart details the curve of Scarlet fever antitoxin (12:46). A young child's feet are checked (13:38). A chart presents of the percentage of instances of complications with and without antitoxins (14:16). A prophylactic dose (16:43) of the antitoxin is noted to be able to protect those in contact with the infected. Immunization is discussed (16:58). A final chart details the need for following prophylactic antitoxins by active immunizations. A note explains the conditions of the case used for the study (17:23).