THE RELATION OF RHEUMATIC FEVER TO POSTSCARLATINAL ARTHRITIS AND POSTSCARLATINAL HEART DISEASE—A FAMILIAL STUDY 1

Abstract

In rheumatic fever a high familial incidence usually prevails, and so particular attention has been paid to its incidence in post-scarlatinal arthritis families; it was found to be high in the latter group. This would support the view, already held by some, that it is unnecessary to postulate that most cases of post-scarlatinal non-suppurative arthritis and carditis are "specific" complications of scarlatina; under the present broad view of rheumatic fever, they may be more easily explained as manifestations of rheumatic fever "activated" by a Streptococcus hemolyticus infection.