Test. Reaing. Focus 3

Read the texts. For questions 1–5, choose the correct answer, A, B, C or D.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

At the start of Dark Days, Hannah and the doctor were the only people who 

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

Meg....

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

When Beth’s illness got worse,

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

According to the text Scarlet Fever, people wrote about this illness because

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

Overall, we can understand that

Are the sentences True or False?

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

One of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature is scarlet fever. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

The disease is very contagious and so is easy to catch. It is spread by getting too close to the infected person, touching them or using things such as the same towels. The symptoms of the disease are a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour. A day or two after the onset of the fever, the patient then gets a rash which usually starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but children aged between two and eight years old are the most likely victims.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers get medical treatment promptly. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much improved situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

In Dark Days, Mr Laurence told the neighbours about Beth’s illness.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

One of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature is scarlet fever. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

The disease is very contagious and so is easy to catch. It is spread by getting too close to the infected person, touching them or using things such as the same towels. The symptoms of the disease are a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour. A day or two after the onset of the fever, the patient then gets a rash which usually starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but children aged between two and eight years old are the most likely victims.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers get medical treatment promptly. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much improved situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

Meg didn’t tell Mrs March that Beth was ill.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

One of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature is scarlet fever. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

The disease is very contagious and so is easy to catch. It is spread by getting too close to the infected person, touching them or using things such as the same towels. The symptoms of the disease are a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour. A day or two after the onset of the fever, the patient then gets a rash which usually starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but children aged between two and eight years old are the most likely victims.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers get medical treatment promptly. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much improved situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

One reason why the girls knew that Beth was very ill was because, she didn’t know who they were.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

According to the text Scarlet Fever, the clearest symptom that the illness is scarlet fever is the rash.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is one of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

It is easy to catch the disease as it is very contagious. People who catch the disease get a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour, which gives the clearest indication of the illness. A day or two after the fever starts, the patient gets a rash which starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but it is most common among children aged between two and eight years old.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers are able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much better situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

The writer of Scarlet Fever is describing the history and treatment of scarlet fever.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

One of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature is scarlet fever. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

The disease is very contagious and so is easy to catch. It is spread by getting too close to the infected person, touching them or using things such as the same towels. The symptoms of the disease are a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour. A day or two after the onset of the fever, the patient then gets a rash which usually starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but children aged between two and eight years old are the most likely victims.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers get medical treatment promptly. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much improved situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

Mr Laurence shared the responsibility for looking after Beth with Dr Bangs.

Dark Days

Beth had the fever, and was much sicker than anyone apart from Hannah and the doctor suspected. The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr Laurence, their neighbour, was not allowed to see her, so Hannah did everything in her own way. Dr Bangs did his best but he left a lot of responsibilities to Hannah, who made an excellent nurse. Meg stayed at home so that she wouldn’t infect the family she worked for. She kept busy by doing the housework. She felt very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. She didn’t think it was right but she had promised to do as Hannah said, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs March being told and worried just for such an unimportant matter.’

Jo looked after Beth day and night, not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and never complained about her pain as long as she could control herself. But there came a time when she almost lost her voice and tried to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left, a time when she did not know the familiar faces around her but called them the wrong names, and called out for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’.

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home.

Adapted from: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, Chapter 18: Dark Days

Scarlet Fever

One of the most common illnesses described in classic 18th and 19th century literature is scarlet fever. That is because, before the discovery of antibiotics, it was one of the major causes of death.

The disease is very contagious and so is easy to catch. It is spread by getting too close to the infected person, touching them or using things such as the same towels. The symptoms of the disease are a sore, swollen throat and a fever. The name scarlet fever comes from the fact that the patient’s tongue goes a bright red colour. A day or two after the onset of the fever, the patient then gets a rash which usually starts on the neck and face but soon spreads all over the body. Anyone can catch it but children aged between two and eight years old are the most likely victims.

In 1900, a cure for the disease was found and many more people were able to survive. It was still dangerous, though, and remained deadly until the invention of penicillin. Nowadays, it doesn’t usually cause any serious problems provided that sufferers get medical treatment promptly. Once this has been done, it means taking antibiotics for a few days and having a week off school. It’s a much improved situation for people who catch the disease – even if not for dramatic novelists!

The colour of the tongue is the best symptom of scarlet fever.