Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-03-31
Measles.

This disease begins with the usual
signs of having taken cold. II measles
prevail in any place and a child mani
tests symptoms OF cold in the head, it
should be kept!in The house, and warm.
The diet should be light and cooling.
Usually measles is a mild disease, but
in its mildest form, Encouragement
may convert it into dangerous one.
Sudden changes IN the symptoms may
occur. Improper exposure to chilling
may do it. An infected child may re-
main as we'll as usual for three days
after exposure to the effluvia or germs
Of this malady. Then he may be less
active and even dull. His appetite
may fail and be may lose all interest in
his plays. His sleep aud mind may be
disturbed. HIS cough may be frequent.
An eruption may appear upon the
throat and so his voice may become
hoarse. On the third day he may
sneeze and have running from his eyes
and nose. His eyes lnfame and his
eyelids swell. He may have chills and
his skin may become hot and dry
Even at this early time he may have
pressure on the chest and respiration
may be hurried.
Place him 10 large and airy room
we'll ventilated, simply warm and tree
from currents Of cold air. The eyes
are so apt to be tender or inhamed that
the room should be darkened. Ex-
clude noise and mental Disturbances
During the continuance Of the fever,
simple feod as oat meal mush, and mild
mucilaginous drinks and barley water
are suitable. At the outset of the dis
ease warm blanket bath is useful. 1t
softens the skin, removes the heat, the
dryness and itching OF the skin, qulets
the nervous system aud gives the
patient great comfort. Often the only
treatment the child needs is the warm
blanket bath and warm lemonade from
time to time unless the rash has made
q full show upon the different parts Of
the body. Good nursing usually carries
children safely through this self-limite d
disease. Bad nursing, carelessness in
exposing them to cool air may induce
fatal results. Keep the skin clean and
soft. Keep the body warm. Avoid
herb teas, so disagreeable to children,
but give them warm lemonade for few
days until the rash is well developed
Avoid cathartics. but give mild aperients
or enemas once a day ifneed. Diar-
rhea may occur on the first day Of the
eruption, but is easily checked.
The tongue has moist coat ; on the
third or fourth day the rash will appear.
The usual preliminary symptoms may
be slightly milder, but sometimes are
more severe. The eruption will be first
seen about the head and face and up
per back, and then successfully on the
body, arms and legs. The rash may
first appear as small red spots, usually
at first distinct from each other, but
soon coalescing and forming patches Of
an irregular semi-lunar form, having
dull red hue and somewhat elevated
above the surface Of the skin, produc-
ing feeling Of hardness and roughness
Between these elevated and cOlored
points, the skin retains its natural color.
If we look we may see on the fourth
day or caller, the eruption upon the
inner month and throat and may OBJ
serve the hoarseness to increase. On
the fifth day the rash usually covers the
entire body excepting the legs and feet.
The face is hyid and so much swollen,
especially the eyelids that they are
nearly or quite closed.
On the sixth day, the rash covers the
lower limbs, but begins to fade on the
the face. On the seventh, it begins to
fade on the body. On the eighth. it is
fading from all parts, On the ninth, it
it hardly perceptible, and on the tenth
from the outset 1t has wholly disappear
cd. The eruption, then, continues six
days from its first show. As the fading
proceeds, the rash falls OF in the form
of minute branny scales and leaves
slight discoloring Of the skin and some
itching. This picture Of the disease is
the ordinary one. Deviation, or varia-
tons now and then appear.