Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-03-25
CARE OF THE HEALTH.

AENT.|ucdSieS E0SemDieS q very Oao
cold, or influenza, with rash. The
child appears out of sorts, loses its ap-
petite and is disposed to keep quiet, or
even remain in bed. Then comes a
little shifting at the nose, running at the
eyes, and perhaps trifing sore throat.
These symptoms are very characteristic,
and any nurse who has had the ordinary
experience of the nursery world, on sec
ing these, suspects the onset of measles.
Any child presenting the appearances
we have mentioned should at once be
separated from its fellows until the dis
ease has either passed away or declared
itself. After the child has suffered for
two or three days generally three) from
this feverish cold, the rash appears, and
when the rash appears the other symp-
toms generally increase somewhat in
severity. The rash appears first on the
forehead, at the roots of the hair; next
it goes to the cheeks; then the chest and
surface of the stomach are attacked !;
and lastly the arms and legs. The rash
consists of rose-colored spots, varying
in tint very much from pale pink to a
decided red. The spots are of an aver
age size of q small split-pea, and may
be scattered in separate spots or so close
together as to make the skin look uni
formly red. They are sometimes col
lected together in crescentic patches,
but the crescents as rule are not easily
recognized. Each spot is said to last
about twenty-four hours and then fades,
and the eruption ought to have subsidized
entirely by the end of the fourth day af-
ter appearing. As the eruption sub
sides the other symptoms subside also,
the feverishness abates and at the end of
week, in favorable and average cases,
the child will have passed through the
measles with very little trouble to itself
or its friends.
We have described an average at
tack, but it not unfrequently happens
that the special symptoms which we
have enumerated are SO severe as to
give real annoyance, if not to cause
alarm. Thus the eyes are not unfre-
quently much Redeemed and infamed.
The child feels as if there were sand be-
meath the lids, it is unable to bear the
daylight, and the discharge from them
may be considerable in amount. The
discharge from the nose may be copious,
accompanied by incessant sneezing, and
at times bleeding from the nose may
take place. The sore throat, too, may
be troublesome, and the glands under
the jaw and around the neck may be-
come enlarged and tender. The rash,
as we have said, varies in amount, and
in rare cases the whole face becomes
red and swollen, and the poor child is
pitiable object, with its eyes swollen up
and intolerant of light, its throat too
sore to swallow, its nose tender and dis
charging, almost deaf from the spread
ing of the trouble from the throat and
face to the ears and harassed by inces-
SAINT coughing and sneezing.
The treatment of uncomplicated mea-
sizes is very simple matter. The disease
itself requires no treatment. There is
no antidOte for measles, and in spite of
drugs and medicines it will run its
course. The chief thing to be aimed at
is to take care that while the.child is
suffering from measles it takes no harm.
The patient should be kept in a warm,
well ventilated room and is probably
better in bed than running about. Hap
PLY, the patient often prefers being in
bed, so that there is no difficulty in
keeping him there. The light should
be partially excluded from the room if
there is much soreness of the eyes, and
these, az well as the nose and mouth,
should be kept scrupulously clean by
occasional washing with warm water.
If thirst is complained of toast and
water or lemonade, made without or
with very little sugar. may be given to
drink. The skin should be sponged |
once day with warm water to which a |
little vinegar may be added. This
should be done with the greatest care,
since any undue exposure to the risk of |
catching cold is above all things to be
avoided. The food should be bland, |
nourishing and simple, and should vary
according to the age of the patient.
Milk, barly-water, soft buildings of Gus
tard and farinaceous articles, beef tea,
mutton or chicken broth, bread-crumbs
and gravy, and for older children din
ner of boiled mutton or chicken may be
given. Food should be given at regular
intervals, and, as a rule, no departure
need be made from the regulated times
for meals. If drugs become necessary
they should be givenIonly by the sane
ton and under the supervision of a ply
stefan.
Not only is it necessary that the little
sufferer passes safely through the attack,
but it is of the greatest Importance also
TO guard against the invalid becoming
q center of infection to others. No
child who has had measles should be
allowed to mix with other children un-