The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-01-10
III AIIGNANT MEASLES MAKE
III MANY MOTHERS MOURN

| 1t her duty 10 see lual hOi
"caught" the measles and got over it
as a sort of 'immunization." Measles
Il infection was often actually sought
so that mothers could know that theii
| children were getting" it, could take
care of the sufferer, and, when Inc
child was cured, the parents could feel
that the youngster was immune from
further attacks.
Modern science has pointed out the
grave danger of such a practice. Ma
lignant measles annually takes fearful
! toll of children's lives. Every precau-
ton should be exercised to prevent
infection. The following article tell
ing of the dangers of malignant mea-
sizes was specially prepared by the as
!sistant surgeon general Of the United
States public health service, DR.. w. c
| Rucker:
By DR.. w. C. Rucker.
Little Johnny had the measles
what a cough and Redeemed nose! He
is cross and mean and peevish, and
he's redder than rose. Cooped up in
the sunless parlor, little Johnny
whines about; every one of you will
catch it, if you don't watch out.
Little Mary's mother thought it wise
to have the measles over, so she took
her little daughter in to play with
John next door, Two weeks later
Mary sickened and her little life went
out. Every one of you will catch it,
if you don't watch OUT
Over 1000 American children died
of measles in the year 1910. This did
not include large number who died
| of broncho-pneumonia, great num-
Der of cases which, in children, are
caused by measles. Sixty-eight and
two-tenths per cent of all deaths from
broncho-pneumonia occur in children
under five years of age, time of life
when measles is most apt to occur.
| But the story of the ravages of this
disease is not complete without the
mention of the large number of cases
of tuberculosis which follow an attack
of it. Less frequently Inflammation
of the ear or the eye may be left be-
hind as mark of visitation of this
common disease. From a public health
standpoint, then, measles is disease
of prime Importance. Malignant mea
sizes make many mothers mourn.
Johnny was invited to a birthday
party one Saturday afternoon, and he
had fine time playing "postoffice'
and similar games. He did not notice
that two of the little girls with whom |
he had played had redeemed eyes, a !
cough, and a "runny" nose. Even if |
he had seen it he would not have |
known that they were in the beginning |
stages of measles. One afternoon two I
weeks later, around about recess time,
Johnny noticed that his head did not
feel right, and he lost interest in the
Mick Carter" which he was reading
between the pages of his geography.
When little Johnny gets the measles
his mother is not long in finding it
out. In the first place, she knows it
is in the neighborhood, and secondly
she realizes that when Johnny comes
home from school and instead of eat
ing his supper huddles up close to the
base burner In the sitting room and
has a chill, that Johnny is probably
beginning to have the measles. That
night Johnny's little cheeks and head
are hot and dry. He is thirsty His
about his eyes and nose. The whites of
the eyeballs show little red lines upon
them, and poor little Johnny looks as
though he was going to cry. He t
sneezes a good deal and has a sharp, {
dry cough.
The next morning Johnny's mother l
gets him In front of the window, puts f
up the curtain, and bids him to open c
MS mouth, while she holds the handle h
Of silver teaspoon on his tongue,
and with Johnny gagging and strug f
5lluS, pIOCcouS 10 lldhe oil HAdnlud- | L
ion of his throat All the back of 3
lis throat and hard palate are a dull, t
lngry red. Perhaps there are few
title red spots on the hard palate, and v
f Johnny's mother had looked close S
It the lining membranes of the cheeks A
he would have seen some small white E
ipped reddish spots These are called v
Koplik's" spots, and when seen are
ure signs of measles. v
Johnny stays home from school that e
ay. and that night his fever is higher c.
han 1t was the night before. He rolls il
nd losses about the bed, and wakes up L
is mother good many times to ask Il
or a drink of water. This sort of cl
hing continues for three or four days, v
hen one morning when Johnny's p,
lother is showing him how to wash 81
ack of his ears, she sees some little C,
usky red spots along the hair line. 81
hey look a good deal like flea bites. tn
5ithin "a hours this rash is spread all sc
yer his body, and little Johnny looks OF
cry much bespeckIed and swollen OF
/ from five to seven days the rash fe
sgins to fade and within three or four tn
avs is entirely gone away, leaving be-
md it faint nothing of the skin. m