The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
PREVENTIVE FOR
MEASLES SOON
ContiH1ed from Pare One.

under unhygienic conditions. In 1866 there
lwere 5000 cases with 1.900 deaths from
Imeasles in the Confederate army. It Is
reported that during the Brazilio-Pa
guayan war an epidemic Of measles
swept of nearly fifth of the Paragua-
yam army in three months.
1T is thus seen that measles is many
cannot be dealt with lightly. one to which
We should not expose our children" says
one of the surgeons Of the Health Serv-
ice. A child with measles should be put
to bed and kept there as long as II has
any fever or cough. The room should
be airy. but it should be darkened, be-
cause children with measles are very
be light. because the child is apt to get
too warm, kick Off the covers. and suf-
fer from the cold. A chilling in this
way may predispose to pneumonia. Food
should be light and should consist chiefly
Iof nutritious broths. pasteurized milk,
soft-boiled eggs, and the like. Ice lemon
ade will bring comfort to the inflamed
throat. The child's eyes should be kept
clean. and should the fever get high the
comfort of the little sufferer may be
increased by sponging with tepid water
and alcohol Sometimes II Is necessary
to put an ice bag to the head. but II the
child is sick enough to require this. skill
ed assistance should be summoned.
Transmission of Disease.
when the fever and cough have gone
the child may be allowed to be put UP
and about the room. but for time
should not indulge in violent exercise.
because there is often some weakening
of the heart muscle by the disease. The
aim is TO allow the heart muscle to re-
gain its normal condition before putting
ltat
be increased when the fever has gone
away. and should include good. plain,
strong foods. If there is n tendency to
regain weight and strength slowly. the
child may be given an increased amount
of pasteuriZed cream or good butter.
II the child prefers cod-liver Oil. this
may be substituted.
THE important point about the pre-
vention of the disease Is the fact that.
judging from the experiments, measles
is not transmissible after the fever has
gone down. Experimenting with mon
keys, they found that they We're unable
to transmit measles from monkey to
monkey after the stage of fever had
ceased. 1t used to be thought that the
germs OF measles were in the scales
of skin which were shed at the close
of the disease
at is thought by some that there may
be chronic carriers OF measles. but this
is not at all proven. II Is also believed
that a discharging ear following measles
may be the means of continuing the
transmission of the disease. This is not
proven. There are on record a large
number of instances ' hich seem TO point
TO the fact that under certain conditions
third person may carry the infection
from the sick to the well. Transmission
of measles to human beings by the lower
animals is still unproven.
at is not known what the cause of
measles is. a great many scientists
have described germs which they he
lievc 10 be the casual agents. but up
TO date these have not been positively
proven as the cause Of measles. We
do, however, know that the infection
of measles is found in the eecretions
from the nose and throat during the first
stages of the disease: therefore persons
suffering with measles should not he al
lowed 10 come in contact with well per-
sons until the period of fever has we'll
passed.
Spread by Sputum.
Since the disease is known to be |
spread by the sputum, the prime meas |
ure in the prevention OF this disease !
is to prevent the sputum from the sick |
being taken into the system Of we'll |
be provided with quantity of soft |
paper napkins. and as soon as the nap |
kins become soiled they should be |
burned. Children should be taught that
they must always hold a handkerchief |
in front of the mouth while coughing.
This is measure which tends to con-
troll the spread of a good many dis
eases besides measles, because during
coughing and sneezing sputum may be
tvh
has come in contact with measles pa
tients should be sterilized before 1t is
allowed to come in contact with other
people or other things which may be
handled or used by other people. Bed
clothes, napkins, table linen. towels,
and the like may be sterilized by boil
ing.
when it is known that measles eX-
lists in a community. no child having a
bad cough should be allowed to come
IN contact with other children during
The first three or four days of the
cough.
1T is little less than criminal to
permit children known TO have measles
% come in contact with well children.
IN this connection it may be remarked
hat while it is generally considered
hat one attack Of measles confers i'm
nunity. there are many cases on record
II second and third attacks. 1t is true
hat the second attacks are usually
Tery mild. but TOO great reliance should
lot be placed on this immunity.
Children should be discouraged as
ar as possible from playing games
which will permit of an interchange of
lasal or mouth secretions- 1t is the
luty of every parent having measles
n the home to see to ii that II is re-
ported to the public health authorities.
t is equally the duty Of parents to see ]
o 1t that their children do not come in {
ontact with well children during the
ime when the infection may be trans
nitted. Measles kills more people in
he United States every year than
mallpox. You can't kill a child any
leader with smallpox than you can
With measles. 1t is the duty of private
itizens and municipalities to take
very known measure for the preven-
ion of the spread of this disease"
Signal system for oSuthern.
Work will be begun at an early date