Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-09
HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
BY DIR. LEONARD KEENE HIRsHBERe.
a B.. NJ. A., NJ. D. John Hopkins).

/ The Cure of Measles Lies in Careful
Nursing.
Next to the common cold, measles
is probably the most widespread of all
infectious diseases, at least in civil
lied countries. Almost everyone sur
fers from 1t. early or late, and though
almost everyone gets over 1t, many
do not. The fact that most people
survive the disease has led to the
popular idea that measles is some
thing to be regarded lightly, and that
1t is best. all things considered, for a
child to take it and have it over with.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth. In itself, perhaps, measles Is
seldom direct cause of death, but
too often 1t leaves the body in very
debilitated state. and other and worse
maladies come in it's train
No one has yet succeeded in track
ing down, with certainty, the germ
that causes measles. We know that
1t is a germ, because its effects and
mode of multiplication are exactly
those of other germs, but beside the
fact that it is an animal parasite we
know very little about it.
Z The First Symptoms.
Until we learn more it will be i'm
possible TO make a direct war upon 1t.
Even now, of course, we can take
measures to prevent its spread from
one person to another, and after it
has begun its work we can. deal with
symptoms and with the complications
it produces, but we know of no way
to limit or modify its activity there.
Fortunately for US, nature knows
more than we do. AS soon as the
measles germ enters the body she be-
gins to battle with it, and in the vast
majority of cases she succeeds in
stamping 1t out. This battle is begun
automatically, and unless death in
tervenes it always proceeds in a more
or less regular Manner In conse-
quence, we say that measles is self
limiting disease, which means that 1t
runs a clearly marked course, begin
ming with the first appearance of the
germs in the body and ending with
their complete destruction and ex-
pulsion.
The more obvious signs of measles
the fever, the lassitude, the sore
eyes, running nose and sore throat,
and, beyond all, the red rasll-are ia
miliar to every one. There are, IN
addition, several signs which give
earlier warning, but which are sell
dim perceptible. save to the physi-
clan. One of them Is koplk's sign,
so called after the New York path
ologist who first noticed it.
1t consists in, the appearance OF
small, blue-white specks on the mu--
cous membrane lining the inside of
the cheeks. These specks usually APP
pear two or three days before the
rash, and so they give the physician
a chance to be forewarned and FORE
armed. This explains why it is that
when a child complains of feeling Ill
and shows a rising fever the doctor
usually makes a thorough examina-
ton of its mouth.
Dangers of COntagiOn.
After child has been exposed to
measles it takes from eleven to four
teen days for the disease to develop.
The first symptom Is a general feel
ing of illness and uneasiness, with
the sign, perhaps, of a bad cold in
the head. Then the eyes begin to
water, the temperature rises, the
throat becomes sore, there is cough,
and on the third or fourth day the
characteristics eruption appears.
As have said. nothing can be done
to "cure" measles, as we can cure
malaria, diphtheria or a broken arm.
The disease must run its course. and
we can never even tell how long that
course is going to be, save very
roughly, But 1t Is perfectly possible
to guard the little patient against the
disastrous complications that Turk
along the trail of the measles germ,
and 1t is possible, too, to relieve much
of the patients suffering. In ac-
complishing this the nurse plays the
most important part:
AS soon as the child grows ill and
feverish, and begins to complain OF
discomfort in the eyes and nasal pass
ages. he should be put to bed In q
well ventilated room that is darkened
and the physician should be sum-
moned. So many infantile maladies
begin in the same way that 1t is often
impossible at this stage to say
whether the little patient is develop
ing measles, scarlet fever, Influenza
or merely a cold. But it is always
best, whenever he shows fever,
however slight, to put him to bed
There is a great deal OF itching IN
measles, particularly after the dead
skin begins to shed. To relieve this
apply a thin film of vaseline, either
the plain or the carbolated. Besides
reducing the itching this will loosen
the scales, and so help the process OF
desouamation. But never rub the
skin. The friction of the wash rag
and the clothing is all that nature
needs.
Measles is an exceedingly con-
tagious disease, but its virulence, un-
like that of scarlet fever, does iot
last very long. AS soon as a case