Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1916-03-03
Measles, "A Difficult Prob
lem.

Il
lem.
Furnished by the Department Of Pre-.
ventite Medicine, University Of
Missouri, Columbia. Mo.
Msssles ID perhaps the most
widespread ef epidemic diseases
known. II b perhaps the most
readily communicable Of oil
diseases. II 10 present more OF
less sll the time In cities in the
Tempsrate Zone. Epidsmics are
likely 10 occur during the cool
month"; of Tho year.
Experiment has proved that
the germis contained In the blood,
and also in the secretions Of the
nose and mouth. It 10 most con-
Itagious before the eruption comes
out. The germ disappears from
the blood soon after the eruption
appsArs. All persons are liable
to measles, but as 1t is so wide-
spread the great majority of peo-
pie contract 1t during childhood,
consequently it is usually consid-
cred q childhood disease. Adults
have II much less frequently than
children, but this is because they
Fave already had 1t.
The popular idea is that It is a
trivial disease and should not be
countsnanced. It is often fatal
both in adults and In children,
pneumonia being the usual cause
of death. II 10 particularly fatal
in so-called scrofulous children,
and II tis not uncommon for tuber.
culosis to develop in children who
have recovered from measles.
When II becomes prevalent in a
new population the death rate is
high. For example, in the Sand
wick Islands, out Of 100, 900 pop
ulation, 10000 died in four
months time.
Since the virus 10 contained in
the sssrstions OF the nose and
mouth, tits evident that. infection
usually takes place through these
seoretions. 1t probably enters
the body also through the nose
and mouth. OF all contagious
diseases known. measles is one
which apparently travels through
the air. Nevertheless, at the
Pastsur Hospital in Paris where
each patient is in q separate al
cove opening into q common hall
without any physical barrier
whatever, no case Of measles ie
spread from one patient to anoth.
or, consequently we are sure thai
contagion takes place by direct
contact. in q great majority oI
cases. II seems certain that the
spray produced by coughing and
sneezing also carries the infsc'
ton.
The prevention Of measles Il
one Of the most difficult problems
which face the health officer, ao'
cording to DR.. N. P. Ravenel O.
the Department OF Preventive
Medicine Of the University O.
4 Missouri at Columbia. The di'
sease is most contagious in th'
early stages before q diagnosis Il
made, consequently the harm il
already done. The early symp'
toms are very much like those o
an ordinary cold, consequent!
they attract little attention, ant
, other Gases are 90 extremely milt
that the diagnosis is impossible
until the eruption appears. Never
theless, such cases can give vi
rulent type of the disease to othe
persons. The common habit 0
, exposing children to measles O
that they can have them Will
, they are young 10 entirely wrong
|, or the deaths which OCCUR nearl,
, 90 per cent are in children unde
s years Of age. Isolation Of tn
, sick is the ons measure which
efficient for preventing the sprsa
! lIofthel disease.
Il f'visiting should not be allowed
|, hut II should be remembered tha
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