The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1917-03-02
(By Isabel Reynolds. J

Scarlet fever and diphtheria and
smallpox-these diseases strike ter
ror into the hearts OF ell mothers.
Strict quarantine regulations in all
communities give the children all
possible protection as matter Of
course. But for some inexpicable
reason, measles has managed to
avoid these saving precautions, and
because of the resulting opportuni-
ties for dissemination it has a wide
range and a long list OF vlctins.
The very name has such an insight
ficant sound that the public IN
general has been slow to recognize
measles for the danger that it un-
doubtedIyis. Consequently children
and grown people have not been pro-
tected against its ravages. For
tunately the true nature OF the
measles germ is gradually being rec
ognized. 1t is not known that a
very high percentage Of deaths are
due directly to this disease. Even
if the patient RECEIVERS there is al
ways the danger Of bad after-effects.
The eyes may be and often are
weakened for life, the hearing is ell
fected, and kidney trouble often fol-
lows a severe attack. In addition to
these dangers, measles lowers the
general vitality and weakens the
body so that it is unable to properly
resist the invasion Of other disease
germ'.
Even in the early stages measles
is very infectious. The symptoms
are similar in nature to those OF
scarlet fever and other dangerous
germ diseases, consisting OF fever,
sore throat, and often headache. In
treating a case Of measles it is I'M
portant to remem Der that the dis
charges from the nose and throat
are laden with germs and also that
they may be carried on clothing.
The breaking out occurs on the skin,
| in the throat, and in the air pas
sages. For this reason a measles
patient should be carefully guarded
and not be permitted to come in
contact with the germs of colds, in
| luenza, and other diseases ofthe all
passages. These precautions should
be taken not only while the disease
is in progress, but also when the
patient is on the high road to re.
covery. Many of the fatal results
from measles can be traced to i'm
prudent conduct during GONZALES
cence. A relapse is something. tc
he dreaded and avoided if humanity
possible. Children need especia
attention for this reason as they car
be depended upon to do the wrong
thing unless carefully watched. This
is particularly true of light cases
when they do not feel badly enough
to warrant their staying in bed.
If cases of measles occur in COM
munity, every mother should make
herself familiar with certain facts
about the disease. For one thing
the period of incubation is t6 days
If child is exposed to the disease
he should be kept away from Other
children until this period has eX.
pired for it has been known to de-
velop or the fifteenth day. A meas
les patient is dangerous to others rs
long as the discharges from the eyes
and nose continue which usually
lasts for period Of about 3 weeks
after the breaking out Of the rash,
As matter Of safety and common
sense he should lie rigidly quaran.
tined until the expiration Of this
time. Then the house should be
thoroughly disinfected.
If these precautions are generally
taken, measles will soon be brought
under some measure of control.
There is absolutely no valid reason
for the light esteem in which it is
popularity held. Mothers should
remember this and protect their
children from its ravages as care
fully as from some of those diseases
a. n