The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-19
MEASLES SITUATION
ENGAGES ATTENTION
DIR. Levy Starts Campaign OF Educa-
ton With View to Heading
on Epidemic
CASES THIS YEAR ssi
But Up TO This Time There Have
Been No Deaths From Disease.
Every Third Year the Number "f
Fatalities Increases.

" neither l3li lS u ut dhotASi
measles year is IA question which is
giving the Richmond health depart
ment considerable concern.
For a number of years past cpl
come at regular intervals OF three
years. or rather. according to Chief
Health Officer Levy, every third yea
has been one OF high death rate from
measles In the alternate years the
death rate has been low, although in
some OF them the number OF cases
has been quite large.
Last year Richmond had the fourth
measles epidemic which has occurred
since 1905, and 1917 WAS. therefore
expected to be what is known as an
"off year. for this disease.
The present year opened with only
four cases Of measles in the city.
During January sixty-four cases were
reported. nearly all of which were
among adults. In February 2l7 cases
were reported.
The last three epidemics Of measles
in Richmond have been carefully
studied by the health department In
each instance the spread has been
through children exposed TO infection
IN schools and Sunday schools The
school children. in turn, have carried
the cases into their homes. where
younger children have contracted it,
and II is among children under Eve
wears OF age that the disease is espe-
cialiv fatal
Situation Different.
Up to this timo the situation Is
quite different. Adults and very
young children have furnished most
OF the cases. Only within the last
week or two have children OF school
age begun TO furnish any consider
2 BILE number OF cases. This is in
most marked contrast to all previous
experience. This fact. together with
the fact that last year was a measles
year. accounts for the difficulty In de-
termining whether the measles situ-
alton IL really TO become serious.
Measles Is the most contagious OF
all known diseases. and, unfortunate
~, II ~ contagious for several days
before the eruption appears, and dur
ing this period a child who is de-
veloping the disease may not be con-
fined to bed or to the house and thus
spread the disease.
Conference Held
conference was called by Chief
Health Officer Levy on yesterday. Or.
y. T Emmett. medical director for the
public schools; his assistant, DR.. r.
F. Summers. formerly med!ca, inspec-
tor for the Richmond health depart
mcnt; Or. H 8. Stern. the present
medical Inspector. and the chief health
officer vera present.
II was decided that the present stu
alton did not warrant measures OF
such far-reachtng nature as would
seriously interfere with the entire
school system. Not even thu most
extreme measures can be counted or
to stop the spread OF measles in Its
epidemic type on account OF the facts
above mentioned. II was decided.
however, that DR.. Emmett would 20
ever the situation with the principal
of each OF the public schools and
leave with each OF them measles lit
srature furnished by the health de-
partment.
Although contagious before the
eruption appears. and at times he
fore even the prescription symptoms
appear. nevertheless great deal can
ne accomplished by promptly exclud-
ting from the schools every child who
shows any or the usual carry syinp-
'onls, such as infamed and watery
eyes. head cold and sneezing
Parents arc warned 10 look out for
these symptoms in their own children
and 10 keep in the house ana away
rom other children in the home any
child presenting these symptoms
\ Fatal Child's Disease
Or. Levy states that measles is by
long odds the most fatal OF the erup-
tive diseases Of infancy and child
hood. In last years epidemic there
were s,fs5 cases. with forty deaths.
while from scsrle; fever. disease
much more dreaded. there have been
only thlrty-nine deaths in the past
twenty-one years. Measles must,
therefore. never be regarded as an
insignificant disease II is especially
fatal i'll children under Ave and still
more so in children under three
No parent should attempt to treat
. case of measles in q young child.
but should invariably call in the fam
lily physician
tip to tho present time there have
been as1 cases reported in Richmond
this wear. but so fay there has been
no death.