Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-20
MEASLES PROTECTION.

MEAoLES fkOIECTION,
In their great work on spi.
demloiosy Vaughan and Palmer
prove the impossihilly of cons
uoiiihg an epidemic of measles ia
an army,
But the evidence by which they
prove their point helps Ia prove
that, under the condition af life in
eilillan population, measles can be
controlled.
We made a distinct gain when the
army experience proved that measles
Was a respiratory disease in the
sense thar the virus was spread by
The nose and mouth seefetions. and
that u entered the body OF the peo.
PIE u attacked through the nose and
mouth,
Perhaps We have recently made
another distinct gain, Anderson and
Goldbefser proved that the blood Of
a person with measles could be used
10 cause measles In monkeys
Dusai and puanoy seem 10 have
proved that guinea pigs can con-
tract measles, They Injected hu-
man blood from the measles eases
Into the hearts OF slnea pigs. Tho
guinea pigs developed fever and had
a decrease in their white blood cor
puseles.
The attacks were interpreted as
measles. though many of the eharac-
tsristics OF the disease were absent.
Other guinea pigs which had had
this atypicai measles did not get
sick the second time when the in
incubation was repeated.
The practical points indicated by
this experience are nv follows:
The incubation period OF this con-
dition was established at nine To i3
days.
Human blood was not infective
urtil SO hours before the onset of
the eruption. II ceased to be in
fective "a hours after the fever had
subsidized. II was most infective at
the height OF the eruption.
The animals that died had violent
hemorrhagic ephritls-inflamma
tion OF the kidney.
II we can apply these findings to
the human subject the incubation
period Of measles Is nine TO IL days.
The disease becomes catching from
SO hours before the eruption appears
and ceases TO he so "a hours after
the fever becomes normal.
In measles watch out for evidence
that the kidneys are involved.
II has long been known that ba-
bies at the breast are not suscepti-
BILE to measles. Bottle fed babies
are: The reason for this safety OF
the breast fed baby. It has been said
recently. IL protective substances in
the milk. these substances being de-
rived from the mother. Cows never.
having measles, their milk does not
contain this substance.
In some places children, especial
ly children in asylums, are being
protected aeainst measles by inject
ing them with blood from other chill
dren recently recovered from the dis
ease. In this way closed popula-
tions Of children such as those in
hospitals. home asylums. and in
stitutions are no longer subject to
the old time hazard Of violent
measles outbreaks. Serum Of con-
valescents Is also being used to
cure.
If monkeys and guinea pigs can
be given experimental measles it
may not be long before some large
animal will be found capable of con-
tracing the disease. just as 1t was
found that horses could be inocu-
lated with diphtheria. Therefore it
does not seem impossible that be-
fore long a measles vaccine will be
available for general use.
In the meanwhile II teachers and
parents will keep on watch, measles
can be held down.
Measles registers In school, morn
ing inspection for dry coughs. weep
ing eyes, and running noses, ex-
clusion on suspicion. and care in. the
home will do the trick
Mouth Breathing.
Mrs. v. E. w. writes: my 2h-
year-old boy contracted bad cold
in his head about two months ago.
Since then he breathes almost en-
tirely through his mouth. Is there
anything I can do to get him to
breathe through his nose?
as 1t injurious for him to play
outdoor while he breathes through
his mouth?"
REPLY.
In all probability he has adenoids
and enlarged tonisls.
Let him play outdoors as much as
he will. This may cause his tonsils
and adenoids to go down.
If they do not, your only chance
to get him to breathing through his
nose again is to- have his adenoids
and tonsils removed by operation or
shrunken by X-rays.
Swim All You Like.
S. G. writes: II. Will you kindly
let me know IL swimming is bene-
fetal.
"2. II one goes swimming once a
week in a pool, does it cause heart
trouble?
"s. Even If this practice is con-
tinued in winter?"
REPLY.
/. Yes.
2. No.
3. The above no was not seasonal.
1t Couldn't Get q Passport.
w. Z. M. writes: II note they are
having much flu in Europe. Are you
of the opinion that we are In for
another epidemic of flu? Why this
attack?"
REPLY.
The little wave of which we read
as sweeping over Europe has gone
over this country--or one with the
same earmarks has. 1t has about 4
faded out. It did not raise the death