The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1940-11-28

turns to normal. An isolation of
two weeks from the onset of the dis
ease is sufficient for public health
purposes. So far as is known the
carrier state is not a factor in its
spread.
The period Of incubation is US
ually eleven or twelve days from ex-
posture to appearance of symptoms,
or fourteen days to the rash. Com
plications are common. All cases of
measles have diffuse congestion and
inflammation of the mucous mem
brane of the respiratory tract, con-
junctivae and some Of the accessory
sinuses, especially the middle ears.
Bronchitis, pneumonia and supra
tive otitis media are frequent COM
pl~ications. Measles itself is seldom
fatal. Death usually results from
pneumococcic or streptococcic in
Movement of the lungs, mastoids,
meninges, etc. Ninety-five per cent
of deaths are due to pneumonia. In
this regard measles and influenza
are alike.
Measles frequently becomes epide-
mic, usually in the cooler months, in
this respect resembling influenza,
scarlet fever and smallpox. Measles
is common in army camps, especially
among troops enlisted from country
districts, who are thus exposed to
the infection for the first time. In
the World War measles was a serious
cause of disability in our mobiliza-
ton and training camps. Pneumonia
was the common complication, often
resulting fatally.
Over one-half Of the cases occur
before five, and 81 per cent before
fifteen years. The maximum age in
cidence occurs at six to seven years.
The siv year old child usually brings
measles into the house. However, all
ages alike are susceptible, with the
exceptions of infants who have a
passive immunity during the first
few months Of life provided the
mother has had measles. On the other
hand, the early incidence of diphth-
eria and scarlet fever is due to the
immunity which ZONES on with age
and exposure. No such protection
increasing with age occurs in
measles.
The highest ease fatality rate is in
the first and second years of in
fancy. The safest time to have
measles is between five and fifteen
years. Epidemics recur cyclically at
intervals of two or three years with
considerable regularity in thickly
settled communities. In more sparse
ly populated areas the intervals be-
tween these waves are longer and
more irregular.
Measles, perhaps more than any
other disease, lowers resistance to
other infections. Immune bodies dim
inish or disappear from the blood
during and soon after an attack.
Measles lowers resistance to diph-
liberia, pneumonia, streptococci, tub
erculosis; it is a common history for
tuberculosis to light up after an
attack Of measles.
After an attack Of measles the
blood is rich in immune bodies able
to n~eutralize the virus of measles.
This property of the blood gradually
weakens with the years. Five C. c..
of convalescent cru for a child and
10 c. C. for an adult will usually
protect against measles if given be-
fore the middle of the period Of in
cubation, namely, the fifth day af-
ter exposure. The protection is pas
sive and transient and cannot be
depended on for more than about
three weeks. 1t is more convenient
and just as efficient to use fresh
whole blood, in which case the dose
should be at least doubled. Whether
whole blood or serum be used, in
jections are given intramuscularly.
If given after the middle of the in
cubation period (between the fifth
and eighth days) the serum will not
prevent but is likely to modify the
disease.
Measles is such a ommon disease