Treatment of Measles.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 54

Treatment of Measles.

Measles is one of the eruptive fevers, usually regarded as peculiar to childhood. It occurs chiefly in children for the reason thafc it it so exceedingly " catching " that few escape it in early life ; but it is always ready to attack anybody who has not already had it, if he gets in its way. During the late war measles was one of the commonest diseases in the different camps, and mumps (also called a children's disease) was another. Measles usually inani-. fests itself about ■* week or ten days after' exposure, with the symptoms of a bad cold in the head. The nose runs, the eyes are inflamed; the* throat is sore, and the patient soon begins to be troubled with a teasing cough. At the same time there is fever, and the sufferer feels sick and miserable. Sometimes there is a series of little chills, or young, children may have convulsions. The rash appears usually between the third and fourth days, coming out first on the forehead or behind the ears, soon spreading to the face^and neck, and fater to the trunk and limbs. After continuing for about a day, it begins to fade in the order in which it appeared, from the forehead downward. The eruption is first in the form of thicklyset, minute red pin-points, which gradually increase in size, and feel under the finger like little flat pimples. These spots are grouped together to form patches of a dusky red colour, and often of a crescentic shape. Measles in it-self is seldom a serious disease, and in this very fact lies its danger to life. Indeed, the paradox is true that were measles a, more fatal disease, fewer people would probably die of it. The danger in measles is the tendency to bronchitis and pneumonia ; yet the patients seem tc be so little ill that often almost no care is taken of them. They are allowed to get out of bed and go about the room, or even about the house, with ao more precaution against cold than if they were well. As a rule, no drug treatment is required ; but good nursing, which include:* fresh air, an equable temperature in the room, and protection from cold draughts, is most essential." A person with measles has specially weakened lungs, and is -in danger of serious respiratory disease for some time after convalescence is established. This is a warning which cannot be repeated too often, ior upon the recognition of the danger depends many a precious life.