MKANKI-: 



MEATH 



their Arithmetical Mean (q.v. ) and greater than 

 their Harmonic Mean, and the geometric wean U 

 iUelf a geometric mean between the two others. 



MrniHT. See MEEAMEK. 



M<-arn>. See KIXCAIMHSK.SHIHK. 



Mrash's known also ax KniKoi.A and MoR- 

 Bll.i.l ) in one of the group of blood diseases termed 

 KjniHttiriniilii (q.v.), although, from the eniption 



Wllicll appeal- 0(1 till- surface of till* |HM|_V. it U 



KomciimeN classed with the skin diseases. It U 

 communicable from person to person, not least BO 

 in the early stage wlirn it is indistinguishable from 

 an ordinary cold ; and it seldom occurs more than 

 in tin 1 same imlividual. Its |>eriod of iticuha 

 tion Le. tin- time that elajwes lietweeu exposure 

 to the contagion iind the first ap|>earaiice of the 

 fehrile symptom- which precede the. eruption i- 

 usnallv iilxtut a fortnight : then come lassitude 

 nnd shivering, which arc soon followed by heat of 

 skill, increased rapidity of the pulse, loss of appetite, 

 and thii-Ht. The respiratory mucous membrane is 

 also affected, and the symptoms are very much the 

 same as those of a Revere cold in the head, accom- 

 |Huiied by a dry cough, a slight sore throat, redness 

 and watering of the eyes, ami sometimes tightness 

 of the chesi. 



The eruption whirh is characteristic of the dis- 

 ease usually appears II|M>II the fourth day from the 

 commencement of (lie fehrile symptoms and the 

 catarrh seldom earlier, hut occasionally some days 

 later. It U a rash, eou-i-t ing at t'nst of red papules 

 of various sues, which, as they multiply, coalesce 

 into crescentic patches. It is two or three days in 

 coming out, beginning on the face and neck, and 

 gradually travelling downwards. The rash fades 

 in the name order as it appears ; and, as it lupins to 

 decline three days after it- amiearance, its whole 

 duration is aUint a week. The red colour gives 

 way to a somewhat yellowish tint, and the cuticle 

 crumbles away in a line hran like |H>wder, the 

 process licing often attended with itching. 



Then- are two impoi -taut poinls in which it differs 

 from Smallpox (q.v.), with which in its early stage 

 it may lie confounded; these are: (1) tliat the 

 fever does not eeaw or even aliate when the erup- 

 tion ap|>ears, hnl sometimes increases in intensity ; 

 and ('i) thai the di-eu-e is not more seveie or more 

 dangerous because the eruption is plentiful or early. 

 The character of the eruption, after the lirst day, 

 will serve to remove all douht regarding these two 

 dlMMe* ; and the comparative prevalence of either 

 disease in the neighbourhood will materially ai-i 

 in forming the diagiio-is. It is distinguished from 

 Scarlet Fever (q.v.) or scarlatina , I I hy the pres- 

 enee at the outset of catarrhal symptoms, which 

 do not occur in the latter disease, at auviatc 

 piior to the eruption; ('1\ hy the ahsence of the 

 chalMteristic throat alfcot inn.' which always accom- 

 panies well-marked caws of scarlet fever; (3) by 

 the character of the rah. which in measles is 

 aid to present somewhat the tint of the mspl>crry, 

 ami in scarlet fever that of a lioiled Jointer ; 

 which in measles ap]M!ars in cresccntic patches. 

 and in scarlet fevei j- universally diffused over the 

 part nllecte.1 ; which in measles usually appear* 

 on tin- fourth day, and in scarlet fever on the second 

 dav of the diwaiw. 



In ordinary uncomplicated measles, the prognosis 

 in almost always favourahle. Tin- chief UBgM i- 

 from inflammation of some of the textures that 

 compose the lungs ; and in scnifulous children it 

 often leave* chronic pulmonary mischief lichind it. 

 No age i exempt from the disease, hut it is much 

 more common in childhood than subsequently. 

 The reason prolmbly is that most icrsons have it in 

 early life, and are thus proU-ctml from an attack at 

 a later period. 



In mild forms of the disease, nothing more is 

 requisite than to keep the patient on a low diet, 

 attend to the state of the bowels, and prevent 

 exposure to cold, which ia best accomplished by 

 keeping him in IKH! with the ordinary warmth to 

 which lie is accustomed in health. While the eyes 

 are red and irritable, it is desirable that he should 

 be -haded from the light. If the chest-symptoms 

 In-come urgent, they must be treated according to 

 their nature, liroiichitis (q.v.), sometimes extend- 

 ing into I 'neii mini ia (q.v.), is most to lie feared. 

 If the eruption disappear prematurely, it may some 

 times be brought back hy placing the patient in a 

 warm bath. In such canes stimulants are often 

 required, but must, of course, only be given by 

 the advice of the physician. The patient must be 

 carefully protected from exposure to cold for a 

 week or two after the disease has apparently 

 disappeared, as the lungs and mucous coat of the 

 boweu are for some time very susceptible to in- 

 flammatory attacks. In some coses considerable 

 debility remains for a long time after the attack ; 

 ami Inith the eyes and ears are very liable to 

 injury from inflammations accompanying or suc- 

 ceeding it. 



German Measles is a name somewhat loosely used 

 of a disease, or possibly several diseases, resembling- 

 measles, but for the most part less prolonged and 

 severe. The cases grouped under this title, how 

 ever, require further elucidation, as descriptions 

 given by different authors differ very widely from 

 each other. 



Measures. See WKK;HTS AND MEASUHKS. 



Meat* For the dietetic value of meat, and the 

 amount of meat imports, see Fntin. For extract 

 of meat, see EXTRACTS, and see also l'i;KSKltVKi> 

 PROVISIONS. The sale of unsound meal is pro- 

 hibited under heavy penalties by the Public Health 

 Act of 1875, which regulates the powers of medical 

 olliccrs and inspectors of nuisances to examine 

 game, flesh, milk, &c., and to have such meat or 

 other food, if unfit for human food, destroyed by 

 order of a justice. See I'TOMAINKS, \-\ IMI\. 



Meath* a maritime county of Leinster, Ireland, 



bounded on the east by the Irish Sea, for 10 miles, 

 and the counties of Dublin and I.outh ; UM, 808 

 sq. in., or 579,861 acres, of which 34,300 are waste, 

 liog, \c. Maximum length, north to south, -lo mile- : 

 maximum breadth, east to west, 47 miles. 1'op. 

 (1841) 1H3.116; (1861) 110,373; (1801) 76,616, of 

 whom 7I,.'iS!l were Itomaii < 'at holies and 4772 

 Protestant Episcopalians. The soil is a rich loam, 

 and extremely fertile ; but close upon ti7 per cent, 

 of it is devoted to pasture, the extent under crops 

 (chiefly oats and potatoes i being about one-fourth 

 of the total. The surface is for the most part un- 

 dulating, lieing the eastern part of the great lime 



st plain of Ireland. The chief rivers are the 



l!o\nc and Itlack water; the lioyal Canal passes 

 along the southern border of the county. The prin- 

 cipal towns are Trim, Navan, ami Kells. A little 

 linen and coarse, woollen is manufactured. Anciently, 

 Meath, which included West Meath, Longford, and 

 parts of the adjoining counties, formed one of the 

 kingdoms into which Ireland was divided, the royal 

 seat being Tara (q.v.), where ancient earthworks 

 still remain. After the English invasion it was 

 occupied by Strongliow, and was erected into a 

 county palatine by Henry II., who conferred it, on 

 Hugh (le Lacy. In the end of the reign of Henry 

 \ III. it was separated into East and \\cst Meath. 

 Celtic remains abound along the Itoyne anil Hlack- 

 water. John's Castle at Trim is one of the most 

 extensive monuments of English rule in Ireland. 

 There area round tower and sculptured crosses at 

 Kclls, and a round tower at Dononghmore. 

 Monastic ruins survive at Bective, Clomud, and 



