220 DR. CEASE'S RECIPES. 



elevated above the surface, the surrounding skin retaining its natural color. On 

 the third day of the eruption it begins to fade and disappear, being succeeded 

 by a scurfy disorganization of the cuticle, which is accompanied by an intoler- 

 able itching. The febrile symptoms also abate, and very quickly leave the 

 patient altogether, but often in a very weak state and with a troublesome cough. , 

 Between exposure to the infection and the breaking out of measles, there is 

 usually an interval of 14 (Xaya, which is called the period of incubation; so that 

 it is not uncommon, where there are several children in a family, for the cases 

 to succeed each other at f&rtnightly intervals. 



This disease is often rendered dangerous by complications with others; so 

 that, not in itself of a fatal character, it frequently leads to fatal results. Where 

 there are the seeds of consumption or scrofula in the constitution, they are hkely 

 to be called into activity during the debility which follows an attack of measles; 

 dropsy often follows it, as do affections of the air passages, chest and bowels. 



How to Distinguish Measles from Scarlet Fever.— Measles is 

 a less dangerous disease than scarlet fever, although sometimes mistaken for it 

 in the early stages. In measles the spots are not as deeply colored as in scarlet 

 fever, and are differently shaped and rougher to the touch. In scarlet fever the 

 spots usually appear on the second day after the first symptoms are observed, 

 and in measles on the third or fourth day. The irritation of the nose, sneezing 

 and discharge, that are. prominent symptoms in measles, do not occur in scarlet 



fever. 



Treatment. — Generally speaking, for simple measles, little medicine is 

 required. Give the patient plenty of diluent drinks; let him have a spare diet, 

 and a moderately warm and well-ventilated room; keep the bowels gently 

 open; if a roasted apple, or a little manna in the drink will not do this, give a 

 dose of castor-oil. Where there is much heat of the skin, sponging with tepid 

 vinegar and water will completely relieve it, and also the itching. When the 

 eruption has subsided" and the desquammation of the skin commenced, a tepid 

 bath will materially assist this process, and get rid of the dead cuticle. On the 

 third or fourth day after the disappearance of the eruption, give a small dose of 

 powder of rhubarb, jalap, or scammony. Care should be taken to protect the 

 patient against change of weather, and to restore the strength by a nourishing 

 diet. Attention should be paid to the cough. Give drinks of flaxseed tea or 

 slippery elm, made slightly acid. 



If the attack is severe, attended with high fever, headache, restlessness, 

 etc., the feet should be placed in a hot mustard bath for 10 or 15" minutes, after 

 whicli place the patient in bed warmly covered, giving every hour until the 

 fever .subsides and sweating takes place, Fluid Extract of Aconite, 1 drop to a 

 tea-spoonful of water; and every 2 hours, or until the pulse is reduced in fre- 

 quency, give 1 drop Fluid Extract of Veratrum Viride similarly diluted. 



Cold water may be taken freely with benefit in this as well as all in other 

 eruptive or miasmatic fevers. A very good drink can be prepared by making 

 a bowlful of slippery elm infusion, and adding the juice of a lemon and a 

 table-spoonful of cream of tartar, and using as a drink as the patient desires. 



