MEASLES 231 



sick-room, if an interval of two or three weeks has 

 elapsed since infection. This fact, however, should 

 not lead to a neglect of the usual measures of dis- 

 infection heretofore recommended (see p. 220 and p. 

 171). Free ventilation of the sick-room, after thorough 

 scrubbing of surfaces with hot water and soap will, as 

 a rule, ensure its disinfection. But it will be prudent 

 not to allow susceptible children to enter such a room 

 for at least fourteen days. 



The following directions, published by the Board 

 of Health of the city of Glasgow, set forth very 

 forcibly the importance of preventing the spread of 

 measles and the fact that isolation of the sick must 

 be relied upon as the principal measure of prevention: 



"Measles is a dangerous disease, one of the most dangerous 

 with which a child under five years of age can be attacked. It 

 is especially apt to be fatal to teething children. It tends to kill 

 by producing inflammation of the lungs. It prepares the way for 

 consumption. It tends to maim by producing inflammation of 

 the eyes and ears. 



" In Glasgow, during the last five years, measles has caused 

 three deaths for every one which has been caused by scarlet 

 fever ; only one infectious disease has been more destructive to 

 life, viz.: whooping-cough. Measles has carried off more than 

 four times as many persons as enteric fever (typhoid). 



"It is therefore a great mistake to look upon measles as a 

 trifling disease. 



" The older a child is the less likely is it to catch measles; and 

 if it does, the less likely is it to die. 



" If every child could be protected from measles until it had 



