MEDICAL HINTS. 
165 
Measles . 
Incubation period, ten days. Kash occurs on the fourth day. 
Rash .— Pink spots, round or irregular, slightly raised above the surface, 
tending to run together in patches over the body, leaving the unaffected 
skin between them clear. In the early stages often best marked on the 
face and behind the ears. 
Symptoms— Fever, catarrh, congested eyes, running from the nose, 
sickness and cough. 
Treatment.—See Scarlet fever. 
Complications .— Measles may be followed by pneumonia. 
Smallpox. 
Incubation period, twelve days. Bash appears third day. 
Rash. —Before the appearance of the typical rash there are occasionally 
earlier rashes, viz., a diffuse blush covering the whole body, resembling 
scarlet fever, or a dark purple rash of effused blood beneath the skin 
of the lower part of the belly, or occasionally in the armpit. The 
smallpox rash proper consists of small red raised spots which first 
appear on the face, forehead, and scalp, subsequently coming out 
over the rest of the body, commencing at the top and working down¬ 
wards. These spots become prominent, and have a characteristic 
“ shotty ” feeling under the finger. On the third day after their appear¬ 
ance a small bleb forms in the centre of each spot; it is transparent 
at first but subsequently becomes yellowish, from the formation of matter 
in its interior. The centre becomes depressed on the sixth day, then 
the bleb breaks down, and discharges matter. Two or three days later 
the spot begins to dry up, and ultimately heals under a scab. During 
the period of most active inflammation the face may be very swollen 
and sodden. 
The spots and pustules are not confined to the skin, but may occur on 
the roof of the mouth and in the throat. 
Treatment .— Isolation. See Scarlet fever. The body may be sponged 
and vaseline applied if there is much itching. The eyelids and eyes 
should be frequently washed with weak boric acid solution. 
