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176

MEASLES.

been opened, or have broke of their own accord, the patient mustbe purged. The Peruvian bark and a milk-diet will likewise beuseful in this case.

When a cough, a difficulty of breathing, or other symptoms ofa consumption, succeed to the small-pox, the patient must be sentto a place where the air is good, and put upon a course of asses'milk, with such exercise as he can bear. For further directionsin this case, see the article Consumptions.

CHAP. XV.

MEASLES. (Morbilli or Rubeola.)

The measles appeared in Europe pbout the same time with thesmall-pox, and have a great affinity to that disease. They bothcame from the same quarter of the world, are both infectious, andseldom attack the same person more than once. The measles aremost common in the spring season, and generally disappear insummer. The disease itself, when properly managed, seldomproves fatal ; but its consequences are often very troublesome.

Causes. — This disease, like the small-pox, proceeds from in-fection, and is more or less dangerous according to the constitu-tion of the patient, the season of the year, the climate, &c.

Symptoms. — The measles, like other fevers, are preceded byalternate fits of heat and cold, with sickness and loss of appetite.The tongue is white, but generally moist. 'There is a short cough,a heaviness of the head and eyes, drowsiness, and a running at thenose. Sometimes, indeed, the cough does not come before theeruption has appeared. There is an inflammation and heat inthe ejes, accompanied with a defluction of sharp rheum, and greatacuteness of sensation, so that they cannot bear the light withoutpain. The eyelids frequently swell so as to occasion blindness.The patient generally complains of his throat ; and a vomiting orlooseness often precedes the eruption. The stools in children arecommonly greenish ; they complain of an itching of the skin, andare remarkably peevish. Bleeding at the nose is common, bothbefore and in the progress of the disease.

About the fourth day, small spots, resembling flea-bites, appear,first upon the face, then upon the breast, and afterwards on theextremities : these may be distinguished from the small-pox bytheir scarcely rising above the skin. The fever, cough, and diffi-culty of breathing, instead of being removed by the eruption, as inthe small-pox, are rather increased ; but the vomiting generallyceases.

About the sixth or seventh day from the time of sickening, themeasles begin to turn pale on the face, and afterwards upon thebody ; so that by the ninth day they entirely disappear. The fe-

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