181
MEASLES.
by the eruption, as in the small-pox, are rather increased ;but the vomiting generally ceases.
About the sixth or seventh day from the time of sickening,the measles begin to turn pale on the face, and afterwardsupon the body : so that by the ninth day they entirely disap-pear. The fever however and difficulty of breathing oftencontinue, especially if the patient has been kept upon too hota regimen. Petechia?, or purple spots, may likewise be occa-sioned by this error.
A violent looseness sometimes succeeds the measles ; inwhich case the patient's life is in imminent danger.
Such as die of the measles generally expire about the ninthday from the invasion, and are commonly carried off by aperipneumony, or inflammation of the lungs.
The most favorable symptoms are a moderate looseness, amoist skin, and a plentiful discharge of urine.
When the eruption suddenly falls in, and the patient isseized with a delirium, he is in the greatest danger. If themeasles turn too soon of a pale color, it is an unfavorablesymptom, as are also great weakness, vomiting, restlessness,and difficulty of swallowing. Purple or black spots appear-ing among the measles are very unfavorable. When a con-tinual cough, with hoarseness, succeeds the disease, there isreason to suspect an approaching consumption of the lungs.
Our business in this disease is to assist nature, by propercordials, in throwing out the morbific matter, if her efforts betoo languid ; but when they are too violent, they must be re-strained by evacuations, and cool diluting liquors, &c. Weought likewise to endeavor to appease the most urgent symp-toms, as the cough, restlessness, and difficulty of breathing.
Regimen. — The cool regimen is necessary here as well asin the small-pox. The food too must be light and the drinkdiluting. Acids however do not answer so well here as inthe small-pox, as they tend to exasperate the cough. Smallbeer likewise, though a good drink in the small-pox, is hereimproper. The most suitable liquors are decoctions of liquo-rice with marsh-mallow roots and sarsaparilla, infusions oflinseed or of the flowers of elder, balm tea, clarified whey,barley water, and such like. These, if the belly be bound,may be sweetened with honey ; or, if that disagree with thestomach, a little manna may occasionally be added to them.
Medicine. — The measles being an inflammatory disease,without any critical discharge of matter, as in the small-pox,