In order to guard against the frequent intestinal disturbances, it is well during the disease to enforce a rigid diet, and strongly forbid all indigestible foods, such as breads made with yeast, raw fruit, etc., as well as unnecessary drinks.
By reason of the tendency to necrosis of the tissues, every form of trauma, be it mechanical or thermal, is to be absolutely avoided.
If the period of convalescence has run for eight clays without fever or cough, and the patient's strength has sufficiently recovered he may be permitted to leave his bed. Care must be taken after measles on ac count of the lowered resistance, especially of the respiratory tract, and the patient should not leave his room for another eight days at least during the colder periods of the year. The association with other chil dren, as before stated, may be permitted for the first time after the close of the period of convalescence, on the one hand, on account of the ready transmission of the disease to them, and on the other, because of the danger of the exposure of the patient to some other disease. Particu lar care should be taken to avoid exposure to diphtheria and whooping cough to which those convalescing from measles are known to he very susceptible. It goes without saying that one should prevent for a long time any one affected with tuberculosis from having any contact with a person that has recently had measles, and on the other hand, a measles patient is so disposed to tuberculosis that he can be said to be safe from danger of tuberculous complications only after months of observation.
The disinfection of the sick room in uncomplicated measles is an unnecessary procedure, considering the slight tenacity of the measles virus. Filatow's suggestion that a two or three days' airing of the room is preferable to troublesome disinfection measures, is commendable.
from the prophylactic measures which form the most important part in ordinary cases, and in the absence of a spe cific therapy. the treatment of measles is limited to the combating of individual symptoms, and the regulation of the diet.
In order to lessen the intensity of the conjunctivitis it is well to let the patient wear eye shades, or the sick room may be darkened. I have not been able to observe any more favorable effect on the course of the disease by the exclusive use of red illumination by means of cur tains or glass of that color. For the severe attacks, one can advise
from time to time during the day, washing the eyes with boiled luke warm water, or 2 per cent. boracic acid solution. The purulent crusts adhering to the eyelids are best removed by smearing with lukewarm almond oil. Should phlyctfenulfe develop they are best treated with 1 per cent. yellow oxide of mercury ointment or dusting with calomel. Applications of 1-2 per cent. solutions of blue stone produce a very intense catarrhal inflammatory process. Ice poultices are not to be recommended. The neighboring skin of the lids may be protected from maceration by the tears, and resulting eczema, by frequent smearing with vaseline or lanolin. Diphtheria of the eyes is combated by serum therapy (3000-6000 units) and applications of of mercury 1:5000.
The coryza, and particularly the troublesome sneezing is modified, and may even be cured by frequent instillations of oil, or 1-3 per cent. borovaseline into the nose. For very severe nasal catarrh, one may, two to three times a day, introduce alternately into the nostrils small tampons of cotton soaked with 1 per cent. cocain solution and as soon as the passage is pervious, oil or vaseline or 2 per cent. yellow precipi tate ointment may be freely used. For epistaxis, it is sufficient to snuff up some acetic acid and water, and if the be greater a small tampon may be introduced alone, or, soaked in a solution of adrenalin, it is sure to succeed. For severe nasal diphtheria, besides free serum therapy, careful syringing of the nose with 2 per cent. solution of boracic acid is recommended to prevent the formation of membrane. The favorite procedure of blowing boracic acid and other powders into the nose is not to be advised, on account of the irritation of the mucous membrane which they produce, the same applies to the preparations of menthol. The skin about the nostrils must be protected from the irritating discharges by the application of glycerin, lanolin, etc., the greatest care is necessary in the cleansing of the nose, and with it a frequent change of handkerchiefs.