For the intestinal catarrh, a restricted diet is sufficient for a cure at the beginning of the disease and yet will sustain the patient during the febrile period with his loss of appetite. Apart from dietetic measures the later severe colitis is combated by frequent. irrigations with warm boiled water at 40° C. (104° F.) either alone, or with the addition of tannin 1 per cent. or acetic alum 1 to 2 per cent. or with 50-100 c.c. of 1 per cent. silver nitrate solution, likewise by giving the bismuth preparations by mouth. If bacteriologically Kruse dysentery be diag nosed one must not hesitate in the administration of a corresponding serum. Much may be done in a prophylactic way to prevent these intestinal troubles, if from the onset of the disease undue irritation of the intestinal mucosa is avoided by a sensible and not an immoderate administration of medicines (digitalis and alcohol, etc.), and a light diet. The diet should be mainly liquid (tea, soup, milk, cocoa), which may with improving appetite be changed to soft easily digested foods, (sago, tapioca, and eventually minced meat).
The nervous symptoms, as dulness, convulsions, delirium, headache and jactitations are to be treated by cold applications to the head or gen eral wet packs at a temperature of 27° C. (SO° F.) mustard packs or mustard baths, likewise the administration of sodium bromide, 0.15 to 1.0 Gm. (2 to 15 gr.) or pyramidon, 0.1 Gm. (11 gr.) may be tried. In emergencies, when the cerebral signs do not abate, spinal puncture is highly recommended as a means of relieving the brain of the over accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Prostration and the pains in the
limbs can be relieved by the limited administration of alcohol (Malaga wine, cognac), also by rubbing with dilute acetic acid or some alcoholic solution, and internally sonic sodium salicylate or aspirin.
Sharp rise of temperature the result of measles and its complica tions is best influenced as already stated by hydrotherapeutic measures. Where these are unsuccessful small doses of aspirin, quinine or aristochin may be given.
Sometimes there is irritation of the skin, which is best relieved by sponging the parts with diluted alcohol or by the use of salicylic acid or menthol, also by some protective covering such as oil or a dusting powder. Sponging is preferred particularly if there is desquamation of the skin at the time.
The eczema and other skin changes following measles require effi cient treatment which need not be discussed here.
At the end of the attack of measles and its associated troubles the patient should take particular care of the skin by taking one or two full warm baths before leaving bed. The patient may leave his bed eight days after the subsidence of the fever, generally after another eight clays he may be allowed to go out of doors, but the time of year and the state of the weather will decide this.