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3. Measles.— It is desirable that the use of the term "Rubeola" as a
synonym for Measles should be discontinued. "Morbilli" is the only Latin
equivalent for this disease recognised by the Royal College of Physicians.
4. Puerperal Fever and other Septic Diseases.— The term "Puerperal
fever" should no longer be used. Pyæmia, Septicaemia, or Sapræmia
occurring in puerperal women should be described as puerperal pyæmia,
p. septicaemia or p. sapræmia respectively (Nomen.: R.C.P., p. 11). In the
new list of diseases provision exists for the separate entry of several forms of
Septic infection.
5. Diarrhcea.— Attention is especially invited to a recent minute of the
Royal College of Physicians advocating the use of authorised names for this
malady, which is as follows :—
"The Royal College of Physicians is convinced, after careful enquiry : (a) that various
"unauthorised and misleading terms, such as 'gastro-enteritis,' 'muco-enteritis,' 'gastric
"catarrh,'' &c., are now commonly employed to designate the disease officially known as
"' epidemic diarrhoea,' whereby its specific character is in danger of being ignored, and groat
"confusion ensues ; (b) that the present confusion of terms renders it impossible to determine
"accurately either the prevalence of the disease in special places and at special times, the
"extent to which it influences the public health, or the effects produced by sanitary measures;
"(c) that there is a widespread objection, on the part of medical practitioners, to the
"employment of the term 'diarrhœa,' in certifying the cause of death, probably because that
"term is generally held by the public to imply a mild disease insufficient by itself to cause
"death."
"The College, therefore, has sought to discover as an alternative for the authorised term
''(epidemic diarrhœa) some other name, which, whilst equally accurate, should convey to the
"public the idea of a more serious affection. But the College regards it as essential that the
"idea of specificity, intended to be conveyed by the term ' epidemic' should be retained.
"As the result of much deliberation, the College has agreed to authorise the use of the
"term 'epidemic enteritis' (or if preferred by the practitioner, 'zymotic enteritis'), as a
"synonym for epidemic diarrhœa. The College has further decided to urge upon
"practitioners the entire disuse, in medical certificates of death, of such terms as ' gastro"'
enteritis,' ' muco-enteritis,' or ' gastric catarrh,' as synonyms of epidemic diarrhoea."
6. Malignant Diseases.— Among Cancerous affections "Carcinoma"
is now distinguished from "Sarcoma." This distinction should be observed
wherever possible. A separate line is however still retained for those forms
of malignant disease the nature of which cannot be specified precisely.
7. Tuberculous Diseases.— "Phthisis."— When this condition is due
to tubercle, the term "tuberculous phthisis' or "pulmonary tuberculosis"
should be used instead of the ambiguous term phthisis, which is sometimes
used to designate other besides tuberculous diseases of the lungs. "Tabes
mesenlerica."— The use of this term to describe tuberculous disease of the
peritoneum should be discontinued, as it is frequently used to denote various
other wasting diseases which are not tuberculous. "Tuberculous peritonitis"
is the better term to employ when the condition is due to tubercle.