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43
The specific cause of Measles has not been discovered ; it
is probable that the disease is due to some living virus in the blood
of the sufferer and is of the nature of a " filter passer." Whatever
the cause whether it be a "germ" or a " filter virus," the proper
mortality from "Measles" is trivial ; nearly all the deaths occurring
during the disease are due to added symbiotic infection. We
may have little control over Measles, but we have considerable
powers over its symbioses. These are mainly pneumococci and
haemolytic streptococci, which spread by droplet infection, and
whose striking distance is short. Consequently, spacing has an
enermous influence on the mortality from this disease. These
facts have influenced our methods of combating the disease. We
have sufficient accommodation for the immediate reception of all
Many years ago, Sir Arthur Newsholme when Medical Officer
of health for Brighton, showed that terminal disinfection after
Measles was useless, and few authorities now trouble to carry out
the disinfection. School closure has also been given up as worse
than useless. Our efforts are concentrated on preventing the
wortality, rather than preventing the spread of the disease. An
endeavouris is made to obtain early information of all cases, and to
secute good nursing. Where good nursing can be obtained in the
home. this is sufficient, but in most industrial districts, this is nof
possible in a considerable number of cases. Most authorities now
andeavour to secure the necessary treatment in hospital, where the
home conditions are unsatisfactory. Unfortunately, few authorities
have sufficient accommodation for the immediate reception of all
cases in which the home conditions are unfavourable with the
result that many sufferers are not admitted to hospital until serious
complications have intervened. We were comparatively fortunate
in the matter of hospital accommodation during the epidemic, but
shows impossible to arrange for the immediate admission of all cases
which required removal from the home.
Many of the cases admitted were suffering from bronchoprenmonia
and this fact accounted for most of the deaths
in hospital. The great majority of the cases in the disease did not
develop complications and rapidly recovered from the disease.
Other fators have operated in reducing the mortality from
Measles. Among these may be mentioned the work which is done
for Child Welfare and in the School Medical Service. The Health
Visctors School Nurses endeavour to teach parents that
Meastas is a serious disease and that its spread and danger may
a reduced by avoiding the herding together of children during an
epcdenic.