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The toxic effects of Measles can be serious In the occasional
case where the tissues fall to react to the Infection. Measles
Is caused by a virus and there Is no specific drug. The
sulphonamldes and antibiotics have proved of great value In the
prevention and treatment of secondary Infections which cause
pneumonia and middle ear disease. Prevention or attenuation of
the Illness can be achieved by the Injection of gamma globulin
early In the Incubation period, but the supply of this serum Is
very limited and has to be restricted to contacts who are
especially at risk.. Prevention of Infection Is still mainly
dependent on early diagnosis and early Isolation. The early
catarrhal phase of the Illness lasts for four days before the
rash appears and Is a highly Infectious period. There Is catarrh
of the eyes, nose or throat The child Is disinclined for food
or play. A slight rise of temperature will confirm suspicion of
Infection. Immediate action at this stage with restriction from
going to school or cinema or from playing In the street can save
many other children from infection. The careful nursing and
careful convalescence of all cases of Measles are essential.
Whooping Cough. Sixty seven cases were notified. This Is
a decrease of two hundred and eighty four cases. Prevalence was
low throughout the year. The case rate was 0*84 per thousand of
population compared with 2-61 per thousand of population for
England and wales. There was no death.

Whooping Cough must be regarded as a dangerous disease of
Infancy. While the risk of mortality diminishes with age there
Is always the danger of damage to the tissues of the lung and
Impairment of functional power. The problem of reducing mortality
lies mainly In preventing Infection during the first year of
life. Vaccines are not applicable In the early months of high
mortality, but their use for the Immunisation of Infants and
younger shcool children who usually bring Infection Into the home
would help to protect the susceptible baby. The drug Chloromycetin
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