--Even in the mildest cases, the child must
be kept in bed from the first accession of the fever. He must not be
loaded, however, as was formerly the practice, with a quantity of
bed-clothes, in order to encourage the fever and increase the quantity
of eruption. A moderate quantity of clothing is all that is required,
adapted to the heat of skin and feelings of the patient.
The bed-room must be kept cool and well ventilated. This is of
importance in the mildest cases; but in the more severe forms of this
disease, in which the throat is much affected, the constant and free
admission of pure air will have a most decided and marked good effect
upon the symptoms. The air should be renewed, therefore, from time to
time. The linen, both of the bed and the patient, should also be
frequently changed daily,--if practicable.
However mild the symptoms of this disease may be at the commencement,
the child must always be carefully and vigilantly watched by the
parent, as inflammation of some internal organ may suddenly arise
(which is generally indicated by symptoms sufficiently obvious), and
thus change an apparently mild form of this disease into one of an
alarming character.
COLD SPONGING.--Whenever the skin is pungently hot and dry, the whole
surface of the body should be sponged with cold water, or with vinegar
and water.
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