In conclusion, this disease is a complaint of infancy and childhood,
rather than of adult age; generally affects the same individual but
once during his life; and, though examples of a second attack have
occurred, such a circumstance is extremely rare.
Sect. VI.--MEASLES.
Measles consists of a fever, in which the mucous lining of the air-
passages is principally affected, and which, after about three days'
duration, results in an eruption of a red rash over the surface.
It depends upon a specific contagion;--occurs most frequently during
childhood and adolescence, though no age is exempt from it;--and affects
the system but once; a peculiarity to which an exception is very rare,
proved by the few instances of the kind which have been recorded.
The period at which the disease manifests itself after infection is
various,--generally about the ninth day; it has, however, been delayed
until the sixteenth.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE.--The child infected will be observed not to
be as well as usual, less active, and out of spirits; his appetite
will fail, and his sleep be restless and disturbed. It will soon be
evident that he has apparently taken a cold in his head, and that this
is accompanied by fever. His voice will be hoarse; there will be
frequent cough, headach, sneezing, running from the nose and eyes,--the
eyelids being somewhat swollen, and the eyes inflamed;--the skin will be
hot and dry, and he will complain of occasional chilliness.
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