Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Children

by Pye Henry Chavasse

214. Do you recommend "surfeit water" and saffron tea to throw out the eruption in Measles?

Certainly not. The only way to throw out the eruption, as it is called, is to keep the body comfortably warm, and to give the beverages ordered by the medical man, with the chill off. "Surfeit water," saffron tea, and remedies of that class, are hot and stimulating. The only effect they can have, will be to increase the fever and the inflammation—to add fuel to the fire.

215. What is the treatment of Measles?

What to do.—The child ought to be confined both to his room and to his bed, the room being kept comfortably warm; therefore, if it be winter time, there should be a small fire in the grate; in the summer time, a fire would be improper. The child must not be exposed to draughts; notwithstanding, from time to time, the door ought to be left a little ajar in order to change the air of the apartment; for proper ventilation, let the disease be what it may, is absolutely necessary.

Let the child, for the first few days, be kept on a low diet, such as on milk and water, arrow-root, bread and butter, &c.

If the attack be mild, that is to say, if the breathing be not much affected (for in measles it always is more or less affected), and if there be not much wheezing, the Acidulated Infusion of Roses' Mixture [Footnote: See page 178] will be all that is necessary.

But suppose that the breathing is short, and that there is a great wheezing, then instead of giving him the mixture just advised, give him a tea-spoonful of a mixture composed of Ipecacuanha Wine, Syrup, and Water, [Footnote: See page 161] every four hours. And if, on the following day, the breathing and the wheezing be not relieved in addition to the Ipecacuanha Mixture, apply a Tola Vesicatoria, as advised under the head of Inflammation of the Lungs.

When the child is convalescing, batter puddings, rice, and sago puddings, in addition to the milk, bread and butter, &c, should be given, and, a few days later, chicken, mutton chops, &c.

The child ought not, even in a mild case of measles, and in favourable weather to be allowed to leave the house under a fortnight, or it might bring on an attack of bronchitis.

What NOT to do—Do not give either "surfeit water" or wine. Do not apply leeches to the chest. Do not expose the child to the cold air. Do not keep the bed room very hot, but comfortably warm. Do not let the child leave the house, even under favourable circumstances, under a fortnight. Do not, while the eruption is out, give aperients. Do not, "to ease the cough," administer either emetic tartar or paregoric—the former drug is awfully depressing, the latter will stop the cough, and will thus prevent the expulsion of the phlegm.