Since the disease is known to be spread by the sputum, the prime measure in the prevention of this disease is to prevent the sputum from the sick being taken into the system of well persons. Children with measles should be provided with a quantity of soft paper napkins,[pg 008] and as soon as the napkins become soiled they should be burned. Children should be taught that they must always hold a handkerchief in front of the mouth while coughing. This is a measure which tends to control the spread of a good many diseases besides measles, because during coughing and sneezing sputum may be thrown several feet. Everything which has come in contact with measles patients should be sterilized before it is allowed to come in contact with other people or other things which may be handled or used by other people. Bedclothes, napkins, table linen, towels, and the like may be sterilized by boiling.
When it is known that measles exists in a community, no child having a bad cough should be allowed to come in contact with other children during the first three or four days of the cough.
It is little less than criminal to permit children known to have measles to come in contact with well children. In this connection it may be remarked that while it is generally considered that one attack of measles confers immunity, there are many cases on record of second and third attacks. It is true that the second attacks are usually very mild, but too great reliance should not be placed on this immunity.
Children should be discouraged as far as possible from playing games which will permit of an interchange of nasal or mouth secretions. It is the duty of every parent having measles in the home to see to it that it is reported to the public-health authorities. It is equally the duty of parents to see to it that their children do not come in contact with well children during the time when the infection may be transmitted. Measles kills more people in the United States every year than smallpox. You can't kill a child any deader with smallpox than you can with measles. It is the duty of private citizens and municipalities to take every known measure for the prevention of the spread of this disease.