Sponging, etc.—­The face, chest, arms, and hands should be sponged occasionally with vinegar and warm water (one fourth and three fourths).  This will be productive of great comfort to the little patient; it removes the heat, dryness, and itching of the skin, which are often very distressing; and is especially useful at night in relieving wakefulness.  If the cough be troublesome, it will be useful for the child to breathe the steam of warm water; not through an inhaler, but over a large basin, with the head covered with flannel large enough to hang over its edges.  By this means the tender and inflamed eyes will at the same time derive advantage from the soothing effect of the vapour.

Cautions.—­Whenever the measles is known to be prevalent in a neighbourhood, and a child manifests symptoms of cold in the head and fever, it should at once be a reason for carefulness on the part of the parent.  The diet should be light, cooling, and scanty; and the child should be carefully kept in doors.

It has been before remarked, that in its ordinary course measles is a disease unaccompanied with danger, but that the mildest form may be speedily converted into the most dangerous.  That is to say, a sudden change may lake place in the symptoms, arising out of circumstances which could not have been foreseen, and therefore unavoidable; or may be produced by improper management on the part of the nurse, such as the giving of stimulants, by too much heat, or by exposure to cold.  Now it is for the parent early to notice any change which may occur from the first source, and by her watchfulness to guard against the possibility of its arising from either of the second.

In reference to the first, if the child should complain at any period of the disease of severe headach, with piercing pain through the temples, and if this is accompanied by wandering of mind, great increase of suffusion of the eyes, as also intolerance of light, the immediate attention of the medical man is demanded.  So, if towards the dose of the eruption, that is, from the seventh to the ninth day, the breathing should again become hurried (this symptom is very generally present during the height of the eruption, and is not necessarily connected with disease of the lungs), with pain and oppression felt at the chest, the cough becoming hacking and incessant, etc. (all symptoms cognizable by the mother, and indicative of inflammation of the lungs), no time must be lost in seeking medical aid.

With regard to the last cause (improper management), it may be well, in reference to it, to observe, that it sometimes happens that the rash comes out imperfectly, or, having appeared properly, suddenly retrocedes and disappears; and that under such circumstances the nurse will almost certainly, if not well watched, give the child “a good dose of sulphur in diluted spirit, or a glass of punch containing saffron,” which are considered specifics for bringing out the