On some Recently Developed Methods for Measles Prophylaxis.

Abstract

That the human race is extremely susceptible to the ravages of measles is well known, Brownlee not being guilty of much exaggeration when he states that, in the presence of infection, the only way to avoid this disease is to have had it. MacNalty (1918) states in his report on the subject to the Local Government Board that “the disease is so universal in this country that few children escape it,” this being particularly true in reference to the poorer urban classes. Butler (1913) found as a result of the study of the statistics for the public elementary schools of Willesden that among persons who had attained the age of 15 and upwards, only 2·7 per cent. had escaped measles. Zingher states that amongst children who have not previously suffered from the disease, and who are exposed to it, between 96 and 98 per cent. will develop it.