German Measles (Rubella or Roetheln), is an eruptive form of children's
disease, much more harmless than the disturbances previously depicted.
It is one which occurs in epidemics, but to which children individually
are largely susceptible; the actual contagium thereof, however, is
likewise unknown to science.
Eight days generally intervene between the time of infection and the
breaking out of the rash.
During this period no acute symptom is noticeable. In the majority of
cases the fever that precedes the eruption is not high; headache, cold
and sorethroat accompany the appearances of the rash, which in this case
breaks out at once, and not after several days, as in the case of actual
measles. The spots are about the size of lentils, and are quite deep
red, appearing first upon the face.
After the rash has been out for one or two days, it gradually becomes
paler, the fever goes down, and recovery progresses rapidly, usually
without any after effects.
It is not necessary for the patient to remain in bed longer than three
or four days; nevertheless, the treatment should be just the same as
prescribed in the case of the real measles, so as not to leave any
weakness or subsequent complication.
There are many other forms of disease, besides these, which are likewise
accompanied by fever and a rash, which also appear in epidemics and are
evidently due to a great variety of causes. As they, however, invariably
run the natural course, I shall not dwell upon them here.