The fact that numerous contagious diseases have less severe manifestations as a rule during warm months has led to the popular opinion that it is a good thing for a child to contract such diseases as scarlet fever, measles, mumps, and whooping-cough when the mild form prevails. Physicians owe it to the public to correct this erroneous impression. The following case which developed a rare complication illustrates the error of this opinion.
History.—
F. M. W., girl, aged 4, residing in the country, previously a robust healthy child, contracted whooping-cough about June 1, 1910; the disease continued for six weeks. The weather was ideal. During the second week of the disease there developed areas of purpura hemorrhagica due to the mechanical cause. Every time there was a severe paroxysm of coughing, either the spot would enlarge or a new focus of hemorrhage would appear and then gradually enlarge with subsequent