Measles is perhaps the most widespread and common of all infectious diseases. Practically all human beings are susceptible to it. If one escapes a childhood infection, adult life is no protection. No age, sex, race or climate is exempt. Contrary to popular conception, it is a disease serious to life. In the year 1913 it was the cause of 8,108 deaths in the registration area of the United States, embracing 65 per cent, of the total population. In the same year, there were 5,498 deaths from scarlet fever. While the mortality is highest in children under 5 years of age, and particularly under 3, the recent experience in the army camps of this country shows that it may produce a high mortality among adults under certain conditions.
Methods of controlling this disease in private life or in institutions have been of little avail, so that any new method that bids