Karie Youngdahl on Measles

In 1713, Cotton Mather, a prominent Boston minister who would bring the practice of smallpox variolation to the colonies, watched helplessly as measles devastated his family. On October 18 of that year he wrote in his diary, “The Measles coming into the Town, it is likely to be a Time of Sickness, and much Trouble in the Families of the Neighbourhood.” That day his eldest son became ill. Two daughters developed measles over the next few days. However, in the midst of this “heavy Calamity,” there was joy: his wife gave birth to twins Eleazar and Martha. But in quick succession Mather’s wife, three more daughters, another son, and the maid contracted measles. On November 8 he wrote that his wife has “surprising Symptomes of Death upon her.” She died the next day while one of the daughters was worsening. On November 14, the maid died, and the newborns were noted to be ill with measles and “languishing in the Arms of Death.” Tiny Eleazar died on November 18 and his twin, Martha, died soon after. Finally, last to be struck down, was the “lovely Jerusha,” aged 2 years, 7 months, who had been a particular delight to Mather. In just a few weeks, measles had claimed four members of his family. Terrible narratives like this would become less frequent as time passed because of changing epidemiological dynamics, generally improved health, and better medical care, but measles was never seen as an entirely benign disease. As Alexander Monro (secundus) (1733-1817) wrot...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news