Measles: Alternative Treatments

Measles has returned with a vengeance in California, Germany and other locales. My book reflects on a time when science was grasping for a means to treat the children's disease. Gamma globulin, acquired from blood, began to be used when the American Red Cross announced its availability in 1944. Until then gamma globulin was reserved for use by the U.S. military. A surplus meant that it was available to treat severe measles epidemics in the United States in 1946 and 1948. Pharmaceutical companies agreed to sell gamma globulin to the public at large. My e-book considers the use of gamma globulin and amidopyrine to treat measles, especially by a group of Chicago physicians. Their work and results was published in the American Medical Journal and other professional publications. Amidopyrine was administered to measles patients by a physician who is also credited with a breakthrough development in the treatment of meningococcal meningitis. Both gamma globulin and amidopyrine are relevant alternatives to the standard measles vaccine and more recent ways of combatting measles outbreaks. My e-book looks also at the demographics of measles epidemics in upstate New York, especially the severe outbreaks of 1946 and 1948. It is a useful tool for researchers and is well illustrated. For persons interested primarily in historic population demographics and health statistics this e-book is also quite pertinent.