Mumps

an acute infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the salivary glands. Although not positive, physicians are of the opinion that the disease, like measles, scarlet fever, and whooping cough, is due to a specific bacterium or bacillus; that is to say, a minute plant, which is communicated from person to person and breeds rapidly in the saliva. Boys are more apt to be afflicted than girls. The disease shows itself from seven to fourteen days after exposure. It reaches its height in from three to four days, then goes down rapidly, lasting from four to ten days. There seems to be no way of cutting it short. The danger from mumps is so slight that the swollen check of the patient is ordinarily a source of amusement to his friends.