Infectious Diseases: Out, Red Spot

The Federal Government last week declared its determination to eradicate measles from the U.S. in 1967. Up the chain of command from Surgeon General William H. Stewart of the U.S. Public Health Service to President Johnson went the word: from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 children aged one to seven will be vaccinated this year, largely with the aid of federal funds funneled through 42 state and 61 city-county programs.

The Government's ambitious plans apply only to the common "seven-day" measles, or rubeola—not to be confused with the three-day "German" measles or rubella, for which a vaccine has not yet been perfected. Though...