The deeper meaning behind "almost no healthy children die of the measles" is that, when children do die of the measles, it's only ever because they were already ill. And the deeper meaning behind that is "well, we can't save 'em all." And that's just...17th century thinking.

Emperor Caligula stunned the Roman Senate by announcing his intention to "promote" his horse Incitatus to consul. As outlandish as this proclamation appeared, Caligula was highlighting a genuine issue: the declining relevance of Rome's traditional political institutions and their need for reform.