_Symptoms_ of any _Indisposition_, and however careful the Honest Nurse
may be of its _Diet_ and _Regimen_; yet it seldom happens, but it
undergoes some one or more of the _following subitaneous
Inconveniencies_, viz.——
I. GRIPES or _Pains_ of the BELLY, which may proceed either from the
MECONIUM, its not being timely, or not fully evacuated; or from the
NURSE’S _Milk_, its generating _Wind_ and _acid Humours_, either by her
using improper flatulent FOOD, or from the BABE’S sucking more _Milk_
than its _Stomach_ can digest: Or the same _Pains_ and _Gripes_ may also
proceed from the _Effects_ of cold AIR, or from WORMS in the
_Intestines_, or from the _unseasonable use_ of PAP, _&c._
THIS Affection in general is known by the _Inquietude_ and _Crying_ of
the INFANT, which is now (in a manner) averse to the BREAST, continually
turning itself here and there, without Rest or Intermission of _Pain_;
But more particularly, _This_ proceeding from the MECONIUM, may be
distinguished and known by the _Colour_ of the _Excrements_, since the
MECONIUM is always _black_, and as soon as it is altogether voided, the
STOOL becomes _pale_; and _that_ may be readily cured by the means
already prescribed[188]. If this _Affection_ proceeds from WIND, it may
be known by the CHILD’S frequently _belching_ and the BELLY’S
_swelling_, if from COLD, the _use_ of PAP, or from any _pituitous
viscid Humour_, the BELLY is most commonly _bound_, and the _Cure_
differs but little from the preceeding _Case_. If from corrupted MILK or
_acid Humours_, the _Condition_ is most commonly attended with a
DIARRHÆA, and the _Excrements_ are of a greenish or _Saffron Colour_:
The _Cure_ of which, depends upon proper _Abstergents_ and Evacuations.
If at last from WORMS, their proper _Diagnosticks_ shew it, of which in
their Place.
II. SOMETIMES an _Extension_ or shooting forth of the NAVEL happens to
the CHILD, and that frequently to the Bigness of an EGG, more or less;
which _Case_ is properly call’d an EXOMPHALON, and proceeds either from
the continual _Cries_, or violent _Coughs_ of the INFANT, or from a
_Laxation_ or _Rupture_ of the PERITONÆUM, or sometimes from an
_Exulceration_ of the NAVEL.
IN this _Condition_, whatever the _Cause_ may be, the sooner that the
_Cure_ is undertaken, the more easily it is perform’d; for which End,
after removing the Causes of _Crying_ or _Coughing_, the relaxed
PERITONÆUM may be strengthened and astringed; as when bursten, it may be
reunited and consolidated by proper CATAPLASMS and SWATHS; after
replacing the _Intestines_ (if fallen down) keeping the CHILD for the
most part in _Bed_, with its BELLY always _loose_, and never _too full_.
III. AND the same is the Method of _Cure_, in _Case_ of an _Intestinal_
RUPTURE, otherwise call’d ENTEROCELE, i. e. HERNIA; only, That a _Truss_
is now more convenient than a SWATH: However in this Place I would
observe that all _Tumours_ of the SCROTUM, are not to be mistaken for
the present _Bursten Case_; because the same may also happen from a
_Watry Humour_ collected in that Part, which is more properly call’d an
HYDROCELE, and is easily distinguish’d from the ENTEROCELE: Insomuch,
that, in this _Condition_ the _Tumour_ is most commonly, in one part of
the SCROTUM, I mean in its _Right_ or _Left Side_; when also the fallen
_Intestines_ may be perceiv’d by the _Touch_; as the RUPTURE or _Hole_
through which the _Intestines_ are fallen, may be by the _Finger_:
Whereas in the _Case_ of an HYDROCELE, the _Tumour_ is commonly in _both
Sides_, and the SCROTUM is more puffed up, neither is there any _Hole_
of a RUPTURE to be found in the PERITONÆUM. The _Cure_ of which _Case_
depends entirely upon proper _Absorbents_, or _Discutients_, for
resolving and drying up the WATER, or dissipating the WIND, and
afterwards upon _Corroboratives_ for confirming the _Parts_. But after
All, in the mean Time this _Tumour_ is also sometimes, upon occasion,
properly open’d by a LANCET to evacuate its _preternatural Contents_.
IV. AN _Inflammation_ or _Exulceration_ of the NAVEL may happen to the
CHILD, by the _String’s_ falling off too soon, or before it be fully
clos’d and _cicatriz’d_; which may proceed from any violent Agitation of
the BELLY, by continual _Crying_, vehement _Coughing_, &c. as it also
may from an unskilful _Ligature_ of the STRING, or from cold AIR; upon
which sometimes follows a great loss of _Blood_, and even DEATH itself,
if not timely prevented.
THIS _Inflammation_ is known by the NAVEL’S swelling-up, being red and
hard with _Heat_ and _Pulsation_; In which _Case_ after appeasing the
INFANT’S _Coughs_, or _Cries_, &c.—I would apply to it the _Unguentum
refrigerans Galeni & Populeon_, each one half mix’d; or a small
_Bolster_ dip’d in the _Oil of Roses_ with a little _Vinegar_.
BUT, and if the NAVEL continues _Ulcer’d_ after the falling of the
STRING from it; in that _Case_ proper _Desiccative_ and _Astringent
Medicines_ are to be apply’d, such as small _Rags_ dipp’d in
_Lime-Water_, but not too strong; or in _Plantane-Water_, wherein a
little ALUM has been dissolved. If the ULCER be but small, a _Pledget_
of _Dry Lint_ will be sufficient; observing always to keep a good
_Linnen Compress_ on the _Top_ of whatsoever _Remedy_ is us’d, with a
SWATH to keep all fast, until the NAVEL be perfectly heal’d and
_cicatriz’d_; lest at the same time it should also force itself
_outwards_, as in the ’foregoing _Case_.
V. THE _Child_ is also very frequently troubled with the APHTHÆ, or
_Ulcers of the Mouth_; commonly call’d the THRUSH: Proceeding either
from vitious _Milk_, or from its _Corruption_, in the STOMACH; emitting
sharp _Vapours_, which readily affect the tender Skin and Superfice of
the INFANT’S _Mouth_, and _that_ the more easily, because the same
_Tunick_, or _Skin_, which invests the _Mouth_, is common to the
_Gullet_, which naturally communicates the _Affections_ of the VENTRICLE
to the _Jaws_. Hence it is that the _Nice Taste_ of the _delicate_
TONGUE so readily distinguishes all _Relishes_; and hence it is that the
Ingenious _Physician_, by looking upon the TONGUE only, is able to judge
of the prevailing _Intemperament_ of the whole Body.
THE _Cure_ of these THRUSHES, proceeding as aforesaid from the _acid
Vapours_ of bad MILK, or from its ill _Digestion_, depends properly and
entirely upon defeating and obtunding the ACRIMONY, by _proper
Absorbents_, and gentle _Purgatives_.
VI. ANOTHER _Symptom_ not only familiar, but even _Natural_, to all
CHILDREN, is their _Teething_; which tho’ _This_ be the mere Work of
NATURE, yet because of the various _Distempers_ and _Symptoms_, which
commonly attend and conjoin this DENTITION, it is not improperly
reckon’d in the CATEGORY of the _Diseases_ of INFANTS: Which however is
to be understood, not of the _Simple_ DENTITION, but of the difficult
_Breeding of Teeth_; Not but that the CHILD is furnished with _Teeth_
even before BIRTH, tho’ they lurk so long in their proper _Sockets_,
being cover’d with the GUMS, until their due Time of _Eruption_[189].
Tho’ in the _Interim_, it has been observed that some CHILDREN have
brought eminent TEETH with them into the World[190], as it is also for
_Instance_, particularly reported of LEWIS the XIV of _France_.
BUT however the TEETH most commonly break out about the _Seventh Month_,
and first those call’d _Dentes Incisores_, or the _four_ fore-TEETH;
which after a short _Interval_, are followed by the _two_ _Dog-Teeth_,
commonly call’d the EYE-TEETH; and at last succeeded by the eight
_Cheek-Teeth_ or GRINDERS, in each Jaw; the two last of the _Molares_,
properly called _Dentes Sapientiæ_, springing only out about, or after
the one and twentieth Year. Now as this _Eruption_, particularly _that_
of the DOG-TEETH, because of their very deep _Root_ and small _Nerve_,
cannot happen without an _exquisite Sense_, and _intense Pain_ to the
INFANT; so, from the continual _Solution_ of the GUMS, many
præternatural _Affections_ seize the CHILD, according to _Hippocrates’s_
Catalogue[191]; to which, in short, I must only refer: Because if I was
to enter upon the particular _Detail_ of all _These_, I should extend
the _Limits_ of this WORK beyond all measure; wherefore I shall
endeavour to comprehend them all under the _one following general Head_;
viz.——
[Illustration]
CHAP. XII.
_Of the Acute Diseases of_ INFANTS.
THE very tender _Nature_ and infirm _Constitution_ of CHILDREN, subject
them to many various and grievous _Symptoms_, besides those to which
they are expos’d by a vast variety of _Procatarctick Causes_. But as I
am not in this place to enter upon the _Detail_ of these particular
_Symptoms_, neither shall I enumerate their respective _Causes_: Which
however is the less requisite, considering the _Regimen_ and _Nursement_
of the CHILD already prescribed in the foregoing _Chapters_; since the
_least step_, degenerating from what is there inculcated, may prove an
effectual _mediate Cause_; for all that indeed, according to the most
Learned and Excellent Dr. _Harris_, the only _immediate Cause_ of all
CHILDREN’S _Diseases_ is, an _Active_ and _prevailing_ ACID[192].
THIS _Doctrine_, in as much as the _Constitution_ of INFANTS is
undeniably most _Humid_, appears also evident from _Hippocrates_’s his
own Words, saying, _the Rise of all Diseases is one and the same, the
Place only makes the Difference_[193]. Hence we may justly conclude,
FIRST, _That_, however the _Symptoms_ may differ in _degree_, the
_Diseases_ of the INFANT-_State_ are but very _few_: SECONDLY, That the
_Cure_ of _these_ is far more Safe and Easy, than _those_ of full _grown
Persons_: THIRDLY, That the _Younger_ the _Sick_ CHILD is, the more easy
still is the _Cure_: Because its tender Body, abounding with _Natural_
and _acquired Moisture_, is soft and flexile, and consequently apt to
receive any _Alteration_: And FOURTHLY, I observe that the INFANT easily
falls into _Sickness_, or may be suddenly taken Ill, and as readily
restored to _Health_, if but carefully and ingenuously _treated_:
Because any _Impression_ whatsoever, good or bad, is sooner received by
a _Soft_, than by a _Hard Body_; tho’, I confess, the same is more
_Lasting_, if once strongly impressed upon the _Hard adult
Constitution_.
NOW as to the _Diagnosticks_ of CHILDREN’S _Diseases_, These depend
chiefly upon the _Relation_ of the NURSES; since all _Sentiments_ taken
from their unruly PULSES, or their (naturally) thick URINES, prove most
_Uncertain_. However, as the STOMACH is always affected with an _Acid
Distemper_, (whatever the reigning _Disease_ may be, or howsoever it may
be intitled by ingenious _Authors_) so it most commonly produces
_Fastidy_ or _Loathing_ of VICTUALS, _Vomiting_ of a thick GELLY, or a
viscid and coagulated PHLEGM, sour _Belchings_, and EXCREMENTS of a
sourish _Smell_, and a greenish _Colour_, especially in the Beginning.
As afterwards——
IF the _Distemper_ continues, the PATIENT turns gradually _Pale_, and
its discoloured FACE is tinged a little _Green_ or _Yellowish_; The
BELLY swells with _Wind_, which breaks frequently _upwards_; one or more
red _Pustules_ (a certain sign of _Acidity_) commonly rise in the FACE,
or upon some other _upper Part_ of the Body; and the INFANT growing
daily worse, _breathes high_, and _smells sour_ or ACID.
AGAIN, As to the _Prognosticks_ of these _Distempers_, of what kind
soever they be, which afflict the INFANT; I cannot in short, but readily
agree with the most Ingenious _Doctor_ before-mentioned, who plainly
tells us, that _These_ depend chiefly upon the Method of _Cure_, and the
_Conduct_ of the NURSE; Wherefore I proceed to the CURE.
AS to this point then of the _Cure_ of CHILDREN’S _Diseases_, I shall
FIRST observe that, how _many_ soever these _Distempers_ are accounted,
according to the REGISTERS of _Polite Authors_, by what Name soever they
are denominated, and how learnedly soever defin’d, as they all proceed
from one immediate _efficient Cause_, (which has been already hinted at)
so the _Cure_ of them all is the same, and depends, in like manner, upon
_One only regular Method_.
SECONDLY, I observe that as this _Cause_ is nothing else than an _Acid
Humour_, abounding in the _Stomach_, and coagulating the _imbib’d
Nourishment_ of the INFANT, (as is evident from all the given
_Diagnosticks_) so the proper _Method of Cure_, depends entirely upon
obtunding that _Acidity_, dissolving those _Coagulations_, and
eliminating the _peccant Matter_. But more particularly,
HAVING always a great and due regard to the _natural Debility_, and
_tender Constitution_ of the _Young_ PATIENT, the _Acid_ ought first to
be prepared by prudent means, and then to be carried off by proper
_Medicines_. I say _prepared_ by prudent Means, because _this_ is no
indifferent Matter; For if we should take the same Method with these
tender _Creatures_ in this _Case_, that we do with more _adult Persons_
we would certainly _miscarry_ in our Attempts; or if we should attempt
this Preparation, by _Alexipharmacks_, _Cordials_, (improperly so
call’d) _Causticks_, or _Sudorificks_; these Things being most
prejudicial to the Nature of _young_ ONES, would rather promote the
_Crudity_, than the _Concoction_ of the HUMOURS.
THEREFORE the ingenious Doctrine of the Excellent Doctor HARRIS, must
certainly take place here, namely[194],that _the most temperate Things
most securely absorb the prevailing Acidity, and that the more Simple
and Gentle the Remedies are, the more Safe and Certain the Cure is._
HENCE the simple _Testaceous Medicines_ mentioned by him, are not to be
paralleled in the present _Case_; since they effectually mitigate all
_Ebullitions_, and gradually become the most safe and powerful
_Anodines_: Insomuch, that they, in a word, as certainly asswage all the
_Pains_, _Gripes_, _Disquiets_, _Watchings_, &c. of CHILDREN; as
_Narcoticks_, or _Opiats_, do allay those of older People.
THE Body being then alter’d by these means, and the _Humours_ duly
prepared, they are to be forthwith ejected, or timely purged off, even
from the _youngest_ INFANTS, as well as from those of riper Years: The
_Doses_ and _Quantities_ of all sorts, being discreetly adapted to the
_Age_ and _Strength_ of the CHILD, under what _Form_ soever they may be
given.
UPON this Head, I might indeed pretend to expatiate, but because,
whatever _I_, or any _other ingenuous Person_, understanding the Matter
in Hand, may attempt to offer, will only terminate in, and be
consentaneous to, what my last quoted _Author_ has plainly laid down,
and concisely comprehended in a few _emphatick Words_; I shall here
also, for Brevity’s-sake, set Bounds to my _Progress_. And thus, in
short, having at large, and in every particular Respect, faithfully
discharged my _Duty_, both as _Physician_ and MIDWIFE, to the CHILD as
well as to the MOTHER; I now take leave of both the _one_ and the
_other_, and in the next place, come briefly to touch upon the _Reverse
Cases_.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
SECT. VII.
[Illustration]
CHAP. I.
_Of Præternatural_ CONCEPTIONS.
HAVING particularly defin’d the _Natural Conception_, in Chap. I. Sect.
III. and hitherto treated of its various different _Consequences_, both
in GESTATION, BIRTH and CHILD-BED; I come in the next place (conformable
to my promise before-mentioned) to treat of the opposite and _reverse
Case_, commonly call’d (by the _Authors_) a vitious or depravated
CONCEPTION: Which however, I shall distinguish by the general TITLE of
_præternatural_, as I have one _Set_ of BIRTHS under the same
Denomination, contained in Sect. V. But——
NOW, because I judge all such CONCEPTIONS as well as BIRTHS, to be
_præternatural_, which, tho’ not according to the _ordinary Institution_
of NATURE, are yet however not _repugnant_ to NATURE: And because such
CONCEPTIONS, as well as the _Præternatural_ BIRTHS already defin’d,
happen after many different ways and manners; I shall also reduce and
divide them into _two_ CLASSES, _viz._——
FIRST, _Præternatural_ CONCEPTIONS in respect of the _Number_; to which
belong all _Superfætations_, and other Numerous CONCEPTIONS; And
SECONDLY, _Præternatural_ CONCEPTIONS in respect to the _Form_ or
_Substance_; to which belong all _false_ CONCEPTIONS, MOLES, MONSTERS,
_&c._ Of all which particularly and briefly in their due Order, and
FIRST——
[Illustration]
CHAP. II.
_Of_ SUPERFÆTATIONS.
A SUPERFÆTATION is nothing else than a _Second_ (after a _First_)
CONCEPTION: Since if divers INFANTS may be _conceiv’d_ at one _Embrace_,
as will evidently appear from the following _Chapter_, we may easily
believe, that _two_, _three_, or _more Embraces_, may most probably have
the same _Effect_: Which is sufficiently confirm’d by the Experience of
_Hippocrates_[195] himself, as well as by many other most Learned
_Authors_[196].
WHEREFORE I shall spend no time in reciting here any _Instances_ I have
met with of this _Nature_; only I refer the _Curious_ to a very famous
collected _History_ of such BIRTHS, as in the _Margin_[197]. Whence the
Certainty of _Superfætation_ is not to be doubted, and much less to be
disputed: And according to _Aristotle_ the same may happen, after the
_Second_ or _Third Day_, from first Conception, as well as after so many
_Months_[198]. But farther,——
THE _Cause_ of all _Superfætations_ is only an _Apertion_ of the
_Orifice_ of the WOMB, at the Effusion of the _Virile_ SEED. Which
however (according to _Avicen_) only happens to such _Women_, as have
plenty of BLOOD, or a _Calid_ WOMB, desirous of _Copulation_, or to such
as have their MENSTRUA after the _first_ CONCEPTION.
SUPERFÆTATIONS however are not easily discover’d before BIRTH; at which
time, _Avicen_ advises to take Notice of the NAVEL-STRING; _For_ (says
He) _if it be without folds or wrinkles, there is but one_ CHILD; _if
otherways, there’s a Child for every Wrinkle_: But I think the expert
MIDWIFE using her _Hand_, as I have not unadvisedly inculcated[199],
will have but small Occasion for such _Observations_, and far less
_Need_ to trust to them.
BUT when more than _one_ CHILD is found, they are distinguishable, (I
mean _Superfætations_) from _These_ conceiv’d at one time; _those_
having each a _peculiar_ SECUNDINE; _these_ ONE only in Commune: As the
_one_ is also less vital and more imperfect, than the _other_; according
to the interval of Time betwixt their CONCEPTIONS.
THE _Cure_ or Prevention of this _Case_ is much the same with the
following, _viz._
[Illustration]
CHAP. III.
_Of a Numerous_ CONCEPTION.
A _Numerous_ CONCEPTION may happen either with, or without
SUPERFÆTATION: And _that without_, may be truly call’d _Monstrous_; as
all BIRTHS, exceeding the Number of the _Woman’s Breasts_, or the
SINUS’S of her WOMB, may be justly accounted.
I could also give many Instances of this sort of BIRTHS, where 3, 4, 5,
and more CHILDREN have been _born at once_, but shall satisfy myself
with _This_, which I think is one of the most remarkable, _viz._ _That_
of the _Countess Margaret_,[200] Daughter to _Florent_ IV. _Earl of
Holland_, and SPOUSE to _Count Herman of Heneberg_; who, on
_Good-Friday_, in the Year of our LORD 1276, and of her _Age_ 42,
brought forth at one BIRTH 365 INFANTS; whereof 182, are said to have
been _Males_, as many _Females_, and the odd one an HERMAPHRODITE: who
were all _baptized_, _those_ by the Name of JOHN, _these_ by that of
ELIZABETH, in two _Brazen Dishes_, by _Don William, Suffragan Bishop of
Treves_. The BASONS are still to be seen in the _Village Church_ of
_Losdun_, where all _Strangers_ go (on purpose) from the _Hague_, being
reckon’d among the great CURIOSITIES of _Holland_. For farther and more
instances of this Nature, I refer the Curious to a large collected
_History_ of such, by the _Author_ mentioned in the _Margin_[201] From
whence the Certainty of _Numerous_ CONCEPTIONS will evidently appear.
AGAIN the _Cause_ of such _Numerous_ CONCEPTIONS is (according to
_Avicenna_’s just Opinion) the _Division_ of the SEED in numerous
_Portions_, or _Proportions_; which may happen, either because of the
WOMB, or because of the INJECTOR: Because of the WOMB, when its _Cavity_
is larger than ordinary; or when it too greedily _attracts_ to all its
Parts; or when the divided SEED adheres separately to the singular
_Uterine Veins_: Insomuch, that if what has been recorded of the
abovesaid _Countess_ be true, it is not improbable that, there may be a
CONCEPTION for every _Orifice_ of the _Uterine Veins_, and that every
_Vessel_ may attract its own distinct _share_ of the SEMINAL _Matter_,
and thereupon initiate a respective CONCEPTION, tho’ it cannot possibly
bring it to _Perfection_.
MOREOVER the same may also happen, because of an irregular INJECTION,
namely, when _that_ is perform’d by _stops_ and _intervals_; then the
WOMB attracting accordingly, may occasion different CONCEPTIONS,
according to the different _Immissions_ or _Divisions_ of the SEED.
BUT these CONCEPTIONS, whether _two_, _three_, or _more_, are always
annexed to, and contained in one common SECUNDINE. And tho’ the _Woman_,
by reason of her good Constitution of _Body_ and WOMB, may do well in
the time of _Gestation_, yet her _Præternatural Condition_ in the BIRTH,
always threatens _Danger_, as is already made out more manifestly[202].
NOW as to the _Cure_ or Prevention of both _this_ and the _preceding
Case_, I know but one only grateful Method of performing it; _viz._ by
refrigerating and reducing the too _calid_ WOMB to a convenient
_Temperature_, and using a proper _Regimen_ of _Health_ and DIET; and
_that_ both before and after CONCEPTION.
[Illustration]
CHAP. IV.
_Of False_ CONCEPTIONS.
HAVING already also particularly defin’d the _real_ or _true_ CONCEPTION
in _Sect._ III. Chap. I. I come now in like manner to the REVERSE of
that _Case_, properly call’d a _false_ CONCEPTION. But that I may, in
this Point, be well understood,——
A _False_ CONCEPTION, in my Opinion, is nothing else, but a
_Protuberancy_ of the _Woman_’s BELLY, attended with some, if not with
most, of the _Symptoms_ of the Months of GESTATION: which however, is no
ways occasion’d by a humane FOETUS, but (on the contrary) either by
_Water_ and _Winds_, or _Wind_ and _Water_ vitiously mixed; which is
also pertinently call’d a _Dropsy_ of the WOMB: Or then, by a corrupted
_Viscid_, or _pituitous Matter_ collected in the WOMB; and that either
proceeding from weak and vitious SEED, or from some extraordinary
_Intemperature_ of the WOMB, which may hinder the _Elaboration_ of the
SEED and BLOOD, and consequently the _Accomplishment_ of the CONCEPTION:
Or the same may also finally proceed from the _Impurity_ of the
MENSTRUA, which may corrupt the SEED, and convert it to _Aqueous_,
_purulent_, or _other_ HUMOURS.
THIS _false_ CONCEPTION is attended (besides the common _Symptoms_ of a
_true_ CONCEPTION) with inordinate FEVERS, PAINS of the _Head_, _Neck_,
_Loins_, _Groins_, _Back_, and _Belly_: Which BELLY swells sooner than
in the _Condition_ of _real_ CONCEPTION; and which, if struck with the
_Hand_, gives a _Sound_ like a DRUM whence ’tis also call’d a TYMPANY:
The whole _Body_ is hence discoloured; the _Feet_, and sometimes the
_Face_ swells; and only a little (if any) _watery_ MILK is found in the
_Breasts_. THE _Cure_ of the _Case_ depends entirely upon proper
_Evacuations_, peculiar to the _Quality_ of what is to be evacuated.
Whence I come to treat of the _Conception_ of MOLES.
[Illustration]
CHAP. V.
_Of_ MOLES.
A MOLE is properly nothing else, than a _fleshy Mass_ (instead of a
FOETUS) engender’d, of an _imperfect_ CONCEPTION, in the WOMB. And is so
call’d, because (_quasi Lapis Molaris_) like a MILL-STONE, its _weight_
infests the _Woman_.