or less, will sometimes make their appearance just before the cutting
of a tooth, and disappear after it is cut; or it will sometimes happen
that, if not interfered with, they will continue throughout the whole
period of dentition. Great caution should always be exercised in
reference to these eruptions in all children; and when there is a
predisposition to water in the head, it is dangerous to interfere with
them at all, except they run to such an extent as to become very
troublesome. The sudden healing of these cutaneous affections has again
and again been followed by head-disease. They are unsightly in the
eyes of a parent, but it must be recollected that they render the
situation of such children much more safe; and when teething is
completed they will generally disappear spontaneously; or, if they
should not, they will readily do so by proper medical treatment. I have
no doubt that many a child's life has been saved by the appearance and
continuance of these eruptions; and so sensible are medical men of the
benefit derived from them, that in individuals in whom they do not
appear, and in whose family there exists a predisposition to the
disease now under our consideration, an issue or seton, in the arm or
neck, has sometimes been made, and had a remarkable influence in
warding off this affection. Dr. Cheyne refers to the circumstance of
ten children in one family having died of this disease; the eleventh,
for whom this measure was employed, having been preserved.
Stimulants, throughout the whole period of infancy and childhood, and
of every description, must be prohibited. Children nursed by drunken
parents, and who have indulged in the use of spirituous liquors during
suckling, are never healthy; are the frequent subjects of convulsions,
and many of them die eventually of water in the head. The practice of
administering spirits to the child itself; a habit unfortunately not
very uncommon among the lower classes; produces a similar result.
Narcotics may operate in a like manner: they derange the whole system
when persevered in, particularly affecting the brain; promote disease;
and sometimes give rise to the one in question. This remark should be
borne in mind by the mother, as Godfrey's Cordial and other
preparations of opium are too often kept in the nursery, and secretly
given by unprincipled nurses to quiet a restless and sick child.
All causes of mental excitement should be carefully avoided, and
particularly the too early or excessive exercise of the intellectual
faculties. If the child be endowed with a precocious intellect, the
parent must restrain rather than encourage its exercise. Nothing is
more likely to light up this disease in a constitution predisposed to
it, than a premature exertion of the brain itself.
MATERNAL MANAGEMENT OF THE DISEASE.--The early detection of this
disease is of great importance. The chances that the medical treatment
will terminate successfully much depend upon the early and prompt
application of remedial means. The reason why these cases have so often
terminated fatally has arisen from the physician being consulted when
irremediable mischief had already taken place. It would be difficult,
however, to point out the signs of its approach in all its forms (for
this disease does not always commence in the same way, sometimes with
fever, etc.), still it most frequently occurs preceded by certain
striking and well-marked symptoms; and whenever the following are
noticed by the parent apprehensive of mischief, she should at once send
for her medical adviser:--watchfulness, or starting from sleep with a
cry of alarm; prolonged screaming without any obvious cause; moaning
and drowsiness; rolling the head from side to side on the nurse's
arm, or thrusting it back against the pillow; knitting the brows and
aversion from light, with heat of head, and constant carrying the
little hand up to it; half closing the eyelids, and frequent vomiting.
The chief and principal point in the maternal management (for it
includes every other) is promptly and faithfully to administer the
remedies prescribed by the medical attendant. A vigilant maternal
superintendence is more necessary in this than almost any other
disease; and it is highly desirable, therefore, that the mother should
have a day and night nurse--individuals upon whom she can depend. A
careful notice of symptoms and changes in the patient, in the intervals
of the medical man's visits, and a true and faithful report to him upon
his return, are of essential importance. A sleepy nurse will neglect
the application of the most important remedies, and necessarily give an
unfaithful report of symptoms; hours the most valuable to the child's
well-doing are thus lost, and the chances of saving its life worse than
problematical.
The temperature of the room should be kept rather cool than warm, and
the bed-clothes only sufficient to preserve the natural heat of the
body. Strong light must be excluded. Great quiet should be observed.
Freedom from all excitement of the senses, and irritation of the
temper, should be carefully avoided: this is particularly necessary
where the child is naturally of a quick and sensitive disposition.
All the excretions must be put aside for the inspection of the
physician, but not kept in the sick chamber, which must be well aired,
and perfectly free from closeness. The regimen must be only such as is
ordered, and any departure therefrom will be attended with mischievous
consequences. During the early periods of the disease, all that is
required are cooling diluents, given frequently, and in small
quantities at a time; and upon approaching convalescence great
carefulness must be paid to the amount of nourishment allowed, lest the
disease be rekindled: strict compliance, therefore, to medical
directions must be given.
A very useful and indeed powerful remedy prescribed in this disease,
is sometimes rendered utterly useless from a want of a persevering and
also proper mode of applying it, viz. cold applications to the head.
It is to be effected either by means of cloths kept constantly wet with
cold water, or evaporating lotions; or by means of a bladder containing
pounded ice mixed with water. If the two former are employed they
require frequent renewal, or they become dry, hot, and more injurious
than useful; and whichever is used, it must be kept in constant contact
with the forehead, temples, and upper part of the head. Here is another
error; they are seldom used large enough, and only partially cover
these parts. With the further view of keeping the head cool, and
preventing the accumulation of heat, a flat horse-hair pillow should be
employed, and the head and shoulders somewhat raised.
Perseverance in the measures prescribed, even when the case appears
beyond all hope, must ever be the rule of conduct. Recovery, even in
the most advanced periods of the disease, in cases apparently
desperate, occasionally takes place. There is great reason to fear that
many a child has been lost from a want of proper energy and
perseverance on the part of the attendants in the sick room. They fancy
the case is hopeless, and, to use their own expression, "they will not
torment the child with medicine or remedies any longer."
"Whilst there is life, there is hope," is a sentiment which may with
great truth be applied to all the diseases of infancy and childhood.
Striking, indeed, are the recoveries which occasionally present
themselves to the notice of medical men; and those individuals may with
great justice be charged with unpardonable neglect who do not persevere
in the employment of the remedies prescribed, even up to the last hours
of the child's existence.
INDEX.
Ablution, or sponging, 125.
Abstinence, its good effect, in flatulence and griping in the infant,
50. 226.
Accidents and diseases which may occur to the infant at birth or soon
after, 187.
Acids, injurious to the teeth, 159.
Air and exercise, in infancy, 83.
--, in childhood, 89.
--, its importance to the mother whilst a nurse, 33.
Animal food, in childhood, 55.
--, its injurious effects upon the young and delicate child, 58.
Aperient liniment, 107.
--, medicine, 97.
--, poultice, 104.
Artificial feeding; the causes rendering it necessary, 34.
Artificial food; the proper kind for the child before the sixth
month, 35.
--; the mode of administering it, 39.
--; the quantity to be given at each meal, 42.
--; the frequency of giving it, 43.
--; the posture of the child when fed, 43.
--; the proper kind for the child after the sixth month, to the
completion of first dentition, 44.
--; the kind most suitable under the different complaints to which
infants are liable, 48.
Bath, the cold-water, plunge-bath, 118.
--, the shower, 123.
--, the warm, 128.
--, rules for the use of the warm bath, 131.
Bathing, sea, 120.
--, and cleanliness, during infancy, 72.
--, during childhood, 75.
Bleeding, from leech-bites, how controlled, 113.
--, from the navel string, 201.
--, navel, 203.
Blisters, mode of application, 114.
Bottle, nursing, 40.
Bowels, disorder of, in the infant, 208.
Breasts of the infant, swelling of, 195.
Breathing, how affected by disease, 175.
Calomel, danger in its use, 167.
--, injurious to the teeth, 160.
Carminative, Dalby's, 111.
Carriage, "a good carriage;" how best obtained, 95.
--; the sad results of the mode frequently adopted, 91.
Castor oil, 99.
Choice of a wet-nurse, rules for, 28.
Cleanliness and bathing, 72.
Clothing, in infancy, 78.
--, in childhood, 81.
Clysters, what kind best for children, 105.
--, mode of application, 106.
Cold, infants very susceptible of, 78.
Convulsions, 112, 167.
Cork-nipple teat, 41.
Costiveness, in infancy, 50. 229.
--, in childhood, 231.
Cough, as a sign of disease, 175.
Countenance, in health, 165.
Countenance, in disease, 165.
Croup, 176. 286.
Dalby's Carminative, 111.
Damp, induces disease in the infant, 85.
Dentition, easy, 136.
--, difficult, 139.
Diarrhoea, in the infant, 50. 227.
Dietetics of infancy, 2.
--, of childhood, 54.
--, general directions upon, and of animal food, 55.
--, sugar, 60.
--, salt, 61.
--, fruits, 62.
--, water, 63.
--, wine, beer, spirits, 63.
Diet, under the different complaints to which infants are liable, 48.
--, and regimen of a wet-nurse, 31.
Digestion, in the infant; time requisite for its performance, 42.
Discharge, from the eyes of the infant, 196.
Disease, the importance of its early detection, and hints upon, 162.
Dress, in infancy, 78.
--, in childhood, 81.
Enema. See Clysters.
Eruptions on the skin in infancy; how best prevented, 74.
--, about the head, and sores behind the ears, 295.
--, during teething, 147.
Exercise and air, in infancy, 85.
--, in childhood, 89.
--, horse-exercise; its importance to delicate children, 89.
Eyes, of the infant, discharge from, after birth, 196.
Fever, scarlet, 239.
Flannel clothing, 80.
Flatulence and griping in the infant, 50. 208. 226.
Food, for infants. See Artificial Feeding.
--, for children. See Dietetics of Childhood.
--, and regimen, for nurses, 31.
Fruits, 62.
Gestures, of the infant, in health and disease, 169.
Godfrey's cordial, 111.
Grief, its effects upon the mother's milk, 34.
Gums, of the infant in difficult dentition, the importance of their
being lanced, 140.
Hare-lip, how the infant may be nourished with this defect, 199.
Head, of the infant, swellings upon, when born, 193.
Hereditary transmission of scrofula and consumption; the best antidote
to, 20.
Hooping-cough, 275.
Horse-exercise, its importance to delicate children, 89.
Hunter's, Dr., experiments on the effects of wine upon children, 64.
Jaundice, in the infant after birth, 204.
Ice, how to be applied to the head, 127.
Indigestion, in the infant, 208.
Infant, food for. See Artificial Feeding.
--; when still-born, how to be managed, 187.
--; of injuries received during its birth, 193.
--; retention of its urine after its birth, 194.
--; swelling of the breasts after birth, 195.
--; discharge from the eyes, 196.
--; hare-lip, 199.
--; bleeding from the navel string, 201.
--; ulceration, or imperfect healing of the navel, 202.
Infant; bleeding from the navel, 203.
--, jaundice in, 204.
--, tongue-tied, 205.
--, moles and marks on the skin, 206.
Inflation of the lungs of the infant, the mode, 190.
Lavement, the proper kind for infants and children, 105.
Leech-bites; the mode of controlling the bleeding of, 113
Liniment, aperient, 107.
Looseness, 208.
Lungs of the infant, inflation of, 190.
Magnesia, 102.
Manna, 101.
Maternal nursing, 3.
--, management of the diseases of children, 184.
Measles, 258.
--, how distinguished from scarlet fever and small-pox, 255.
Medicine, aperient, 97.
Mercury, 107.
Milk, the mother's; how to be preserved healthy during suckling, 3.
--; deficiency of, 11.
--; drying up of, 54.
--, cow's; for infant's food, 35.
--, ass's; for infant's food, 37.
--, all kinds of, sometimes disagrees with the infant, 39.
Mind, anxiety of; effects upon the parent's milk, 24.
Moles and marks on the skin, 206.
Mothers, their duty in relation to suckling, 3.
--; those who ought never to suckle their children, 20. 24. 26.
Motions of the infant; what the appearance of, and how frequent, in
health, 99. 172.
--; their deranged condition, a sign of disease, 173.
Napkins, the infant's, 74.
Navel, bleeding from, 203.
--, ulceration or imperfect healing of, 202.
Navel-string, bleeding from, 201.
Naevi, or moles, 206.
Nurses, wet, rules for the choice of, 28.
--, diet and management of, 31.
Nursery medicines, 97.
Nursing, maternal, 3.
--; the plan to be adopted for the first six months, 7.
--; the plan to be followed after the sixth month to the time of
weaning, 9.
--; the injurious effects to the mother of undue and protracted
suckling, 15.
--; the injurious effects of undue and protracted suckling to the
infant, 18.
Opiates, 110. 297.
--, in teething, dangerous, 145.
Passion, its effect upon the breast-milk, 33.
Porter, of its use, by the mother during suckling, 1
--, when mischievous, 4.
Poultice, bread-and-water, how made, 116.
--, mustard, how made and applied, 115.
Purgative medicine, 97.
Retention of urine in the infant, 194.
Rhubarb, 103.
Rules for nursing, 3.
--, for the use of the warm bath, 181.
Salt, as a condiment, 61.
Scarlet fever, 239.
--, how distinguished from measles, 245.
Scrofulous constitution, 180.
Sea-bathing, 120.
Seasons (the), their influence in producing particular forms of
disorder, 178.
Shower-bath, 123.
Signs of health in the infant, what, 168.
--, of disease in the infant, what, 169.
Skin of the infant, importance of its perfect cleanliness, 72.
--, friction and sponging of, beneficial, 73.
Sleep, during infancy, 66.
--, childhood, 69.
--, how affected when the child is ill, 171.
Small-pox, 262.
Spirituous liquors, their pernicious effects to children, 63. 296.
Sponging, 125.
Spoon-feeding, 39.
Still-born, 187.
Stomach and bowels, their derangement, a fruitful source of disease,
208.
--, disorders of, in the infant at the breast, 210.
--, disorders of, at the period of weaning, 217.
--, disorders of, in the infant brought up by hand, 221.
--, their treatment, 222.
Stools of the infant, what the appearance of, and how frequent, in
health, 99. 172.
--, their deranged condition, a sign of disease, 173.
Suckling, plan of, 3.
--, by a wet-nurse, 27.
Sugar, 60.
Swelling of the breasts in the infant, 195.
Teat of the cow--the artificial--the cork, 41.
Teeth, of the permanent or adult teeth, 148.
--, the manner in which they appear, 148.
--, their value and importance, 152.
--, their management and preservation, 154.
Teething, easy; management of the child, 136.
--, difficult; hints upon, 139.
Tight-lacing, evils of, 92.
Tongue-tied, 205.
Ulceration or imperfect healing of the navel, 201.
Urine, retention of it in the infant after birth, 194.
Ventilation of the sleeping-rooms of children, 84.
--, its importance in sickness, 246.
Walking, the best mode of teaching a child, 87.
Warm bath, 128.
--, rules for the use of, 131.
--, directions for the use of, when the infant is stillborn, 192.
Water, as a beverage for children, 63.
--, in the head, 291.
Weaning, the time when to take place, 51.
--, the mode of effecting it, 52.
--; drying up the mother's milk, 53.
Wet-nurse suckling, 27.
--, rules for the choice of, 28.
--, diet and management of, 31.
Wine, its pernicious effects in childhood, 63.
Worms, 234.
THE END.
Also by Dr. Bull,
HINTS TO MOTHERS
FOR THE
MANAGEMENT OF THEIR HEALTH.
Second Edit, greatly enlarged, foolscap 8vo.
7s. cloth lettered.
Opinions of the Press.
"A very valuable compendium for all who expect to become mothers.--In
the short preface prefixed to this little work, Dr. Bull judiciously
remarks, that feelings of delicacy often prevent many young married
females from making to their medical attendant, a full disclosure of
the circumstances connected with their state, and which render medical
assistance necessary. The object of the work is to meet this
difficulty, by furnishing a species of information for which married
women are often very unwilling to ask, although they readily search for
it in books. The matter of Dr. Bull's treatise is arranged completely
in a popular form--in one that is best calculated to be understood by
the fair readers to whom it is addressed; and contains a variety of
useful information, so clearly conveyed as to render it a very valuable
compendium for all women who expect to become mothers."--Lancet.
"A valuable monitor to the fair sex. It contains so much useful
advice for every woman likely to become a mother, that married men
would do well to provide it for their partners."--Spectator.
"This little volume is the benevolent contribution of good sense and
professional skill, to the well-being of those who have the strongest
claims on our sympathy. Unfortunately a vast mass of erroneous notions
exists in the class to whom it is addressed; to which, and to the
concealment prompted by delicacy, until the time for medical aid is
gone by, we are indebted for very much of the danger and suffering
incident to the periods they are destined to pass through. Dr. Bull, in
the true spirit of a physician and a gentleman, has by his perspicuous
statements removed the first, and by his judicious and simple
directions, anticipated the last of these fruitful sources of evil.
There is no mother that will not be heartily thankful that this book
ever fell into her hands; and no husband who should not present it to
his wife. We cannot urge its value too strongly on all whom it
concerns."--Eclectic Review.
"We recommend it to our readers; and they will confer a benefit on
their new-married patients by recommending it to them."--British and
Foreign Medical Review.
"Dr. Bull has performed a very kind and important office in the
publication before us."--Patriot.
"We never read any popular treatise, or directions rather, that bear
more strongly the stamp of scientific and expert mental knowledge. The
mere reading of our Author's book will do more good in the way of
encouraging the fearful, and banishing nervous anxiety, than a whole
conclave of the wisest and most sanguine matrons that society can
anywhere bring together."--Monthly Review.
"This little manual will prove useful exactly in proportion to the
extent of its circulation."--Medical Gazette.