Dentition commences about the seventh month. At that time inflammations
of the gums, cheeks, and tendons are apt to occur; and sometimes
convulsions. The child must then get nothing which requires mastication;
and his gums should be rubbed frequently when in the bath with the
finger, or soothed with the fat of fowls or the brain of a hare. When
the teeth are just coming through, the neck, jaws, and head should be
wrapped in soft wool, or they may be anointed with warm sweet oil, some
of which ought to be poured into the pores of the ears. The child ought
then to have a more generous quality of food, and be bathed in warm
water. If he have diarrhœa, it is proper to bind his belly by epithemes,
namely, such as are of an astringent nature, as cumin, dill, or parsley,
sprinkled upon wool. It is proper to mix the seeds of roses, and, in
short, to use hot desiccants. If the bowels are constipated, they may be
gently roused to action by means of a suppository of honey, or the belly
may be anointed with mint pounded in honey. But the best remedy for the
convulsions of children, apparently, is to bathe them in water wherein
turnsol (_heliotropium_) has been boiled. It will be of consequence also
to use the oil of privet, of the iris, and the Sicyonian oil; and, in
short, everything which is of a calefacient nature. But when the teeth
have come through so as to bite the fingers, it may be proper that he
keep in his mouth the root of the iris, shaven down and not quite dried.
This also is of use to ulcers. Butter likewise rubbed in with honey will
be of service. The flesh of an old pickle relieves pruritus of the gums.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See, in particular, Oribasius (Synops. v, 9), and Aëtius (iv,
9.) Hippocrates and Aëtius recommend a jasper amulet. Hippocrates remarks
that fevers, pruritus, looseness of the bowels, and convulsions are apt
to come on at the time of dentition, if the child be plethoric, and his
bowels constipated. (Aphoris, cum Comment. Galeni.) Aretæus makes the
same statement. (Morb. acut. i, 6.)
Moschion directs the gums of the child to be rubbed, after the fifth
month, with sweet oil, the fresh grease of a hen, the brain of a hare,
and lastly with boiled honey. When inflammation supervenes afterwards, he
recommends fumigations and cataplasms, and directs the food and drink of
the nurse to be restricted. (c. 119.)
The directions given by Avicenna are similar to those of Moschion. (i,
3, 1.) Alsaharavius properly states that the best way to avoid difficult
dentition is to guard against corruption of the food and drink, and to
abstain from emetics, acids, figs, &c. To remove the painful symptoms
attendant on dentition, he directs us to rub the gums with olive oil,
honey in which aloes and gum arabic have been boiled, and the like; to
wrap the head in soft wool, and to pour tepid water upon it. (Pract.
xxxvi, 19.)
The treatment recommended by the other authorities is very similar. See,
in particular, Rhases (Ad Mans. iii, 13.)
The only ancient authors who make mention of scarification of the gums
as a remedy for painful dentition are, Marcellus Sideta (Medicina, ex
Piscibus,) and Pliny (Hist. Nat. xxxii, 26.) Both direct it to be done
with the sting of the _Pastinaca Marina_.