to the more severe form of painful dentition—The gums are red, swollen, and hot, and he cannot without expressing pain bear to have them touched, hence, if he be at the breast, he is constantly loosing the nipple. There is dryness of the mouth, although before there had been a great flow of saliva. He is feverish, restless, and starts in his sleep. His face is flashed. His head is heavy and hot. He is sometimes convulsed. [Footnote: See answer to Question 63.] He is frequently violently griped and purged, and suffers severely from flatulence. He is predisposed to many and severe diseases.
The treatment, of the mild form, consists of friction, of the gum with the finger, with a little "soothing syrup," as recommended by Sir Charles Locock, [Footnote: Soothing syrup—Some of them probably contain opiates, but a perfectly safe and useful one is a little Nitrate of Potass in syrup of Roses—one scruple to half an ounce.—Communicated by Sir Charles Locock to the Author. This 'soothing syrup' is not intended to be given us a mixture but to be used as an application to rub the gums with. It may be well to state that it is a perfectly harmless remedy even if a little of it were swallowed by mistake.] a tepid bath of about 92 degrees Fahrenheit, every night at bed time, attention to diet and to bowels, fresh air and exercise. For the mild form, the above plan will usually be all that is required. If he dribble, and the bowels be relaxed, so much the better. The flow of saliva and the increased action of the bowels afford relief, and therefore must not be interfered with. In the mild form, lancing of the gums is not desirable. The gums ought not to be lanced, unless the teeth be near at hand, and unless the gums be red, hot, and swollen.
In the severe form a medical man should be consulted early, as more energetic remedies will be demanded; that is to say, the gums will require to be freely lanced, warm baths to be used, and medicines to be given, to ward off mischief from the head, from the chest, and from the stomach.
If you are living in the town, and your baby suffers much from teething, take him into the country. It is wonderful what change of air to the country will often do, in relieving a child who is painfully cutting his teeth. The number of deaths in London, from teething, is frightful; it is in the country comparatively trifling.
71. Should an infant be purged during teething or indeed, during any other time, do you approve of either absorbent or astringent medicines to restrain it?
Certainly not. I should look upon, the relaxation as an effort of nature to relieve itself. A child is never purged without a cause; that cause, in the generality of instances, is the presence of either some undigested food, or acidity, or depraved motions, that want a vent.
The better plan is, in such a case, to give a dose of aperient medicine, such as either castor oil, or magnesia and rhubarb; and thus work it off. IF WE LOCK UP THE BOWELS, WE CONFINE THE ENEMY, AND THUS PRODUCE MISCHIEF. [Footnote: I should put this in capitals, it is so important and is often mistaken.—C. Locock.] If he be purged more than usual, attention should be paid to the diet—if it be absolutely necessary to give him artificial food while suckling—and care must be taken not to overload the stomach.
72. A child is subject to a slight cough during dentition—called by nurses "tooth-cough"—which a parent would not consider of sufficient importance to consult a doctor about: pray tell me, is there any objection to a mother giving her child a small quantity either of syrup of white poppies, or of paregoric, to ease it?
A cough is an effort of nature to bring up any secretion from the lining membrane of the lungs, or from the bronchial tubes, hence it ought not to be interfered with. I have known the administration of syrup of white poppies, or of paregoric, to stop the cough, and thereby to prevent the expulsion of the phlegm, and thus to produce either inflammation of the lungs, or bronchitis. Moreover, both paregoric and syrup of white poppies are, for a young child, dangerous medicines (unless administered by a judicious medical man), and ought never to be given by a mother.
In the month of April 1844, I was sent for, in great haste, to an infant, aged seventeen months, who was labouring under convulsions and extreme drowsiness, from the injudicious administration of paregoric, which had been given to him to ease a cough. By the prompt administration of an emetic he was saved.
73. A child, who is teething, is subject to a "breaking-out," more especially behind the ears—which is most disfiguring, and frequently very annoying what would you recommend?
I would apply no external application to cure it, as I should look upon it as an effort of the constitution to relieve itself, and should expect, if the "breaking-out" were repelled, that either convulsions, or bronchitis, or inflammation of the lungs, or water on the brain, would be the consequence. The only plan I should adopt would be, to be more careful in his diet, to give him less meat (if he be old enough to eat animal food), and to give him, once or twice a week, a few doses of mild aperient medicine, and, if the irritation from the "breaking-out" be great, to bathe it, occasionally, either with a little warm milk and water, or with rose water.
EXERCISE.
74. Do you recommend exercise in the open air for a baby? and if so, how soon after birth?
I am a great advocate for his having exercise in the open air. "The infant in arms makes known its desire for fresh air, by restlessness, it cries, for it cannot speak its wants, is taken abroad and is quiet."
The age at which he ought to commence taking exercise will, of course, depend upon the season and upon the weather. If it be summer, and the weather be fine, he should he carried in the open air, a week or a fortnight after birth, but if it be winter, he ought not on any account to be taken out under the month, and not even then, unless the weather be mild for the season, and it be the middle of the day. At the end of two months he should breathe the open air more frequently. And after the expiration of three months, he ought to be carried out every day, even if it be wet under foot, provided it be fine above, and the wind be neither in an easterly nor in a north-easterly direction. By doing so we shall make him strong and hearty, and give the skin that mottled appearance which is so characteristic of health. He must, of course, be well clothed.
I cannot help expressing my disapprobation of the practice of smothering up an infant's face with a handkerchief, with a veil or with any other covering, when he is taken out into the air. If his face be so muffled up, he may as well remain at home, as under such circumstances, it is impossible for him to receive any benefit from the invigorating effects of the fresh air.
75. Can you devise any method to induce a babe himself to take exercise?
He must be encouraged to use muscular exertion, and, for this purpose, he ought to be frequently laid either upon a rug, or carpet, or the floor. He will then stretch his limbs and kick about with perfect glee. It is a pretty sight, to see a little fellow kicking and sprawling on the floor. He crows with delight and thoroughly enjoys himself. It strengthens his back, it enables him to stretch his limbs, and to use his muscles, and is one of the best kinds of exercise a very young child can take. While going through his performances his diaper, if he wear one, should be unfastened, in order that he might go through his exercises untrammelled. By adopting the above plan, the babe quietly enjoys himself—his brain is not over excited by it; this is an important consideration, for both mothers and nurses are apt to rouse, and excite very young children to their manifest detriment. A babe requires rest, and not excitement. How wrong it is, then, for either a mother or a nurse to be exciting and rousing a new born babe. It is most injurious and weakening to his brain. In the early period of his existence his time ought to be almost entirely spent in sleeping and in sucking!
76. Do you approve of tossing an infant much about?
I have seen, a child tossed nearly to the ceiling! Can anything be more cruel or absurd! Violent tossing of a young babe ought never to be allowed, it only frightens him, and has been known to bring on convulsions. He should be gently moved up and down (not tossed), such exercises causes a proper circulation of the blood, promotes digestion, and soothes to sleep. He must always be kept quiet immediately after taking the breast, if he be tossed directly afterwards, it interferes with his digestion, and is likely to produce sickness.
SLEEP