Druckschrift 
Domestic Medicine : or, a Treatise on the Prevention and Cure of Diseases by Regimen and simple Medicines
Entstehung
Seite
350
URN (Seite)
  
Einzelbild herunterladen
 

aso

OF TEETHING.

After the disease is subdued, the decoction of cinchona three parts,mixed with infusion of liquorice one part, may be given to the patient,who, to prevent a relapse, must carefully avoid cold and damp, andeasterly winds. Children who have been attacked with this disease, orwhose constitutions seem to dispose them to it, should have their dietproperly regulated. All food that is viscid or hard of digestion, and allcrude, raw, trashy fruits, are to be avoided. Sometimes a Burgundypitch plaster, worn continually between the shoulders for several yeais,has been thought to prevent the return of this dangerous disorder.

OF TEETHING.

V

Dr. Abouthnot observes, that above a tenth part of infants die inteething, by symptoms proceeding from the irritation of the tender ner-vous part of the jaws, occasioning inflammations, fevers, convulsions,gangrenes, &c. These symptoms are in a great measure owing to thegreat delicacy and exquisite sensibility of the nervous system at thistime of life, which is too often increased by an effeminate education.Hence it comes to pass that children who are delicately brought up, al-ways suffer most in teething, and often fall by convulsive disorders.

About the sixth or seventh month the teething generally begin to maketheir appearance ; first, the incisores, or fore-teeth; next the canini, ordog-teeth; and lastly, the molares, or grinders. About the seventhyear, there comes a new set; and about the twentieth, the two innergrinders, called dentes sapiential, the teeth of wisdom.

Children about the time of cutting their teeth slaver much, and havegenerally looseness. An increased secretion of saliva is considered as afavourable symptom, and costiveness, fever, vomiting, &c. as unfavoura-ble ones. When the teething is difficult, especially when the dog-teethbegin to make their way through the gums, the child has startings in hissleep, tumors of the gums, watchings, gripes, green stools, the thrush,fever, difficult breathing, and convulsions.

Difficult teething requires nearly the same treatment as an inflamma-tory disease. If the infant is wet nursed, its mother or muse should livea little lower than usual, and occasionally take a little cooling physic.If the body be bound, it must be opened either by eirollient clysters otgentle purgatives; as manna, magnesia albs, rhubarb, senna, or the like.The food should be light, and in small quantity; the drink plentiful, butweak and diluting, as infusions of balm or of the lime-tree flowers, towhich about a third or fourth part of milk may be added.

If the fever be high, bleeding will be necessary; but this in veryvoung children ought always to be sparingly performed. It is an eva-cuation which they bear the worst of any. Purging, vomiting, or sweat-ing, agree much better with them, and are generally more beneficial.Harris, however, observes, that, when an inflammation appears, the phy-sician will labour in vain if the cure be not begun with applying aleech under each ear If the child be seized with convulsion fits, a