AIMS OF MODERN PEDIATRICS 491 



II. Pueritia 



Entrance into school brings with it the harmful influences con- 

 nected with it scoliosis, myopia, nervous disturbances of all 

 sorts, and manifold contact infections, among which the acute ex- 

 anthemas with their sequels, nephritis, myocarditis, are by far the 

 most important. The desire for violent exercise explains traumatic 

 diseases, and perhaps also the greater frequency of appendicitis. 

 Tuberculosis, especially of the glands, is rarer and approaches the 

 adult type. On the other hand a new and dangerous infectious 

 disease appears in acute articular rheumatism with endocarditis 

 and chorea. 



III. Puberty 



Furnishes, especially in the female sex, characteristic troubles, 

 chlorosis, hysteria, psychoses, heart diseases. Otherwise the patho- 

 logic conditions pass over into those of adult life. (Demonstration 

 of tables.) 



This classification of the most common diseases of childhood is 

 familiar to every experienced pediatrist, and by the fact that the 

 number of diseases coming into consideration at each age is rela- 

 tively limited adds considerably to the facility of diagnosis and 

 exact appreciation. It must also be the basis of every therapeutic 

 consideration as the medical means as well as the care of the healthy 

 child are different for each period of growth. At introduction, 

 however, I wish to say a few words about the treatment of diseases 

 of childhood in general. 



Even though the general principles of medical treatment in chil- 

 dren must be the same as in adults, still the practical application 

 of the same differs considerably according to the age of the child. 

 For example, it is not sufficient to reduce the dose of the medica- 

 ment prescribed in a given case for an adult simply according to 

 the body-weight of the child. Rather the physiologic peculiarities 

 of the childish organism, its intolerance for some and tolerance for 

 other drugs, as well as the consideration of the method of dispens- 

 ing suitable to childhood, necessitate in almost all cases that the 

 choice and method of dispensing in children differ in most all in- 

 stances from what is usual in adults for the same indications. The 

 physician active in children's practice must therefore make him- 

 self familiar by special study with the therapy suitable to each 

 period of growth. 



It is similar with the physical methods of treatment. These 

 methods also, which of late are being more and more employed, 

 require careful adaptation to the slighter resisting power, the lack 

 of response, of resistance, which the small patients oppose to their 



