124- THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPEDIA. 



presence of the abscess having produced absorption of a portion of the 

 .alveolar process at its lowest part, it effuses its contents through the aper- 

 ture thus formed, and matter forces itself along the surface of the lower 

 jaw, and forms an external tumor near its base. 



WITH REGARD TO THE PROCESS OF DENTITION in actual infants, the time 

 at which it takes place is naturally subject to slight variation, when it is 

 >tated that many medical men give instances in their experience of chil- 

 dren being born with teeth, or having cut them almost immediately after 

 1 >irth Louis XIV., of France, and Richard III., of England, being historic 

 cases in point ; the usual time, however, when babies begin to be troubled 

 with the advent of teeth is at the seventh month, the period of the first 

 detention lasting up to the age of two years or two and a half years. 



The symptoms of teething in a healthy child are that for some time be- 

 fore the gums are much swollen, there is an excessive flow of saliva from 

 the mouth, and the child indulges in what is known to most as " drib- 

 bling," at the same time evincing a very strong desire to drag anything 

 upon which it can fix its tiny little clutch into its mouth, while, if we place 

 our finger into its mouth we perceive at once a decided attempt to bite, 

 which affords a relief to the irritation of the gums. Where the child is 

 inconvenienced only to the extent described there is no remedy required 

 provided there is no constipation, but where this is the case small doses of 

 -castor oil are the safest. As to the article it should be given to suck, I 

 personally prefer an ivory ring or a " finger " of crust of bread, great care 

 being observed in the latter case that it is taken away before there is a 

 possibility of its being broken or bitten off. 



WHEN THE CHILD is EXTREMELY RESTLESS, cross and uneasy, crying 

 bitterly without any apparent cause, and refuses all ordinary attempts at 

 pacification, its suffering is very considerable, which is increased by its in- 

 effectual efforts to sleep for any length of time. The cheeks become 

 flushed at this time, and if the local inflammation continue to increase the 

 gums may ulcerate ; in this case apply a little borax and honey to them ; 

 but where the irritation continues and the pain is obviously great it will 

 be necessary to lance the gums, for which purpose it is almost unnecessary 

 to add the services of a surgeon should be secured at once. At this 

 time it is more than ever necessary to keep the bowels well open, a mild 

 attack of diarrhoea being far more preferable under the existing circum- 

 stances than the reverse state of things. 



ALL FOOD REQUIRES TO BE CAREFULLY CHEWED in order that the vari- 

 ous organs may perfectly perform their proper functions, and this can only 

 be the case when the meat, or whatever it may be, is broken into minute 



