CONVULSIONS 337 



is vomiting, place him upon his side. Apply smelling 

 salts, or give ammonia or strong coffee. Insure plenty 

 of fresh air by fanning, and avoid excitement. 



Convulsions. Children frequently lose consciousness 

 through convulsions, as a result of improper diet, fever- 

 worms, constipation, etc. 



Treatment: Keep the child from injuring himself. Put 

 him into a warm bath or wrap him in a blanket dipped 

 in hot water. Keep the head cool by applying cold 

 water or ice. If the convulsions continue, give an emetic, 

 as a teaspoonful of syrup of ipecac, if the child can 

 swallow. Assist vomiting by thrusting the finger down 

 the throat or by using a feather. Give injection of 

 soap and warm water, as the seat of irritation may be in 

 the lower bowel. 



Epileptic attacks. Epileptic attacks may come on 

 suddenly, or gradually with symptoms which the patient 

 recognizes. Loss of consciousness may be accompanied 

 by a peculiar cry, sudden pallor of the face and more 

 or less stiffening of the body. The tongue is some- 

 times bitten and the eyes have a peculiar upward roll- 

 ing motion. An attack usually lasts for a minute or 

 two only, but several attacks may follow each other 

 rapidly. 



Treatment : Keep the patient from injuring himself, but 

 do not struggle with him. Allow him to lie flat, and put 

 a piece of folded cloth between the teeth to prevent biting 

 of the tongue. The muscular contractions if prolonged 

 give rise to exhaustion and lameness, but these may be 

 lessened by putting the patient into a bath of warm 

 water. After the attack put him to bed and if necessary 

 use stimulants in small quantities. 



These attacks are seldom serious, and it is usually 

 unnecessary to do anything except prevent bodily injury. 



