INFANCY. 



the teeth are in many first cut in the up- 

 per jaw, nor do the contiguous ones ap- 

 pear always at the same time. Wherever 

 there is much pain and irritation at first, 

 the same may be expected to recur, or 

 continue, during the whole period of 

 toothing. 



The morbid symptoms that attend 

 dentition are very numerous ; they may 

 be arranged as simply affecting the part, 

 or as connected with the system in ge- 

 neral. 



Of the former, the usual appearances 

 are, an increase of saliva discharged in 

 the form of slaver. The gums are swell- 

 ed, tense, and hot, while the cheeks dis- 

 play a circumscribed redness. Of the lat- 

 ter, or general symptoms, the most com- 

 mon are, cutaneous eruptions, particu- 

 larly on the face and scalp ; the state of 

 the belly is irregular, though most com- 

 monly a looseness attends it, with stools 

 of various colour and consistence. Consi- 

 derable watchfulness prevails, and when 

 the child procures sleep, it is interrupted 

 by startings and spasms. The secretion 

 of the urine is attended with the same 

 irregularity ; sometimes it is unduly in- 

 creased, at other times diminished, and 

 the appearance is equally varied, being 

 either of a milky colour, or depositing a 

 brownish sediment. Sometimes mucous 

 matter is mixed with the urine, and where 

 there is pain in making water, the irrita- 

 tion of the bladder is taken off* by it as 

 well as the general fever. In all cases 

 the child is subject to shrieking-fits, and 

 its fingers are often thrust into its mouth. 

 The feet and hands are also occasionally 

 known to swell, though it be by no means 

 a frequent occurrence, and only takes 

 place where the bowels are in a costive 

 state. Transient numbness of the legs 

 and arms is also an occasional, but not a 

 frequent, affection at this time. When 

 these general symptoms are long conti- 

 nued, and prove severe on the constitu- 

 tion, they are often succeeded by an affec- 

 tion of the lungs, with cough and difficult 

 breathing, and the attack of convulsions, 

 general fever, scrophula, and atrophy, 

 or consumption. A more rare effect of 

 them is the formation of water in the 

 head. 



, Difficult toothing, as a species of inflam- 

 matory disease, is to be treated as such. 

 Besides keeping the body open by gentle 

 purgatives, us well as by clysters, especi- 

 ally where there is a retention of urine, 

 the skin should be relaxed, -and gentle 

 sweats produced by diluting drinks, and 

 also by administering small quantities of 



tartarised antimpnial wine, or James's 

 powders. A discharge should likewise 

 be encouraged by a blistering-plaster be- 

 hind the ears, or on the back ; and on the 

 first appearance of inflammation, a leech 

 should be applied under each ear. A 

 moderate looseness, being beneficial in 

 toothing, should rather be encouraged 

 than checked. In fevers, from this cause, 

 from fifteen to twenty drops of spirits of 

 hartshorn, in a spoonful of water, may be 

 given to advantage every four hours, in 

 five or six doses ; and where costiveness 

 does not prevent, three or four drops of 

 laudanum may be added to each dose. 



Rubbing the gums with a little fine ho- 

 ney three or four times a day, and giving 

 the child a crust of bread, roll of liquorice- 

 root, wax-candle, or coral, to indulge the 

 disposition for chewing which then pre- 

 sents itself, will afford ease ; but the only 

 means to be depended on is, scarification 

 with a lancet ; which takes off the tension 

 of the gums, with scarcely any pain, and 

 gives almost instantaneous relief to the 

 child. The finger nail, or a sharp-edged 

 sixpence, are sometimes used for this lit- 

 tle operation, but are clumsy substitutes ; 

 the lancet, in a proper hand, is infinitely 

 preferable. Here, as in many other cases, 

 from the nerve being braced by exercise 

 in the open air, and tle use of the cold 

 bath, the dangers attendant on toothing 

 will be much removed, and the child bet- 

 ter able to support this painful and dan- 

 gerous process, to which, and its conco- 

 mitant disorders, so many children fall 

 victims. 



A frequent attendant upon dentition is 

 convulsions. As this alarming symptom 

 usually proceeds from the teeth cutting 

 through the nervous membrane covering 

 the jaw immediately under the gums, the 

 scarification already recommended is not 

 only useful to prevent this occurrence, 

 but has, in many cases, saved the infant's 

 life, after the most dangerous symptoms 

 have taken place. It can never do harm, 

 and may even be of service, though the 

 fits should not proceed from toothing. 

 Sometimes it will be necessary to repeat 

 the lancing two or thttee times, which may 

 always be done with perfect safety, and 

 with almost certain success. 

 , Lancing will also, in a great measure, 

 prevent what is frequent in toothing, 

 namely, ulcerated gums. When these 

 take place, they should be touched with 

 honey, rendered astringent and moder- 

 ately rough by roch-alhim and white vi- 

 triol, while the body is kept open. 



We proceed to the very common com- 



