INFANTS. 



fome importance, though, in its ufual form, it is not thought ftinate and painful form of it is noticed by Dr. Willan, v.h'x\\ 

 to be in any refpeft dangerous. On their remarks a necef- takes place, though not often, on the lower extremities. 

 fary caution is founded, not to expofe infants to a ftrcam of The papuls fpread from the calves of the legs to the thigL,,, 

 very cold air, nor to plunge them uiileafonably in a cold bath ; nafes, loins, and round the body as high as the navel : beuig 

 tiie molt violent and even fatal fymptoms having often been very numerous and clofe together, they produce a continuous. 

 the confequence of fuch imprudent conduct. Little need rednefs over all the parts above-mentioned. The cuticle- 

 be faid in regard to the treatment of the red gum : the com- prefently becomes (lirivelled, cracks in various places, and 

 mon mild appearance of it, being confillent with a healthy finally feparates from the fifin in large pieces. During this 

 ftate of allthe funftions of the body, requires no medicinal pi-ocefs a new cuticle is foi-med, notwithftanding which the 

 application. It is, however, advifable to keep the flcin clear complaint recurs in a fliort time, and goes through the fame 

 fromyiirii'j', and to promote equable perfpiration. This may courfe as before. In this manner, fucceffive eruptions take 

 be done bell by daily ablutions with tepid water, which place during the courfe of three or four months; and per- 

 prove ufeful in moft cutaneous diforders, and will be found haps do not ccafe till the child is one year old, or fomewhat 

 of confiderable importance with refpeft to the general health more. Ciiildren neceflarily fuffer great uneafuiefs from the 

 of the infant. heat and irritation occafioned by fo extenfive an eruption ; 



The other varieties of Jrop/ju/us, mentioned by Dr. Wil- yet, while they are affeded with it, they often remain free 

 Ian, are two, the ,9. allidtis, or tuhite gum, which differs from from any internal or febrile complaint. 



the former merely in the appearance of its papula;, which This appearance, Dr. Willan remarks, fliould be diftin- 

 confill of a number of minute, whitidi fpecks, a little ele- guiftied from the mlcrlrigo of infant?, which exhibits an uni- 

 vated, and fometimes, though not conllantly, furrounded by form red, fmooth, ibining furface, without papulx ; and 

 a flight rednefs, occm-ring chiefly on the face, neck, and which afveCls only the lower part of the nates and infide of 

 breali, and being mere permanent than the papulce of the the thighs, being produced by the ftimulus of the urine, &c., 

 red gum. 3. S. conferlus, or rank red gum, fometimes alfo with which the child's clothes are almoil conllantly wetted, 

 called the tooth-rajh, which ufually takes place about the Under the head of intertrigo, however, we muil include all 

 fourth or fifth month after birth, on the cheeks and fides of thofe varieties of chafing and excorintion w.hich occur in thofe 

 the nofe, e.xlending fometimes to the forehead and arms, but partj where the fkin is folded, or in contaft, and therefore 

 rarely to the trunk of the body, and accompanying the ftate liable to confiderable attrition. (See Ixtertrigo.) From 

 of dentition ; and in the feventh or eighth month affuming a the delicate ftrufture of the ikin of infants. Dr. Hamilton 

 fomewhat diiTerent form, appearing in one or two large irre- obferves, excorhnlons readily take place wherever one part of 

 gular patches, of a high red colour, on the arms, fliouldcr, or it is in conllant contaft with anotlier, unlefs the moft careful 

 neck. 4. 5. I'olatkuj, which is characterifed by fmall, cir- attention be paid to keep every part dry. The ears, neck, 

 cular patches, or chifters of papulse, arifing fucceffively on arm-pits, and groins are chiefly liable to be afi"ected in this 

 different parts of the body, continuing red, with, a little manner. When the excoriations are not allowed to con- 

 beat or itching, for about four days, when tliey turn brown, tinue for a confiderable length of time, they ftrldom require 

 and begin to exfoliate ; the fucceiTive patches, however, not any other treatment than being dulled, morning and even- 

 ceafing to appear in lefs than three or four weeks. And, ing, with prepared tutty.or calamine, or with common alhes 

 5. Strophulus ri7ni//^«j, in vyhich the papulae are larger than in finely powdered, or a little hair-powder or flarch. But 

 any of the foregoing fpecies, have no inflammation round when a-difcharge of matter is the confequence of negleded 

 their bafe, and a very fmooth and fhining furface, whence excoriations, a cure can only be obtained by much care and 

 they appear to be of a lighter colour than the adjoining attention; for it is often very difficult to ftop thefe runnings, 

 cuticle ; they are diffuied, at a confiderable dillance from Some praditioners have objeded to fuch attempts, on tiie 

 each other, over the loins, fhoulders, and upper part of the falfe fuppofition that the difcharge is a falutary outlet for 

 arms.. This eruption affefts infants- about a year old, and an overload of the fyflem. Theie opinions, admirably well 

 mod commonly fuccecds fome of the acute difeafes.to which calculated to favour the carelefsnefs of nurfes, are founded 

 they are liable, fuch -s catarrhal fever, or inflammations of upon improper views of the operations of nature, 

 the bowels or lungs : the papula; continue hard and elevated Many different remedies will be found beneficial in dif- 

 fer about a week, and then gradually fubfide and difappear. ferent cafes of excoriation ; fuch as wafhing the parts daily 

 tiee Willan oa Cutan. Difeafes, Order i. Genus j. with brandy and water, li:r.e-vvater, a weak folution of fugar 



The llrophulus voLitkus bemg fometimes connefted with of lead, or of white vitriol, and dreffing them with any mild 

 a diforder of the ilomach and bowels, it becomes requifite ointment, as fpermaceti ointment. Turner's cerate, or oint- 

 to adminifter a gentle emetic or fome laxative medicines ; ments containing the oxyd of zinc, or a fmall portion of the 

 after which the decodion of Peruvian bark will be found of ointment of nitrate of m,ercury. While thefe means are 

 advantage. No externa! application feems neceffary. 'The purfued, an open ilatc of the bowels is to be promoted, by 

 llrophulus <:sn/frt.7j,' when the child is otherwife healthy, is the occafional exhibition of any gentle laxative, as manna 

 generally afcribed to a fta-e of indigcftion, or fome feverifh diffolved in water, &c. The ufe of mild mercurials, as al- 

 tsmplaint in the mother or nurfe : but the eruption is fre- teratives, fuch as the hvdrargyrus cum creta, &c is likewife 

 qu-.ntly feen when no fuch caufe for it is evident. It may ■ beneficial. 



with more probability be confvdered asone of the. numeioii's Som.e other flight eruptions, to which young children are 

 fymptomsofirnc.ncn, arifing from the inflamedand painful liable, chiefly of the papular form, are mentioned by Dr. 

 •ftate of the gums in dentition ; fince it always occurs Underwood, and require no other treatment than an atten- 

 during that proccts, and difappears foon after the firft teeth tion to the Hate of the bowels, or the ufe of fome teflaceous 

 have cut thro gh the gums. On this view the erup'ion powders. See his Treatife on Dif. of Children, vol i. 

 requires no fpecihc confideration in medical practice ; it can There is a very common eruption, fays the writer juft 

 ♦inly be iiUeviated.ty the general treatra.-nt proper'for the qvoted, that caUs for more attention, and' to yi'hich medical 

 ftate of teeih-ng, to be mentioned prefently. writers have given the name of crujla Lllea, (or mlll-blo'cha. 



This fpccies Qljlrophuhs appears under other modlfica- as Dr. Hamilton tranflates it,) " winch has a very unplea, 

 hous, which liave been aiUtaken for meancs. One very ob- fant appearance, but is, notwithftanding, equally innocent 



WJlh 



