DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 285 
mothers, who have had large families, have testified that they 
never had any trouble with their children’s teething. The 
order and time of their appearance is as follows:—About the 
seventh month the first tooth may be seen in the front of the 
lower jaw; this may be followed by one next to it; then two 
will appear in the upper jaw; these. with two more on the 
sides, are the eight incisors; then follow the two canine 
upper and lower, four , the four molars, grinding, or back teeth, 
on either jaw, complete the first or milk set, 20 in number. 
These generally last from four to six years, being gradually 
replaced with the permanent set. which, alas, is not very 
permanent This much of general information on the teeth 
must suffice. but our inquiry now is. what can be done to 
encourage the development and relieve the symptoms which 
sometimes occur in teething Ist. We would strongly 
protest against doing two things, which are far too frequently 
resorted to, giving narcotic physic either in the shape of 
laudanumised cordials or teething powders, which generally 
contain that preparation of mercury called calomel—a white 
powder which is supposed to have a wonderful power in 
reducing inflammatory conditions Then another of the same 
colour, morphia These, with the sugar of milk, are, if not 
the only, at anyrate the chief ingredients of the teething 
powders, which, given to the poor babies make them sleep; 
and fond mothers think them harmless, but the number of 
infantile deaths, falsely attributed to teething, prove the 
delusion We feel confident that the simple remedies, such 
as the Soothing Syrupand Soothing Drops are far better than 
these nascotised cordials. infants’ preservatives, royal mixtures, 
dentition powders, teething powders. &c. 
The second folly, we are happy to say, is falling into 
disuse, and the sooner it is obsolete the better—that is 
lancing the gums_ This is sometimes called helping nature, 
but ous opinion is it is interfering with her. When the time 
comes the teeth will find their way through the soft gum even 
as they did through the hard bone. The great object is to 
