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diff --git a/old/65188-0.txt b/old/65188-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e7c0ee2..0000000 --- a/old/65188-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3813 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Book of Medical Discourses, by Rebecca -Crumpler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: A Book of Medical Discourses - In two parts - -Author: Rebecca Crumpler - -Release Date: April 29, 2021 [eBook #65188] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOOK OF MEDICAL DISCOURSES *** - - - - - A BOOK - OF - MEDICAL DISCOURSES - _IN TWO PARTS_. - - PART FIRST: - TREATING OF THE CAUSE, PREVENTION, AND CURE OF INFANTILE BOWEL - COMPLAINTS, FROM BIRTH TO THE CLOSE OF THE TEETHING PERIOD, OR TILL - AFTER THE FIFTH YEAR. - - PART SECOND: - CONTAINING MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION CONCERNING THE LIFE AND GROWTH OF - BEINGS; THE BEGINNING OF WOMANHOOD; ALSO, THE CAUSE, PREVENTION, AND - CURE OF MANY OF THE MOST DISTRESSING COMPLAINTS OF WOMEN, AND YOUTH OF - BOTH SEXES. - - - BY - REBECCA CRUMPLER, M. D. - - - BOSTON: - CASHMAN, KEATING & CO., PRINTERS. - FAYETTE COURT, 603 WASHINGTON ST. - 1883. - - - - - Copyright 1883, - By REBECCA CRUMPLER, M.D. - - - - - DEDICATION. - - - TO - - MOTHERS, NURSES, - - AND ALL WHO MAY DESIRE TO MITIGATE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE HUMAN RACE, - - _THIS BOOK_ - - IS PRAYERFULLY OFFERED. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAP. PAGE. - - Introduction 1 - - I. How to Marry 5 - - II. The Present Modes of Washing and Dressing the New-born 7 - - III. Preparations for Confinement 11 - - IV. The Better Mode of Washing the New-born 14 - - V. Necessity of Agreeable and Soothing Surroundings 18 - - VI. Nursing from the Breast made easy 20 - - VII. The Uselessness of “Baby Medicines” during the Month 25 - - VIII. Dropping of the Navel Cord 32 - - IX. Artificial Nursing 36 - - X. The Milk Fever 40 - - XI. Precautions after the month—Proper and Improper Diet 45 - - XII. General Treatment of Infants 52 - - XIII. Time for Weaning 57 - - XIV. Sects. 1, 2, 3, 4. Cholera Infantum _versus_ Starvation 61 - - XV. The Causes and Prevention of Cholera Infantum 76 - - XVI. Convenient Methods for Raising Infants without the Breast 80 - - XVII. Teething made easy, Secs. 1, 2 90 - - XVIII. Complications of Teething with Diseases 98 - - XIX. General Remarks 105 - - - Part Second. Miscellaneous Information 120 - - - - - INTRODUCTION. - - -I now present to the public a few thoughts in book form, trusting that -they will be accepted on their merits alone. The following pages contain -a few simple appeals to common sense, and are addressed to mothers, -nurses, and women generally. All honor is due to a far-seeing -legislation which has recognized the importance of fitting woman for the -great and natural office of nurse, or doctress of medicine; for by it -facilities are offered to each member of a community for the promotion -of Christian enlightenment. By frequent visits through various parts of -the United States, at all seasons of the year, as well as by quite an -extensive opportunity while in the capacity of family nurse, and -subsequent practitioner, I have become quite familiar with those -ailments and diseases which afflict many infants from birth to the close -of the teething period, or till after the fifth year of their age. - -It may be well to state here that, having been reared by a kind aunt in -Pennsylvania, whose usefulness with the sick was continually sought, I -early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to be in a -position to relieve the sufferings of others. Later in life I devoted my -time, when best I could, to nursing as a business, serving under -different doctors for a period of eight years (from ’52 to ’60); most of -the time at my adopted home in Charlestown, Middlesex County, -Massachusetts. From these doctors I received letters commending me to -the faculty of the New England Female Medical College, whence, four -years afterward, I received the degree of Doctress of Medicine. I then -practised in Boston, but desiring a larger scope for general -information, I travelled toward the British Dominion. On my return, -after the close of the Confederate War, my mind centred upon Richmond, -the capital city of Virginia, as the proper field for real missionary -work, and one that would present ample opportunities to become -acquainted with the diseases of women and children. - -During my stay there nearly every hour was improved in that sphere of -labor. The last quarter of the year 1866, I was enabled, through the -agency of the Bureau under Gen. Brown, to have access each day to a very -large number of the indigent, and others of different classes, in a -population of over 30,000 colored. At the close of my services in that -city I returned to my former home, Boston, where I entered into the work -with renewed vigor, practising outside, and receiving children in the -house for treatment; regardless, in a measure, of remuneration. Although -not now in a locality where my constant attendance is required, I do not -fail to notice the various published records of the condition of the -health of Boston and vicinity. - -That woman should study the mechanism of the human structure to better -enable her to protect life, before assuming the office of nurse, few -will agree. But that good service has been performed by those who were -entirely ignorant of it, every one must admit. In my own experience, -there was much that to me was obscure, yet, strange to say, I never met -with an accident. A kind Father directed every thought in behalf of the -helpless. - -I believe matrimony to be a divine institution; and that the results -arising from a union of the sexes should be considered an important -study for each party concerned. If we as intelligent beings sit still in -this matter of physical security, premature decay must take the place of -perfection. Since I have, with no small degree of diffidence, consented -to submit my long-kept journal to the public in the form of a book, I -desire to present the different subjects by the use of as few technical -terms as possible; and to make my statements brief, simple, and -comprehensive. Indeed I desire that my book shall be as a primary reader -in the hands of every woman; and yet none the less suited to any who may -be conversant with all branches of medical science. If women are -permitted to read and reflect for themselves, it is hardly possible that -they will say it is uninteresting to them, or that it should only be -read by men. - -In dealing with subjects that bring to mind thousands of premature -mortalities, as, for instance, those from cholera infantum or pneumonia, -I deem it expedient to speak only of what I know and to which I can -testify. I have endeavored to give some domestic or ready palliative -reliefs for the several cases described; thereby hoping to avoid the -possibility of a remedy’s being applied without an acquaintance with the -character and phases of the complaint for which it is intended. There is -no doubt that thousands of little ones annually die at our very doors, -from diseases which could have been prevented, or cut short by timely -aid. People do not wish to feel that death ensues through neglect on -their part; indeed they speak of consumption, cholera infantum, and -diphtheria, etc., as if sent by God to destroy our infants. - -They seem to forget that there is a _cause_ for every ailment, and that -it may be in their power to remove it. My chief desire in presenting -this book is to impress upon somebody’s mind the possibilities of -prevention. - - - - - MEDICAL DISCOURSES. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - HOW TO MARRY. - - -At what age should a girl marry? is a question frequently asked by young -girls of some confiding friend, and almost as frequently -unsatisfactorily answered. Suppose the question be amended thus:—At what -age and _how_ should young girls marry? The answer to the last clause I -would say, taking all things into consideration, with the consent of -parents or guardians, it is best for a young woman to accept a suitor -who is respectable, vigorous, industrious, and but a few years her -senior, if not of an equal age. One who gives evidence, previous to -wedlock, of being both capable and willing to take the entire -responsibility of a wife upon himself. No objections, of course, to a -union with wealth, all other things being equal. No sickly, sensitive -young girl need expect to have it all sunshine, even with an -industrious, well-meaning man for a husband, rich or poor. The age of a -young woman should be about 19 or 20. It should be remembered that the -union of persons of premature growth, that is before the body is well -developed on either side, favors weakly children. And the same is true -of the union of persons far advanced in years. Weakly mixtures also -produce delicate children. A union of persons whose parents are of -unmixed blood, and whose statures are nearly in proportion, usually -turns out well. A man’s age should be between 22 and 25 when taking the -responsibility of a family upon him. I will add just here that the way -to be happy after marriage is to continue in the careful routine of the -courting days, till it becomes a well understood thing between the two. - -After marriage, if medical aid is required by the wife, let it be sought -in a direction that there will never be cause to regret. Some women are -over anxious for a family, and by their nervous whims make themselves -and those around them unhappy. But it is to be deplored that there is a -much larger class of young women whose minds are dark on the subject of -preservation of health, and who soon forget, if they ever thought of the -liabilities of a married life. On taking cold or feeling languid or -nauseated a physician must at once be sent for. It should be borne in -mind that many women begin to show signs of pregnancy by cold, severe -pain in the head, back, stomach, or various parts of the body. - -Numbers begin and continue for months with severe cramp colic, and if -remedies of a powerful nature are applied, the mischief may be alarming. -Many of the teas, sweats, baths, and potions that are effective in -relieving a cold will be wholly ineffective when pregnancy is certain. -Therefore repeated trials but disturbs the nervous system of the mother, -through which all things are transmitted to the living germ. In all -cases of suppression of the monthly flow after marriage, a careful -physician should be at once consulted, if there is any reason to doubt -that it is caused by pregnancy. Suffice it to say that too frequent -physicking and over-indulgence in intoxicating liquors and tobacco, will -cause sickly diminutive offspring, to say nothing of premature births. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - THE PRESENT MODES OF WASHING AND DRESSING THE NEW-BORN. - - -Usually, as soon as the birth of a child is announced, a basin or tub of -hot water is ordered. The washing begins with a “wee bit of rag” and a -great cake of perfumed soap purchased long, long before, for the -occasion. Then follows wiping with a great linen towel, during which -time the creature gets well aired, being indirectly exhibited to as many -as have courage to look on and admire “the cunning little thing.” - -“The water must be hot, to get off the grease,” said an old nurse. Aye, -but with ignorant help would it be surprising if a little of the skin -came off first? In more favored circles a nice bath tub is prepared, the -water of an equal temperature with the room. Some fine soap is put in to -make a suds, which is applied after the surface of the body is oiled. -Some cold water adherents persist in using ice-cold water upon a -new-born babe, depending on “rubbing it to get up a circulation.” I once -knew a divine (divines have rules sometimes) whose customs led him to -have his only child washed in this way, and believing in the adage of -“the hair of the dog curing the bite,” he continued to doctor it himself -for eighteen months; from its birth to its death, with cold water. The -babe received a severe cold, stopping up its nostrils and air-tubes, and -rendering its little life wholly miserable. To the cause of all this -suffering they gave the technical name, Catarrh. - -The methods of washing infants just described are more common even in -this enlightened age of humanity than is generally known. The excuse for -cold baths may exist in the mode of life of the erratic tribes, or among -uncivilized nations whose minds are dark upon the construction and -office of a nervous system. The several sad results that I myself have -witnessed at times, and places, that it was not deemed my business to -speak, have led me to adopt what seemed a more humane course. With the -use of cold water some judgment is required, as many infants, when born, -are weak, and ready to yield up life upon the application of the -slightest sedative. The skin being so largely supplied with nerves which -transmit all sensations to the internal organs, as telegraph wires do -the electric current. Thus cold water may send a chill to some vital -part, the result of which no effort in the power of man can counteract. -It is next to impossible to keep a babe as warm as it should be going -through with the customary routine. Indeed it is not at all uncommon for -a babe to be laid beside its mother (if not alone in a crib) lips purple -and cold as a lump of clay. I once looked upon a babe who from this -cause had for three days resisted all attempts to get it warm. Thus, I -fear, many come and go. Does any desire to preserve the vitality of a -new being? Then it will not suffice to be too self-assured or too -oriental to seek to improve in the matter. - -I deeply regret to have to state that I have heard many apparently -intelligent persons express opposition to the continuation of the human -species. But let me ask, What devastating visitations may we not expect -if we seek to diminish God’s images by any selfish or misguided motives? - - - THE USE OF SOAP. - -There are many kinds of soap in use for the purpose of washing clothes, -cleansing paint, etc. Then there are not a few advertised as superior -for washing the skin. But the fact that water into which soap is rubbed -turns white, or becomes sudsy, is sufficient evidence that it contains -an alkali, or something having the nature of potash. To use it on the -tender skin of infants is but to experiment for the benefit of the -dealer, at the expense of the babe. Again, soap is irritating to the -more tender surfaces, as the lips and eyelids. If the suds is sucked by -the child while the sponge is passed over the face, severe purging may -occur. Then if soap gets in the eyes, it is liable to cause sore or -inflamed eyes, perhaps for life. I truly believe that more children are -afflicted with sore eyes, ears, noses, and heads, whose friends took the -precaution to have them washed with “pure baby soap,” than could be -counted in a hundred years. The germs of bronchitis, which means cold -settled in the air-tubes leading to the lungs,—pneumonia, which means -lung fever, indigestion, each or all, can be inducted into the system in -the first washing. The male physician, unlike the woman physician, does -not always remain long enough to see this important duty properly -performed. This may be owing to the fact that, among the poorer classes, -two or three women are present who are expected to be experts in -baby-washing. But, as a fact, many old women sit around on such -occasions who have almost as little knowledge what and how to do, as the -babe whose expected advent has called them together. Therefore we cannot -too strongly protest against the practice of many physicians,—that of -leaving a woman in the hands of an inexperienced person as soon as the -navel cord is severed. For it is not at all reasonable to conclude, that -because a woman is the mother of many children, she is an expert in the -matter of washing and dressing the new-born, or of relieving the various -ailments incident upon child-bearing. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - PREPARATIONS FOR CONFINEMENT. - - -When a woman is expected to be sick, if a physician has not been engaged -as one should have been, no time should be lost in seeking quietly to -notify one. It is just as important that a doctor should be in -attendance before the birth of a poor woman’s child as that he should be -present before the birth of the child of wealth. And it should be -considered inhuman in any physician to purposely absent him or herself -until after the birth of the child. With a little benevolence and -perseverance, the most humble in life can be provided with bedstead and -bedding, upon which should be fixed securely pads of cotton batting, or -woollen cloths. Also there should be provided clean apparel for a change -of under-garments, should such change be needful. The chemise and gown -should be well taken up so as to be kept dry; as wet or soiled bedding -or apparel in time of labor is a frequent cause of severe chills. For -the same reason, should instruments or vessels be warmed before -inserting, in the case of instrumental labors. The surrounding -atmosphere should be comfortable, never too warm or too cold. When there -is no physician present, and a child is so fortunate as to “born -itself,” surely some one can be found to assist it to survive the task. -After cautiously looking under cover to see that the infant’s face is -clear from contact of any parts or particles, patience will aid in -determining how best to complete a well-begun job. - - - BORN WITH A CAUL. - -It is no uncommon thing, in hasty labor, for the bag of water to break -and remain close around the face and neck of the child. This is done by -the quick, rolling motion in coming into the world. The force of the -descent breaks the thin skin or bag, and the same force packs the face -into it; so that it remains over the face, partly around the neck, and -sometimes over the head as well. Were it not removed, the child must -suffocate. This circumstance at a birth has given rise to the sayings, -“Born with a caul,” “Born with a veil,” etc. The proper way to remove -this bag or membrane is, from over the head down, as lifting it may pull -open the eyes; thereby bringing the eyeball in contact with the fluid or -the chalk-like substance, thus laying the foundation for sore eyes. -After twenty minutes or more, beating having ceased in the cord,—which -may be known by pressing closely between the fingers that part nearest -the belly of the child,—it should be tied by means of a flat knot, with -lamp wicking, or many strands of white spool cotton, about a finger’s -length from the belly. In case of twins, there should be a second tie -the same length from the first, and the cord cut between the two ties. -There have been times when women depended largely upon each other, in -their helpless hours of confinement; it may be so again, but with a far -greater chance of successful results. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - THE BETTER MODE OF WASHING THE NEW-BORN. - - -Washing is the name given to the old method. Cleansing is the proper one -for the new. - -How to proceed: A soft, white, all-wool blanket, about two yards square, -should be always in readiness when a birth is expected. Not necessarily -new, but pure, never having been used about fever patients, or about the -dead. A metallic slop-pail with cover, that all secundine particles may -be put out of sight; the same serving as a vessel for the woman to sit -over. As soon as the babe is freed from the mother, it should be wrapped -in the blanket and laid aside in a comfortable place. After the mother’s -safety is assured of, prepare thus to clean and dress the babe: Secure a -comfortable position, with plenty of light and ventilation, as far from -the confinement bed as possible. Have a stand or covered chair, upon -which to place the half of a small teacupful of fresh hog’s lard or -sweet oil. If in a cold room, warm the grease by setting the cup in hot -water for a few minutes. Have a piece of soft, all-wool flannel, about -the size of your pocket-handkerchief, another piece half as large, and -two pieces of soft linen or cotton about as large as your hand. A piece -of lamp wicking or several strands of white spool cotton, to be used in -re-tying, in case of bleeding from the cut end of the cord. The infant -may then be brought forth, held on the lap, or laid on two chairs. As -many babes have open eyes as soon born, it is best to dip a small piece -of the soft linen or cotton in the grease, and wipe the inner edges of -the lids first of all, as the drying on of the chalky substance or other -matter with which the child’s face may have had contact, while coming -into the world, may, as I have before said, be the first cause of sore -or inflamed eyes. Then proceed with the small piece of flannel, well -saturated with oil, to clean the face, ears, nose,—avoiding the -eyes,—neck, chest, under the arms and between the fingers. Wipe dry with -the clean, large piece of flannel. Those parts can then be covered with -a part of the blanket, and the lower extremities cleaned with care. -Should there be dried blood from the cut end of the cord, moisten with -warm water, and wipe it off. Then proceed to clean and examine well all -the private parts. When done, cut a hole in the piece of cotton, linen -or batting, as it may suit, about the size of your hand, through which -slip the cord, fold it closely, but flat and smooth, and lay it over to -the left side of the belly, that it may not intercept the circulation of -the liver, which is situated on the right side. Then secure it with an -all-wool flannel band. The band should be made so as to include a shirt -with long sleeves. It should extend from over the teats down below the -hips. There never would be swelling of the breasts of infants if the -bands were purposely made wide. The natural office of the mamma in -girl-children, has been destroyed by repeated pressing of the teats with -the mistaken purpose of “getting out the milk.” Narrow bands are -worthless. If they shrink they should be pieced out or replaced with -new. The band securely placed,—a flannel roller, plain slip and napkin, -is all that is required for the first dressing. It often happens that, -after “washing” and dressing by present methods, blood oozes from the -cut end of the cord. Seldom does this happen by the new method,—I should -say, my method. Sometimes the fault is in the manner of tying, or from -imperfection of the cord itself. In any case the cord should be re-tied, -or the bleeding otherwise stopped, and the infant kept warm till medical -aid can be summoned. To return to first dressing: After the wraps have -been drawn up over the feet, the head should be thoroughly greased and -cleaned, taking care not to press the bones in the least. Pressure upon -the head at birth may be the means of stupidity, or even idiocy, during -life. The baby’s mouth should then be swabbed out with a clean, wet -cloth, and the little one laid down in quiet. Babies usually sleep -during the procedure, as does the mother, she waking only to find her -babe by her side, “all warm, sweet and clean,” and “mamma didn’t even -hear it cry once.” One trial of this method is convincing of its -benefits. If soap is used with grease, it acts the same as suds into -which new cotton cloth is put. No good laundress will meet with such an -accident, if possible to avoid it. And surely no careful nurse will -allow her little charge to suffer by having to stop and change the -water. Moreover, in the absence of soap, there is no liability to -chapped skin, glandular sores, sore eyes, ears, and crusty scalp. -Especially should the scalp be well cleaned, and kept so; as it not only -adds to the tidy appearance of the child, but favors an even, healthy -growth of the hair bulbs. The foundation for a love of cleanliness can -best be laid in infancy. There are many adults who desire good hair, yet -do not or will not know that combing the hair daily, and keeping the -scalp clean and cool, promotes a healthy growth of the hair. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - NECESSITY OF AGREEABLE AND SOOTHING SURROUNDINGS. - - -No Bay Rum, perfume, puff powders or other unnatural substances should -be tolerated about young infants. But after the patients have been made -comfortable, all soiled clothing or slops should be quietly removed. All -loud talking or laughing should be strictly prohibited. To insure this, -no sly jokes should be indulged in by any one present; for by so doing -convulsions of an alarming nature may be brought on. Judging from the -actions of some women, when around a confinement bed, it is not at all -unlikely that many cases of internal convulsions, both of mother and -child, are the results of inward or suppressed laughter soon after -delivery, and before the womb has had time to get in place, or when the -babe is nursing. - -Infants should be accustomed to a change of apparel as soon as possible. -It is an error to suppose that a child should be kept hot, and tucked -down in soiled wrappings till after the navel drops off. After -twenty-four hours it can be wiped with clean warm water, close around -the navel. The napkins, too, should be changed and washed out just as -often as soiled. Also there should be clean day wraps and night slips in -constant readiness during the child’s helpless period. Heavy or wadded -coverlets should be discarded, even in the coldest weather, for the -reason that they are heavier than woollen, retain the moisture from -breaths, are not so easily washed as woollen blankets, nor are they so -warm. The science of our nature teaches us that woollen is the best -covering during the hours of sleep. For instance, the pores of our skin -permit the escape of all gases not necessary for the renewal of the -tissues of the body; in like manner woollen goods permit the odors to -escape from our bodies. - -The face of an infant should never be covered when asleep, especially -when in the bed with adults; it induces lung difficulties. The blood -must pass through the heart and lungs, uninterrupted, day and night, in -order to supply all parts of the body. The hours for sleep are intended -for the repair of worn material, while at the same time the useless -matter is passing off in breath or perspiration. I believe that all -infants should be supplied with a light covering for the head day and -night, until the hair grows out. The old style lace cap, for instance, -deserves a conspicuous place among the relics of health preservers. -Later on, the hair becomes the only proper covering for the head day or -night. By all means, a child should be closely watched, and its wraps -changed and adapted to atmospherical changes. If infants are too tightly -wrapped, or are allowed to get too hot, they generally make it known by -writhing or whining in their sleep. - -By using oil in the first cleaning the temperature of the child’s body -is not much changed. I do not propose to describe any of the abnormal -liabilities of the cord circulation, that might require the use of hot -or cold water, in order to save life. As medical advice should be sought -in all doubtful or unnatural cases, the unnatural can only be known by -close attention to the appearance of the natural. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - NURSING FROM THE BREAST MADE EASY. - - -After the lapse of two or three hours, the mother is likely to feel -concerned for her child; but, should both incline to be quiet, neither -should be awakened for the purpose of nursing. Too early an attempt to -put the child to the breast is frequently the cause of much unnecessary -pain to the mother. Before a child is put to the breast, all soiled -linen must be removed from the mother, the face, neck, breasts, hands, -and under the arms well wiped with a cloth wrung out of warm water, then -covered with a clean flannel chemise open at the nipple. Bay Rum may be -added to the water if required. The private parts should be well wiped -under cover, greased with lard, and covered with a large, warm napkin, -after which a wide bandage should be buttoned on. The babe will not -suffer by waiting. The greater number of women afford milk enough in a -few hours to supply the needs of their young. The exceptions being -either from some malformation or a watery condition of the blood. When -the milk pores are free, the child can obtain enough to satisfy it in a -short time. If, on the contrary, the glands are hard or unbroken, as -they most always are in case of a first child, it becomes the -indispensable duty of the nurse to soften the glands, and start the milk -running; as it is impossible for the babe to do it by a few draws with -its tongue. The glands may be softened by the following means: Besmear -the hands with warm goose or olive oil, and anoint the breasts slowly -and evenly from under the arms down to the nipple, until the glands -soften and the milk begins to flow; after which nipple cups should be -kept on in the intervals of nursing. Chapped or bleeding nipples may be -cured by frequent sponging off with warm salt water. If through neglect -an abscess gets ahead, it should be encouraged to suppurate in one spot, -by the application of warm poultices of flaxseed meal, salt, hops, or -honey and flour, and when ripe opened with the lancet; the babe -continuing to suck through the artificial teat. - -Those manufactured by Robert R. Kent are invaluable. - -If, after the milk has appeared, the glands harden and the milk veins -become knotty and painful, I also make use of the following means to -relieve quickly: Steep half an ounce of Indian Posy, or Life Everlasting -herb, in a pint of water. Oil the hands, and bathe in the same way I -have described, with the decoction as hot as can be borne, the patient -being in an easy, half sitting posture. In the intervals of rest, she -should drink a teacupful quite hot, with or without sugar. When the -tumor is considerably advanced, the process of breaking it up is often -very painful, and may even cause fainting; but relief is sure if the -work is patiently performed and courageously endured. The pain of that -is light compared to the torture, for weeks together, of abscesses. The -herb has no more specific action than that of relaxing the system -through the aid of the absorbents or sweat glands. It relaxes the skin, -and is safe to drink as a diet to increase the flow of milk. A child may -be born perfectly healthy, yet even for days be slow to take hold of the -nipple; whereas many seize hold at once. The friends fret and declare -the babe is starving, if it does not desire to suck. If they could only -read the meaning in those little eyes as they open and shut, they would -know the secret—rest, simply rest, preparatory to the task. Many young -mothers have no prominence to the nipple, so that neglect on the part of -the nurse may cause such to lose the benefits of suckling. A friendly -adult or child could soon draw out the nipple by sucking so that the -babe can get hold; after which the nipple cups should be kept in -constant use, till the babe is strong enough to keep the glands soft, -and the nipple pliable. Usually, at this juncture, all sorts of teas are -suggested: molasses water, milk and sugar and water; and should the -child dare to cry, after the plentiful administration of one or all -these teas, up steps an experienced old friend, or grandma, who declares -that it must have “catnip tea.” So the world-renowned catnip tea is -authoritatively given, while are related the many cases in which the -drug was known to have cured wind colic, and how it quiets and fattens -generally. Only when the child belches, and refuses to let any more go -down its throat, does the pouring in cease. And even this is sometimes -taken as an indication that the babe is full, and needs to be trotted to -make room for more. Some babes are eager to suck at birth, even seizing -hold of the sponge as it passes the mouth in washing the face. If babes -are not fed just when they fret and whine, some knowing ones say they -“suck wind.” Well, is it not natural that they should suck wind, since -they are in the world? If they are allowed to lie quietly for a few -hours, and are then given a few drops of sweet cream or milk, without -sugar, they will give scarcely any trouble, and in due time nature will -furnish strength to obtain with ease the amount of nourishment suitable -to the delicate organs of digestion. It frequently happens that a babe -has a rattling or wheezing noise in its throat, or air-tubes; in such -cases, a feather has usually been recommended with which to tickle the -back part of the tongue. I always wet the feather, to lay the down. The -tickling excites a coughing or gagging, which dislodges the phlegm, so -that it can be hooked out with the finger. There are reasons for -suspecting that many new-born infants have strangled to death from this -cause. I do not mean to cast any reflections when I say that a physician -is not likely to be informed of the fact, until it is too late to remove -the difficulty. And as the wheezing may assume the same sound as that of -catarrh, cold in the air-tubes, bronchitis or croup, the real cause may -be lost sight of. Promptness is all that is required when any such -trouble presents. The fumes of tobacco, whiskey, smoking lamps or -stoves,—also wetting the nipple with spittle when eating snuff, each of -these may not only be disagreeable to a young infant, but may sicken it -and cause instant death. It is true, however, that many children have -survived all of these disadvantages, but who can tell how much has been -taken from their health, and length of days. Infants should be nursed -frequently at first, to give them a good start; they seldom suck more -than they need. But from the beginning they should be fed, then laid -down. As they grow older they will nurse well, and expect to lie down -afterwards. Early and regular habits of nursing prevent the liability to -mammary abscesses, ovarian or uterine tumors. Hence, suckling a child as -soon as convenient after birth, not only serves to quicken the vitality -of the new being by cleansing the bowels and supplying new blood, but it -also serves to clear out the system of the mother. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - THE USELESSNESS OF “BABY MEDICINES” DURING THE MONTH. - - -Probably the greatest amount of mischief arising from the administration -of “baby teas,” lies in the fact that they are not given with the least -certainty as to their effect upon the system of the child, whether to -nourish the blood or physic the bowels. Let us take catnip: this is a -herb described in some books as being a mild laxative, good to work off -cold on the chest and bowels of infants; a sweat-promoter. About a dozen -years ago a neighbor of one of my patients, thinking it for the best, -gave catnip tea to her three-days’-old son. I was hastily summoned, and -on arriving in the room where everything a few hours before was so -tranquil, I suspected that catnip tea had been around. Of course no one -would own up until, after I had staid by the little victim fifteen hours -without sleep, finally succeeding in checking the frequent green -discharges and thus saving the child’s life,—shame caused the disclosure -of the cause of the mischief. The tea had not been given for food, as -the mother had a full supply; but as the babe was moving about, it was -thought that a little catnip tea would make it sleep. A lady told me -with great dignity that her children ate homœopathic pills when they -wished. “Why,” said she, “my children fatten on them.” - -I saw that she did not know the secret of the “fattening.” Another said, -“Why, my James eats castor-oil on bread.” Now we are aware that there -are very many articles used as food that can be prepared and combined so -as to act in place of medicine in certain cases; but as a general thing -medicine will not answer to nourish the body in place of food. According -to the mechanism of man, there are three stages in his life for which -due preparation is made, before he comes into existence, to wit: the -breasts’ milk for infancy, the teeth, with which to eat solid food, and -medicine, to heal when sick. As to catnip producing sleep, I cannot -agree with old ladies in general; but I do know of a truth that if a -child is dosed with it in early infancy, the effect is to loosen the -bowels; the fatigue from this over-distension of the stomach causes -sleep. Babes should move about if they have life enough in them; they -should, by no means, be stupefied. The first milk from the breast is the -only medicine needed; when other mixtures are poured into the child’s -stomach, as teas sweetened with sugar, honey, molasses, either of which -is laxative, the danger is greatly augmented, especially if given before -the bowels have moved at all. The custom of old-fashioned people, as -they style themselves, of giving new-born babes castor-oil and molasses, -or soot tea (for that irrepressible belly-ache), and urine and molasses, -to clean them out, is, though with reluctance, fast dying out. It would -be well to notice that children who are dosed during infancy for every -supposed ill are seldom robust. They become physically stunted, and -their peevish habits exact for them all sorts of over-indulgence. More -food for the blood, and less medicine, should be the motto. Let us -follow the tide of progression. There are no uniform rules by which -infants are to have a discharge at birth, either from the bowels or -bladder. Therefore, no efforts to induce such should be used until -necessity demands it. It is no uncommon thing for infants to pass large -quantities from the bowels, just as they are entering the world; a -circumstance not likely to be noticed by those unaccustomed to all the -incidents of childbirth. It is always safe to await the action of the -first food, whether from the breast or artificial; and if it be but a -few drops well digested, there need be no fear but that the napkins will -be soiled as fast as desired. If such result does not follow, after -waiting two or three days, a flannel cloth folded, and wrung out of hot -water, laid first on your cheek, then on the child’s belly, and that -covered with dry flannel, will, with perseverance, bring about the -desired result. Sometimes an infant passes large quantities of the dark -matter immediately after the fatigue of washing and dressing (old -style); then it may pass no more for two or three days, or until time -has been given for matter to accumulate. If the organs of the child are -all right, all will be well. But should doubts arise as to the best -course to take, surely medical advice only needs the seeking. It was -formerly the custom, and is now to a great extent with old nurses, to -give later in the month—certainly before their month was up, as all teas -and charms had to be given before they left—saffron tea. I have seen -them sit by a hot stove and feed infants with saffron tea more patiently -than they would like it given to them. I once asked a high-priced nurse -why she gave saffron tea. I was kindly, though decidedly, informed that -it was to “push the gums.” I was none the wiser by asking. I afterward -learned from the child’s older sister that the doctor said the baby had -the jaundice. Well it might have the jaundice, kept in a room with a -temperature of 80 degrees, with two adult persons night and day, and fed -on saffron tea. Now the crocus, or saffron, sometimes grown in our -gardens, is described as possessing sweating properties, being good to -promote eruptions of the skin in fevers, and good in fits. Yet thousands -of infants, no doubt, have been forced to swallow saffron tea, who have -not given the slightest evidence of any unnatural complaint. No -paregoric, laudanum, or other preparations containing opium, should ever -be given to an infant for the purpose of quieting or making it sleep. -Sleep-producers serve only to bind the bowels and stupefy the senses. -Carminatives—medicines that expel wind—such as caraway, fennel, anise, -cardamon, mints and the like, should never be given unless prescribed by -those competent to vouch for their effect. - -It is becoming a widespread custom to send a little girl or boy to a -druggist’s to purchase some advertised baby medicine or food. The patent -cough syrups, or those kept on hand in shops, I deem unsafe in the hands -of the inexperienced. Most, if not all of them, contain some -sleep-producing ingredient, whereby they may check a cough by -paralyzing, as it were, the little nerves of sensation in the air-tubes; -thus giving opportunity for the phlegm to collect in great quantities, -with no possible way of escape. Doubtless in this way suffocation is -frequently induced, in whooping-cough, bronchitis, or croup. - -Several years ago, in the city of Boston, a mother returned from work, -and found her baby, which she had left alone, a corpse. Her explanation, -as it appeared in the daily papers, was to the effect that she had given -the child the rinsings of the vial that contained laudanum, to keep it -quiet. - -People are getting much wiser nowadays; laudanum and paregoric cannot be -easily obtained without a recipe. But they can yet buy and give large -doses of “Patent Soothing Syrups.” - -In all cases of difficult breathing or signs of croup, with or without -hot skin, a soft flannel cloth should be wrung out of hot water, and -laid over the entire chest, close up under the chin and ears; and if the -bowels are bound, it may extend to the belly, the whole being covered -with a dry, warm flannel. By this means the force of a cold can be -broken, the breathing relieved, and in a majority of cases it is all -that is required to be done. Even in severe cases of lung fever, warm -water applications are invaluable; acting as an absorbent through the -medium of the pores of the skin. If a paste of flaxseed meal is used, it -should be applied in the same way. If the applications are to be warm, -they should be kept warm, and if they are to be cold, should be kept -cold, until relief is obtained. - -I may have digressed somewhat, as pneumonia seldom develops in the first -month of infancy. At all events, external applications are in place till -medical aid is secured. I do not wish to be understood as usurping the -power of other physicians; each has his or her own method of procedure. - -I merely wish to impress the domestic and common sense means, to be used -in cases of emergency. - -The old custom of giving infants “a little weak toddy” to “bring up the -wind and make them sleep,” should henceforth and forever be removed from -the midst of a more enlightened people. If it is given weak the effect -is to intoxicate at first, and then produce sleep; which may be followed -by a fearful attack of purging. If given strong, it may induce -constipation and dry colic, the very thing it is intended to relieve. -Such a course may also have inculcated a desire for tippling in many of -our weak-minded youth. Castor-oil is a well-known sickening purgative, -and it does seem to be a wonderful interposition of Providence alone, -that so many thousand infants have survived the compulsory dosing with -this drug. But a few years ago a lady, aged about sixty-five, came to -her end from severe diarrhœa, brought on, as she testified, by taking a -“store-bottle of castor-oil at a dose.” - -Mothers and nurses should strive to become familiar with all articles of -diet; also with the properties and medical uses of all drugs and -minerals, and their action upon the animal economy. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - DROPPING OF THE NAVEL CORD. - - -It would more than pay me, if in this section I could say aught that -would effect the removal of the anxiety generally shown concerning the -healing of the navel. - -There is a late custom recommended by some physician, that of soaking of -the lint, to apply clean each day. This, in my judgment, is risking too -much, unless it be with the guidance of an experienced person. I deem it -much safer to wipe close around the wound daily; then on the third day -slip a clean piece of soft cotton or linen beneath and around the soiled -pad; as about this time the cord, unless very thick, is dry and will -soon drop off, leaving the clean pad as a protecting ring around the -navel. The navel should then be looked after each day until healed. But -it is an error to suppose that the navel should be healed in any certain -number of days. The usual time is from five to seven days; but I have -known many to drop on the third day, and more to remain unhealed till -after the twelfth or fourteenth day. In the former case the cords were -very small; in the latter they were very large and strong. - -Many years ago, I learned of an accident that occurred to a midwife of -much usefulness: Because the cord remained eight days, she cut what she -supposed was a piece of thread; in consequence of which the child bled -to death. It would be well to state here that keeping the babe too hot -retards the drying of the umbilical vessels. Ordinarily the healing of -the navel is simple and natural, and it should never be tampered with. -Should unnatural growths appear, any regular physician can detect the -cause, and direct the cure at once. Far more accidents occur by the -reluctance of friends around to call medical aid in time, than from the -cause itself. Selfish prudence is too often allowed to come between duty -and human life. - -If at any time a white fluid should be discharged from the vagina, or -private parts, of a girl child, it should be washed away as often as -seen, and the parts washed out with a solution of common salt I have -seen mothers become greatly frightened at this common occurrence. -Cleanliness and perseverance will remove the trouble. If families would -make it a rule to have a thermometer in the nursery or the -sleeping-room, by which to regulate the temperature of the body, many of -these baby-ills would be banished from our midst. The nervous system of -babes deserves a large share of our sympathy. But if one were to judge -from the treatment they sometimes undergo, it might be inferred that, -like dolls, infants have no nerves or rights which men are bound to -respect. Children of the same family differ much. One may be sprightly, -making frequent music by crying; the other may be comparatively docile. -And if a child is quiet and does not cry, or act silly, it is called -stupid, and everything is done to arouse its ire. - -Children cry for pastime; so they should. It develops the lungs and -relieves the air-tubes of any collections of phlegm. Besides, it causes -them to be noticed by some one who might forget their existence. There -cannot be any comfort in being rocked, tossed, shook and kissed, and -that, too, without any regard to the odor of the breath. It is decidedly -injurious to wake babes from a quiet sleep, or even to excite their -attention while lying quiet. Mothers should early learn to listen and -become familiar with the different tones produced in the cries even of -the same child. Listening should be cultivated more; then the -possibility of making a crying baby more noisy, by shocking it with -additional noises, will need no more explanation. “Oh,” says one, “they -get used to it and look for it.” True,—bred, born, aye and raised in -excitement; never can hear or understand anything but noise, noise, -noise. - -Currents of cold air from a window or door should not be permitted to -pass over the exposed body of infants; as, by so doing, the sudden -change may, like electricity, direct the irritation to some vital organ. -It is considered much safer, when the weather permits, to put on -suitable wraps and take them in the open air. The most trouble arises -from keeping the infant too warm from birth. Hot-house plants rarely -endure the changes of the open air, until it becomes equal to what they -have been used to. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - ARTIFICIAL NURSING. - - -Should the mother afford no milk by reason of malformation, or -otherwise, the child should be accustomed to the most healthful kind of -food from the first. Milk from one animal should be sought. Animals that -are fed on corn, hay and fodder, make the best milk in winter; those fed -on clover and cured hay, the best in summer. The milk of animals fed -mostly on turnips, cabbages, and potatoes, is more apt to disagree with -the stomach. - -The goat furnishes an even diet for infants, but its milk is not so easy -to obtain in large cities. - -Milk should be given to a child in its purity, not deprived of the cream -or watered. Watering is equal to skimming, and _vice versa_. And when -the child has never known the taste of its mother’s milk, I can see no -philosophy in directing the milk to be watered and sweetened to make it -taste like breast-milk. - -All attempts to increase the quantity of babes’ food by watering are -indeed robbery, as relates to the infants; such weakening should only be -practised for special reasons. But to insure success, pure milk, or -cream with some water, should be the rule, not the exception. - -In a warm atmosphere the milk or cream should be made scalding hot by -setting it in a vessel of boiling water, and stirring it the while. -Boiling deprives it of the cream and other nutritive properties. There -should be no more warmed than is to be used up. The warming should be by -putting the milk in the bottle, then placing the latter in hot water a -few minutes. In this way the quality and temperature of the drink -remains uniform. The capacity of the bottle selected should be about one -ounce. The material of which the black elastic nipple is composed, is -not supposed to injure the mouth. No sugar should be added. - -Babes have been raised to a fine size on various kinds of porridge; and -they can be supported by putting a piece of clean linen into the shape -of a teat, fastening a soft string about it so that it may be held by -the nurse or any one, while food is poured into it from a spoon. Many -are the times that I have fed them in that way. I never thought of -laying them down to feed themselves. - -Milk may be used just as it comes from the animal; it is only in cases -where it is kept on hand for a day that it really need be scalded. - -So much emphasis has been put upon the necessity of water as a -constituent of baby diet, that it is almost venturing too far to remind -any of the fact that most milk dealers are careful that this constituent -shall be already supplied. - -Formerly, dropsical, emaciated, half-starved, fretful babes were very -numerous; but since, of late, judicious legislation has been brought to -bear on the matter of adulterating milk, things have changed. - -Henceforth we may hope to hear that infantile deaths from this probable -cause decrease annually. - -With meagre feeding a “bouncing fat boy” will soon present the -appearance of a wrinkled old man. And, too, the condition in which food -is presented to a child is equally as important as the quality and -quantity. It is impossible to rule the stomach of another; a spunky -child will resent the attempt some way, and at some time, even though it -be after the injury is irreparable. A uniformity in heating the milk or -food of any kind is very important. Hot things should never enter a -babe’s mouth. If milk is in the least sour, it is running a great risk -to try to sweeten it by adding soda, as some persons do, for -convenience. - -The coarse habit of “stuffing” babes, to avoid frequent feeding of them, -should vanish like dew before the noonday sun; as it probably will, -under the management of educated mothers and nurses. The old-fashioned -way of compelling babes to suck a “sugar teat” or a piece of fat meat -rind for hours together to keep them quiet, is cheating, to say the -least. Our domestic fowls will eat meal, grain and vegetables when they -can get them. And if all supply of food is cut off, they may be seen to -pick, pick, day after day; this they will do if the ground is frozen and -bare. But are they getting food? Nay, they are only tasting, smelling, -and hunting for food. - -Sucking a sugar teat or meat rind, like gum-chewing, tends to undermine -the natural vigor of the mind, by a waste of the fluids that are -intended to prepare the food for making pure blood. - -A child can just as kindly be fed, changed, and laid quietly to rest; it -does not need patting or rocking. - -Baby raising is made irksome by adults themselves. The feeding and -putting to sleep should be superintended by some competent person, as by -intrusting it to children, or even young girls, the feeding may be -imperfect. Many children scream with fright at the noise created to get -them to sleep. - -Canned or otherwise prepared baby-food is quite uncertain, unless, in -the case of canned milk, particular pains is taken to have the water -hot, and the mass well dissolved; a large part will remain at the bottom -of the vessel. Again, as there is more than one brand of this article, -it is hard to find out which is the purest, as all are advertised to be -the best. Of course the largest firm will have the largest sales. Then -the price is not so convenient at all times, rather encouraging the -habit of rinsing the can; while all infants’ food should be prepared -fresh when wanted. - -Some babes spit up their food from the first, but there is nothing -alarming about that. Should what is spit up smell sour, and appear -undigested, small doses of pulverized magnesia—say about as much as will -lay on a five-cent silver piece—will correct it, while any known cause -should be removed at once. In case of purging in early infancy, it is a -mistake not to stop it as soon as possible. It is always safe, after -removing the cause, to quiet the motion of the bowels; a thing which can -be done only by proper scientific means, that no one should fail to -secure. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - THE MILK FEVER. - - -Very many women have milk in the breasts before the birth of a child. -Others do not have any for some days after confinement, yet may appear -comfortable. It is no uncommon thing for them to forget that they have -another very important task to perform,—that of preparing healthy meals -for the offspring. If, at this time, company is allowed, talking and -laughing indulged in, the symptoms of the coming milk may be greatly -augmented; so that what might have been a slight chill, headaches or -fever may become so severe as to require prompt medical aid. Indeed -diarrhœa, convulsions, or even insanity may be brought on through the -means of any excitement whatever, between the birth of the child and the -establishment of the milk. - -Giving castor-oil or other nauseous drugs (as has been, and to a great -extent is now, the custom) is quite risky, even when prescribed by a -physician; as many women are of such a costive habit, that it requires a -very large dose to move the bowels. I repeat, it is risking too much, -when given in the ordinary ways, for both mother and child. On the part -of the mother, an overdose may cause excessive purging and consequent -weakness. On the part of the child, should it be nursing while the -physicking is going on, the result may be griping and purging, ending -its life in a few hours. Every means should be resorted to to move the -bowels, where such relief is really needful, before administering -physic. - -Many women have a large passage during the delivery of the child; and -therefore need not be disturbed about that matter for days, or even a -week, all other things being favorable. For it should be borne in mind -that the internal organs are, in a measure, paralyzed by the -interruptions of nature during labor, and that time is needed to rest -the nerves and bring things in proper order. Headache, so commonly -complained of after delivery, is more from exhaustion of the nervous -system than from constipation. For this reason should extreme quiet be -observed for about nine days. When physic must inevitably be given -during the coming of the milk, it is decidedly best to keep the babe -from the breast until it is all through with. - -But, as a general thing, other means will answer; such as wringing a -cloth out of hot water and applying over the abdomen, or belly, rubbing -down and across the back and loins, giving large drinks of hot water -without sugar, keeping the body warm and moist for a while, but never an -injection unless directed by a practitioner. - -I would suggest that a few dollars paid to a physician for a half-dozen -extra visits during the first weeks of confinement, might prevent months -and years of gloom in many families. Again, there are many women that -take suddenly ill with vomiting and purging about the time for the milk -to appear. The violence with which this trouble progresses, and the -depressing consequences by which it is characterized, have indeed caused -it to be termed “child-bed cholera”; and although it may arise from a -previously disordered liver or stomach, it seldom happens unless there -has been indulgence in suppressed laughing, inhaling peculiar odors, -over-eating or drinking. Although the coming of the milk is most -commonly ushered in with some degree of chill or fever, there are as -many, no doubt, who experience no change whatever, it being so slight. -Hence it probably would be best if the term “milk fever” were never used -until really apparent. If, after lactation has become perfect, it should -go and come, means should be at once resorted to insure its continuance. -Wine, ale or beer are not advisable for this purpose. They may surely -lead to the habit of moderate intemperance, while their benefits are -only temporary. Pure blood is the basis for pure milk, therefore -nutritive articles of diet are of more permanent use. - -It is well to bear in mind that a scarcity of milk during the month -should never be taken as an excuse for refusing to nurse the child; for -if it can get but a spoonful a day, it greatly encourages the chance for -increasing it. The mother’s milk is the fountain of life to the babe, -and therefore seldom dries up unless there be some unnatural -obstruction. It has been said by many close observers, that when the -milk goes away without some perceptible cause, the child is not to live. - -What will cause the milk to disappear in some women, will not in others. -Peculiar odors, or pungent, volatile applications will completely and -forever drive the milk from the breasts of some women; and a cessation -of the milk is frequently a forerunner of consumption of the lungs or -tumors about the ovaries. If the nipples crack and bleed, they should be -anointed with goose oil, occasionally cold cream, or wet with a solution -of sal ammonia, or vinegar and water. This done in the intervals of the -babe’s sleep, care should be taken to wipe the nipples before offering -them to it. When a mother gives up to the thought that the suckling is -the hardest part to bear, and impatiently deprives her infant of the -breast, the pleasures of life must be to her of small value. “Try, try -again,” is an adage worth heeding. - -Should there be humor in the blood, as there ofttimes is, the nipples -will not readily heal while the child nurses; in which case it is -advisable to feed the child from a bottle and treat the mother. After -relief is obtained, the nursing can be resumed. In ordinary cases a -poultice made of bruised burdock root and elm flour, together with a tea -made by steeping burdock root and drinking a pint a day; keeping the -bowels regular, eating rye and Indian bread, and taking about a half -teaspoonful of calcined magnesia dissolved in water, once a day, will -effect a cure. The poultice should be made soft and applied fresh twice -a day between two thin cloths. - -A lady of wealth may get discouraged and give her babe to the care of -another, whose babe may in consequence have lo be put in some -charity-house or otherwise to board. Her babe may thrive and live; while -that of her wet-nurse may soon pine away and die. No one can avoid -distressing others unless he strives, to the best of his ability, to -bear his own burdens. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - PRECAUTIONS AFTER THE MONTH.—PROPER AND IMPROPER DIET. - - -There are many families in moderate circumstances who, no doubt, feel -unable to keep more than one fire going during the cold season; yet -nevertheless subject themselves and children to frequent and severe -colds by the sudden change from a hot room to a cold sleeping-apartment. -This might in a great measure be prevented by a little extra care to -secure tenements with sufficient rooms on one floor. - -An infant should never be allowed to take its regular naps in a hot -kitchen, amid steam and dust; or in an ironing-room, with all of its -day-clothes on, beside extra cover, and then be undressed and put to bed -in a room that no heat, not even that of the sun, is allowed to enter. -Piling on heavy comforters renders the breathing heavy. No baby’s face -should be covered while asleep. It is wonderful to see how hard some of -these little victims struggle to breathe while they sleep, if sleep it -can be called. Some babes kick off the cover, and after being very warm -get very cold; to avoid which, soft flannel night-drawers, made so as to -include socks and all, should be used. - -Comfortable sleeping apartments without fire are healthy. The lungs of -grown persons break down from cause of too much pressure, much more -infants; yet from all such exciting causes the air-tubes may escape, and -the liver, stomach or bowels receive the whole mischief. - -The sleep of children cannot be healthful if their clothes remain pinned -down beneath and around them, and, it may be, tight leather shoes on. -Besides, it cultivates untidyness to oblige them to submit to such -management. On the contrary, every effort, even at the sacrifice of -personal pleasure, should be put forth to insure that clean, sweet and -undisturbed repose so much required, and without which few, if any, are -perfectly developed. - -When it is remembered that from the air we inhale come the principles of -life, and how much it is in our power to avoid the contact with -injurious particles or substances therein contained, many disadvantages -in the matter of rearing the babe will disappear. The air they breathe -should be as much one way as possible; no sudden gusts of wind should be -forced upon them by hoisting a window when they are over-warm. - -Children, of any age, should not be permitted to sleep in the open air, -unless it might be for a few minutes, and where the air is extremely -bland; which it seldom is, on our New England parks and gardens. A -gradual change in the matter of bathing, dressing, feeding, and putting -to sleep should be the rule. - -The mother may at any time during lactation communicate cold to a child. -My first experience in this matter was about thirty-five years ago, when -assisting in the care of a child that was nursing. The mother being very -warm one summer day, drank freely of ice-cold water while the babe of -about six months was sucking. She had not much more than time to set the -glass down when the babe was seized with rigid convulsions, and dropped -from the breast. The mother became almost helpless with fright, and as -the next farm was some distance off, I had to use my young brain. -Therefore, I procured a tub with some warm water and a little mustard; -it may have been a “fearful lot,” but the infant was all right when I -got through with it. - -Over-work or great fatigue in any way should be avoided by women that -suckle their children. If obliged to work and scrub, at home or -elsewhere, they should endeavor to keep a strict watch over the -condition of that life fountain, the breast-milk. There is no known law -preventing carefulness. - -Again, it is a mistake to indulge in drinking beers or other alcoholic -slops to prevent the child’s nursing cold. Early subsistence from the -strength of whiskey, rum, beers and ales, like tobacco, tends to stunt -the intellect and dwarf the stature of the youth of our land. It is much -better to eat warm soups, or such solid food as will give permanent -warmth to the blood, and insure a clear character to the being. When it -is a babe’s meal-time, it should be served with the most exquisite care, -as upon that depends its proper growth and length of days. To prove this -a fact, take, for instance, an old woman or old man upon whom adversity -may have made some telling marks in their younger days, and whose days -appear nearly at an end, and let such be well cared for in a neat, -quiet, comfortable home; the chances are they will live on in brightness -of hope for a number of years. - -Contrary to the teachings of some so-called missionaries, I believe that -neatness in arranging food, dress, or whatever pertains to order and -pleasantness, is the most essential part of a Christian duty. For surely -if the body is cherished as the image of our Maker, the soul-salvation -is a possibility. - -I alluded in Chap. II. to putting the new-born in a crib. Not that I -oppose their lying alone—on the contrary, I deem it highly conducive -both to health and good morals for every one, when at a proper age, to -sleep alone. - -Now since we have noticed to some extent how sudden emotions, as of -grief, anger or fright may shock the child at the breast through the -agency of those little organs called nerves,—we will pass on to notice -some of the causes of bowel complaints arising from the nature of the -food eaten by the nurse. Probably there is no cause more frequently -productive of infantile bowel complaints, both during and after the -month, than that of the too early indulgence in a mixed diet. It may be -well to enumerate some of the more objectionable articles of diet from -the first day of confinement to the seventh or ninth month, or time for -weaning. Of the vegetables,—beans, dry or green, cabbage, cooked or raw, -beets, turnips, cucumbers, green peas, dandelions, spinach and Carolina -potatoes. Pickles of all kinds. All of the finny tribe; oysters and -lobsters being the most dangerous. Of the meats, fresh pork and veal. Of -the desserts, egg custards, pastry, cheese and preserved fruits. Of the -fluids—coffee—unless ordered for medicinal purposes—raw milk, wines, -ales or beers. As a matter of convenience I will introduce what in -reason should constitute the proper diet for the same period of time; -the modes of preparation being left to those acting as nurses. A large -number of women detest gruel, or “baby-food,” as they term it. In this, -many, no doubt, are excusable, owing to the condition in which it may -previously have been presented to them; you can make a horse leave his -oats by sprinkling pepper over them. But to the point: There are about -an equal number who enjoy it, and it is always best to try and avoid -whims and deny one’s self in every possible manner till after the milk -flows freely. - -A woman cannot sink on plenty of nice oat, corn-meal, or flour-gruel, -minute pudding or toast panada, given often in small quantities. Of -course if any article, however well liked, is made by the gallon, so to -speak, and warmed over and again, it will become to be loathed; and too -great quantities taken may cause much distress in the stomach. Gruels of -all kinds should be well mixed with boiling water in a clean, block tin, -covered pail; then set in a clean vessel of water to boil, stirring it -till well done. Coarse grain porridges should always be strained; as -also should broths. - -For fluids:—Shells, broma, hot milk, pure or watered to suit, are each -of themselves nourishing. If the mother’s milk is scant, a tea made of -Indian posy or life everlasting, and drunk as table tea, with milk and -sugar, if desirable, is good to increase it. The diet should become -gradually solid, say in the early part of the day a broiled lamb chop, -broiled beef, liver, tripe, sirloin steak, or broths without vegetables. -Broiled meats retain the nutritive principles better than when otherwise -cooked. If tea or coffee is found to lessen the flow of milk, it may be -inferred that if continued, all of the fluids of the body will -materially change. - -A strict adherence to the aforesaid rules would, in a great measure, be -the means of preventing cholera of infants at the breast, particularly -in our crowded cities. By all means should child-bearing women eat more -freely of Indian or bran bread. Brown bread can be made fresh every day -where meals have to be prepared. Bread, cakes, or pastries that are -puffed with soda, or whitened, or colored with any chemical substance, -is not good for the health. Too much soda thins the blood; also induces -baldness. Mothers of former days delighted in preparing good bread, -which is the staff of life. Constipation seldom if ever troubles those -that use coarse bread, and avoid much salt meat. Giving infants just a -taste of every suspicious article as a sort of initiation does not -always prove a sure preventive against colic. It is an old custom, and -was doubtless adapted to its times and places, better knowledge, better -acts. Self-denial is required of us in the Holy Writ as the only -alternative, if we would be wise. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - GENERAL TREATMENT OF INFANTS. - - -Children are given to parents only for a lifetime; it may be long, or it -may be very short; but to array them in fine linens, with bare neck and -arms, as has been and is now to a great extent the custom in many -refined communities, for public exhibition, is, it seems to me, a -questionable act of parental affection. Yet many do so, and boast, when -otherwise advised, of their ability to toughen. Mother, your child may -be only one of a hundred to survive such experiments; ninety-nine may -have been relieved by an early death. - -I have looked upon the lifeless form of babes whose would-be friends had -failed to toughen, but had succeeded in contributing a bud to the garden -of the dead,—yea, shrouded just as they dressed them while living. -Thanks to our Heavenly Father, these cruel customs are fast declining; -and we may hope the day is not far distant when the feelings of the -tender infants will be better protected, and their bodies covered with -more comfortable material. We often see, and are expected to admire, pet -dogs on the streets, covered well with cloth, though supplied with -Nature’s garment. Should pet Carlo die, his loss is mourned as much as -that of many infants; in hundreds of cases, being borne to the cemetery -followed by a number of carriages and placed in a locality adorned with -monument and iron fence. - -Too often babies are subjected to a variety of tortures unawares. They -are expected to endure, and remain perfectly quiet, with cold food, hot -food, cold air, hot air, clean clothes, dirty clothes, wet or dry -clothes, thin or thick clothes, wind, dust, light or darkness, noise or -quiet, scolding or caressing, squeezing, jolting and beating; finally -they endure what no man or woman would, from one week to two years old, -or till able to speak for deliverance. Previous to this time they could -only squirm and kick and cry, and then, being considered sick, would be -forced to take soothing drops or castor-oil. But now they can tell of -their little trials by some “sound word” or striking sign. - -One part of the clothing of infants should not press, nor be more -thickly folded, than the other. Bands and straps should be made wide and -smooth. The belly-band should always be fastened on the side. - -While travelling in steam-cars, coaches, etc., infants should lie down -as much as possible, as sitting upright and being jostled about is -liable to strain or injure for life some part of the unfinished spine; -and, too, it may bring on severe vomiting and purging. When a journey is -to be taken over a long route and the child is fed from a bottle, some -more solid food should be substituted; as the continual re-warming of -the milk, combined with the motion, renders it unfit for nourishment. It -is more frequently overfeeding and prolonged excitement that causes -children to fret so when travelling, than a want of their accustomed -food. A little finely-pounded, newly-corned, beef, and the compound -Graham cracker, is a convenient lunch to take on a journey, especially -in hot weather. This may be considered coarse fare for a babe two or -three months old; but properly given, could it be so injurious as -keeping them trotting, feeding on sweetened milk and water, alternating -with cookies or candies? which, as many can testify, is practised daily -on some of our routes of travel. - -As a general thing, if babes are well fed and otherwise made comfortable -at every convenient interval, then allowed to lie quiet or sleep, one -will need no better company on a long journey. They soon get used to -changes if the change really is for their comfort. - -Very young children have no more control over their eyes than they have -over their lungs; and by facing an open window, as they are frequently -allowed to do, often get some particle of dust in their eyes, causing -them to sob and fret for miles. Should they be old enough to rub the -eyes, the loving friend or guardian pronounces the cause of the -suffering sleepiness, or hunger. Then comes the old bottle; if the babe -doesn’t drink from it, the poor little one is rolled and trotted, and -sometimes slyly slapped, as a means of subduing the temper of the little -——. It will never do to tell what names such people call their own dear -flesh and blood. - -Fanning is good pastime for some women, but it is no less injurious to -themselves than it is to infants, provided they apply it without regard -to the condition of the body. When children are too warm their wraps -should be adapted to the temperature; fanning can do more harm in a few -moments, than could be repaired in a month. - -A lady, going visiting with her first heir, was asked to lay off her -babe’s wraps. “Oh,” said she, “there is no use in putting handsome wraps -on baby, if I am to take them off while visiting.” I may have said quite -enough to prove that exposing babes to the sudden changes of temperature -and atmosphere may be productive of a variety of stomach and intestinal -complaints at each season of the year. Even when precaution is exercised -there will be unguarded moments when the germ of disease will enter the -system; but those moments should be few. I have tried to prescribe -preventives as I go along which I know can be read and put up by almost -any housekeeper, whether she has graduated in Chemistry or not. - -Extra caution should be exercised with small children in midsummer as -school vacations draw near, as then the older children are much depended -upon to care for the younger. It frequently happens that a child who has -been quite thrifty begins to fall back about vacation time. - -“Dog-days,” they say, “give children cholera infantum,” when the truth -of the matter is, the accustomed food has been reduced both in quantity -and quality, and they are compelled to eat or suck candies, swallow -pieces of nuts, fruits, cakes, pickles, or anything the larger children -choose to give. “Baby must go to ride in the carriage;” yes, and remain -for hours without food, or, what is as bad, given milk to drink from a -bottle that has lain beside the warm body for hours. In fact, the child -thus treated may continue to pine, and really starve at the very time it -should have been more lavishly fed. The system of infants has to be -guarded at all times and in all places; but more especially in our New -England climate, where the atmosphere is so extremely varied. Even if a -child does suck the breast, it can be fed through the day, now on -oatmeal and milk, and again on plain Indian meal or flour pudding. By -these means, warmth is supplied to the blood, and strength to the nerves -and muscles. - -I hope no one will understand me as advocating heat alone as a life -preserver, for I do not. It is heat alone that renders the systems of -many children so susceptible to colds. It is uniformity and moderation -in their whole management that I am trying to impress upon the minds of -all who may desire to profit thereby. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - TIME FOR WEANING. - - -It is claimed, and no doubt rightfully, that it is the children of the -poorer classes who suffer most in large cities from bowel complaints. To -this too many are ready to say, “Amen.” - -But there are duties involving upon each and all, rich or poor, from -which none can expect to be excused till the last known part has been -performed. As the chances now appear, there need be no lack of the -common comforts of life in most of our large cities and towns. This is a -land of opportunities; in it the laborer gets, or should get, his hire. -It therefore becomes his privilege to aid by prudence, industry, and -economy, in elevating his family to the discouragement of pauperism and -wilful neglect of the laws of health. - -It very often happens that those very persons, who claim to be too poor -to obtain the necessary comforts of life for their little ones, will not -hesitate to purchase some extortionately high-priced article, for which -they must enslave themselves to pay by the week or month, and which is -of far less value than their own or their children’s health. I would -suggest here that an extra ten-cent piece be deposited in safe keeping -each day as a surety for a baby’s comforts for the first six months; -which should afterward be increased to twenty cents a day, and thus -continued during its childhood. - -When a child is five or six months old, it is best to begin to feed once -or twice a day, so that the weaning may not be too suddenly enforced -upon it. Bread, crumbled in a small quantity of milk, corn-meal pudding, -mutton or chicken broth, Graham biscuit; very little salt added to the -porridges is healthy. But no disagreeable substances, such as aloes, -pepper or salt, should be applied to the nipples for the purpose of -weaning a child; a plaster of wool or fur is more safe for the health of -the child. - -In this climate (Massachusetts) there are many families who fear to wean -their children at any season of the year; many of them migrating from a -climate less variable, and in which the customs of feeding infants are -altogether different. Such mothers are deserving of no small share of -sympathy. I am acquainted with hundreds of them; thank God there are -some good mothers, good enough to take the blame upon themselves should -their infants sicken and die after being weaned. But for all such there -may be found in this little cabinet a consoling word. - -Weaning is advisable before June and before December. But if a child -does not thrive by reason of some constitutional weakness of the mother, -it could probably rally faster by being fed otherwise, at any season of -the year. - -But whether a child is weakly or not it can gain nothing by continuing -to suck after the ninth month; therefore, weaning is recommended about -this period. If the mother breeds fast, a prolonged season of nursing -but keeps her unprepared, both in strength and household matters, for -the next. Then, too, it retards the healthy development of the new -being, should she become pregnant while nursing. Although the mother’s -milk is essential to the proper growth of the child, history records -evidences of noble-minded men and women who never nursed the breast, yet -lived to a great age. - -A great deal depends upon circumstances; for instance, it may be that -even with apparently nutritive milk, the bones remain soft, the joints -weak, and the flesh wastes away or remains the same. Such cases are not -uncommon, especially among the very hard-working people or real -indigent. Hence the necessity of seeking medical advice as to the best -possible means of supplying the blood with those principles apparently -lacking. - -From my experience as nurse, I can say that weaning from the breast may -be successfully accomplished if begun pleasantly, but decidedly, and -continued. The months of May and October in the New England States are -the most favorable; April and November in the Middle States, while in -almost all of the Southern States weaning is advisable in March and -November or December. - -Waiting for a child to get all of its teeth is merely a matter of -choice. Beside the inconvenience of the differences in the periods of -time when the teeth get through, there is an unnecessary drain on the -system of the mother, with no benefit whatever to the child. - -The efforts put forth by some women to retard child-bearing is not so -good as “Robbing Peter to pay Poll,” because in such cases Peter is -robbed, but Polly is never paid. So it seems to me that if these little -ones are given in quick succession, it is just as well to have them and -get through with it. Many are the women who have borne a dozen or more -children into the world, and afterwards filled positions of nobility and -trust. - -By taking particular notice which course is best to pursue with a child -of seven or nine months, I sincerely believe the large number of -infantile deaths, under one year, would be much less. - -Deferring weaning for the predominance of some certain sign in the -heavens, does not accord with our present progress in knowledge. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - - SECTION I. - CHOLERA INFANTUM VERSUS STARVATION. - -If cholera of infants can be reckoned as a distinct disease, then can -starvation. Whether starvation causes two-thirds of all the infantile -mortalities, during the latter part of summer and the first part of -autumn, or not, the symptoms indicate much the same treatment as in -cholera. This statement can only be proved by close unbiased -observations; books can never do it. - -We will first notice some of the symptoms of starvation which may be -present in real consumptive babes, also the signs of starvation that may -develop in cholera; after which I shall endeavor to describe the -symptoms of cholera as viewed in the light of a disease. - -Starvation of a child is seldom detected by friends who may be -constantly caring for it, but the eye of a practitioner cannot fail to -do so at once, assisted by the required information. Notwithstanding, a -physician may permit doubts to enter the mind, or through over -cautiousness conceal the real opinion. - - - SIGNS OF STARVATION. - -A child may be apparently well and hearty at birth, may thrive even at -the breast for a few months; then all at once seem to fail. It may be -fed on whatever is ordered if not at the breast from the first; yet -barely live on for months, whining, drooping, and struggling, as it -were, to live. Such patients lay awake, listen, and watch the motion of -passing objects; when spoken to, will try to indicate something, look -pitiful, act intelligent concerning wearing apparel or toys. In fact -such a child is termed cross. It will cry after everything it sees, and -that it don’t see; will slap things, such as cake or crackers, out of -your hand. Nothing offered is welcomed as a relish. The bowels are -generally loose, the urine copious; yet in many cases the water is -voided in large quantities, while the bowels are dry. The eyes retain -their brightness, as if to invite attention to the fact, “I would thrive -if I had what I need.” The patient may drink half a gallon a day without -the least sign of satisfaction. - -Starvation may begin with the fœtal development either from lack of -nourishment from the system of the parent, or by reason of repeated -attempts at abortion; either of which is sufficient to blunt the -vitality of the germ. Such children are likely to “hang on,” perhaps -till the period of youth, and with good care may arrive to manhood or -womanhood. The most doubtful cases are those that have a dry cough, eat -a great deal, yet are never content, bloat at certain times, and grow -more stupid; the body becoming a mere skeleton, and with difficulty kept -warm. The new being is dependent upon the state of the parent’s blood -from the moment of conception till weaned from the breast. If the food -upon which a child is fed is the cause of the trouble, it should be -changed as soon as possible. If from other causes there are medicines -which can in a measure supply the needed basis. But generally the real -cause is not known or even suspected until too late to repair the -injury, and the patient dies after having exhibited all signs of -consumption. Children born of consumptive parents may come out quite -bright in some branches of thought, yet be quite delicate, seldom -passing the flower of youth in life. - -I feel incompetent to decide whether a consumptive mother had better -nurse her child, and thus fasten the germ of disease upon it, with a -view to prolonging her own life; or whether it is best for her to yield -to her fate, and substitute some different food for the chance of her -child’s life. - - - SECTION II. - SYMPTOMS OF EMPTINESS OR STARVATION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO CHOLERA. - -If, as heretofore mentioned, the solid or nutritive principle of the -milk has been withheld from the babe by adulteration in any way, the -blood becomes watery, the fat cells cannot develop, the tissues that -hold the fluid with which to moisten the parts dries away, and the flesh -becomes soft or skinny. The milk may be nutritive, too, and yet for some -reason fail to mix with the juices in the stomach so as to insure -healthy blood. - -These facts, however, are seldom found out by a casual medical attendant -until the powers of digestion are too weak to derive much benefit from -another kind of diet. Besides, the expense of the articles mostly -ordered by physicians renders a trial almost out of the question. There -are, however, many articles of nourishment obtainable, which, if -perseveringly administered, will do much to assist in building up the -little frame. - -The most marked of the signs that may end in cholera are vomiting, -dulness of the eyes, rolling the head, as if to rock, spitefully crying -when taken up to be changed, and begging for everything, as they say; -also crying, if old enough, for the very things no one thinks it should -have. If a child could have some of what it smells and craves, at such -times, no doubt but that recovery would commence. But a general -languidness of the whole system, and a loathing of the sight of a bottle -or its accustomed food, shows signs of certain destruction. In the last -stage the child screams faintly, starts at the sound of almost anything; -sometimes the breathing is scarcely perceptible. The discharges from the -bowels are seldom white and frothy, as in the last stage of acute -cholera; owing, perhaps, to the fact that the diet has been continued in -the former, whereas in the latter all food is generally suspended during -treatment, except it be fluids of the mildest nature; unlike in the last -stage of consumption, when the little sufferer seems to watch every -movement of its nearest friend, sometimes rising half way up to look -about, then falling back exhausted, it now lies quiet. - -It may be remarked just here that infants affected with inanition or -starvation, consumption and cholera, most invariably retain to the last -hour their instinct to suck, whether it be of the bottle or of the -breast. It is a well-known fact that infants who were nearly destroyed -by starvation from being fed on poor milk by hand, have been -successfully raised by being put on breast-milk. - - - SECTION III. - CHOLERA INFANTUM.—INFANTILE CHOLERA. - -We will now consider that much-dreaded disease termed “cholera -infantum.” I have seen babes attacked with it from two weeks old and -upwards. A child may be nursing at the breast or feeding from a bottle, -when all of a sudden it leaves off, and looks languidly about in a -comparatively stupid and pitiful manner; the eyes lose their lustre, are -rolled about as if not noticing any particular object. Fluids are thrown -up as soon as swallowed; passages from the bowels are frequent, though -many times but a speck in the centre of a wet napkin, most of the report -being wind. The matter discharged at first is likely to show in some -measure the cause of the irritation. - -After the acidity has been corrected by medicines, unlike a simple -looseness, the purging and vomiting of infantile cholera still continue, -showing conclusively the inactivity of the internal organs of digestion. -In some cases the remedies that are scientifically administered pass out -into the napkin unchanged; in others, they seem to lodge somewhere and -dry up. The chances are always considered favorable to recovery if the -remedies have a desirable action. - -A child may drool or throw up its food at any time, yet be quite -healthy. If a babe is sucking, and the mother indulges in a mixed or -meat and vegetable diet too early, the first passages after it is taken -sick will show signs of heat, fermentation and inflammation; they will -either be of a deep yellow, or more or less green, and slimy. In such -instances it is always advisable to take the infant from the breast for -a while and feed it on arrow-root boiled in water, till the acidity is -corrected; then in milk, no sugar being added, alternating with -gum-arabic water. The mother, or wet-nurse, having been put under strict -diet for a week, might with propriety resume nursing. Robust, perfectly -developed children are apt to exhibit considerable vitality through the -different phases of the disease; but as far as my experience has been, -they succumb to the worst more quickly than the more delicate-appearing. - -As the disease progresses the little sufferer will thrust its fingers in -its mouth, as if to intimate hunger or dryness, and gag, as though -something was sticking in the throat. The hands and arms are the most -active. The lower extremities are seldom moved from one position; and -when moved by any one, they are quickly reversed. Every movement of the -body, in bathing or changing, is followed by a discharge from the -bowels. These discharges vary in consistence even before any medicine -has been given. After the bowels have been purged, as is recommended by -most physicians to begin with, the discharges from the bowels may run -off frequently, and in small quantities, depositing in the napkin a -whitish, frothy fluid, which settles down to a chalky substance, giving -out the smell of lime. If such emissions continue, they will effect a -rapid destruction; or they may have the same appearance from the -beginning if the internal organs have been previously rendered weak from -starvation, or rather where the food has been but little better than -water sweetened; and, too, these frothy emissions greatly chafe the -parts if they are allowed to remain soiled. - -The tongue is dry and stiff, as a general thing, throughout the disease. -The body, with the exception of the belly, is dry and cool. The mouth is -apt to be hot from the beginning, a sign remarked by mothers who have -suckled babes with cholera; in the last stage, the disposition to sleep, -but start at the least noise; the mouth lying half open, the intelligent -attempts to suck; the decrease of the discharges from the bowels; the -cessation of retching; the sinking in of the features; the nervous -grasping, as if to catch some passing object; jerking of the body, and -moaning, may be looked upon as unfavorable signs. - -It is a great mistake to conclude that infants will have cholera if -weaned early, or if they are to be artificially nursed. The fear comes -from persons having been so educated within the last half century. - -All kinds of preparations are advertised and eagerly sought for baby -diet; as if the internal organs of babes were entirely different from -what they were before, and must needs be supplied with something more -supernatural than those of the adult. The symptoms of cholera are by no -means uniform. For instance, they may be cut short, or aggravated by -overdosing, before the facts in the case are made known. Thus, if -paregoric, laudanum, or any alcoholic carminatives are habitually put in -the drink, the most marked signs will be the smell of the breath, the -presence of constipation, stupor and sinking in of the features more or -less, with very little vomiting. Such cases, no doubt, are seldom -admitted, the victims being dead, or nearly so, when medical aid is -called. - - - SECTION IV. - GENERAL TREATMENT OF CHOLERA INFANTUM, MEDICAL AND DOMESTIC. - -Unfortunately for many children, it is usually in the last stage of the -disease that a physician is consulted. Probably any number of -palliatives have been given with good intentions and high hopes of -success. For one, the old cleaning-out remedy, so much thought of by old -ladies, and doctors not a few,—castor-oil. Whatever may be deemed as -proper treatment, it should be remembered that nothing short of the most -untiring vigilance on the part of the attendant, guided by Divine aid, -can bring success in raising a child on whom cholera has fastened its -blighting fangs. Yet what encouragement it is to know that by those -means it can be saved. - -My course for the last fifteen years has been to first ascertain, if -possible, the cause of cholera, and have it removed; also particularly -to inquire how long it has been since the child has been noticed to fail -in the effort to suck; then as to the color and frequency of the -discharges. I have never known, through my observations of over -twenty-three years, any better corrector of acidity, sourness in the -human bowels, than calcined magnesia. After giving from two to three -grains every hour, or according to the degree of acidity, until it is -all apparently changed, then, as cautiously as needful, I proceed to -quiet the motion of the bowels, as in case of purging within the month, -by the use of mixture No. 1, which if put up by a regular chemist, and -given according to directions, can be no more objectionable because -inserted in this little book than thousands of other recipes scattered -over the community by tons in expensive books. - -No. 1, R. Mixtura Creatæ, preperata, zj.—Chalk Mixture, Aquæ Cinnam. -zss.—Cinnamon Water. Add Opii Tinct. Gutta vj.—Laudanum. - -Shake well before using. Dose—A small teaspoonful after each stool. -Increase the dose according to age of patient. Of course it is not -expected that the inexperienced would attempt to administer anything -other than domestic remedies, unless put up according to the rules of -art. - -For a decided case of cholera, it is best to begin with half a -teaspoonful of the mixture; which, by the by, should be sucked down by -the patient very slowly, in order to have it remain on the stomach. No -time should be wasted listening to the old story of working off a bowel -complaint; few are the adults that ever have survived the experiment, -much less the weakly infant. Deaths from cholera cannot possibly be so -numerous in consequence of the discharges having been checked too soon, -for the usual precaution is not to arrest them; so they are let to go on -increasing, till all hopes of contracting the vessels are vain. It would -be well in all cases before administering Mixture No. 1, to fill a -flannel bag with hops, wring it out of warm, salt water and lay it over -the chest and belly, re-wetting every two hours; this done will alone -sometimes prove successful. - -When the mouth remains dry and hot, a little cool water, sucked slowly -from a spoon, does seem to revive the little sufferer, and I have no -reason to doubt its efficacy in abating the suffering, if not the -disease. Stimulant astringents are what is needed after the passages are -checked. The least mite of Nature’s stimulant—common salt—laid on the -back part of the tongue, will excite a flow of saliva, and greatly -assist in removing a sort of hair-worm which has been noticed to infest -the throat in some patients. When there is a continuance of vitality, -and the passages continue to be green, or tinged with blood, and -external cooling applications, as of flaxseed poultices, have been well -tried, an effort should be made to stimulate the liver; this is very -likely to be the case where the age and constitution of the child is -sufficient to permit the disease to run on for quite a while. Hydrargium -chloridum-calomel, is sometimes the most reliable drug that can be used -to correct that. This drug is unsafe in the hands of the inexperienced, -but quick and safe when under the guidance of medical skill. The dose -for a child six months old should never exceed one-sixteenth of a grain, -or one grain in sixteen hours, followed by a sip of warm milk. - -The nourishment during this time should consist of the breast-milk, if -possible; if not, arrow-root boiled in milk and gum-water, fed from a -spoon twice a day, or oftener. But either should always be given about a -half hour after any medicine, unless otherwise directed. Cold water -should never be allowed to a patient while medicine is being -administered, the nature of which is unknown. Light, air, sponging the -body with warm salt water, a change of clothing or bedding, each tends -to stimulate the pores, quench thirst, and give tone to the whole -system. Thin flour-gruel acts as a pasty lining to the entrails. After -the irritation has ceased, great care is required to prevent a relapse; -therefore in all cases when the breast-milk cannot be obtained, the -various vegetable astringents should be relied on to build up the -muscles, the different grains, as corn-meal, starch and oatmeal, given -often but in small quantities, will build up the fat cells. If, after -the liver has been acted upon, the green stools do not cease, and there -seem to be a general weakness of the digestive organs, the juice of the -blackberry, raspberry, or whortleberry, will, in most cases, effect a -cure; also, the rinds of ripe peaches boiled in milk till well done, -strained, and given when cool—a teaspoonful five or six times during the -day, and about as often at night—is excellent. The effect of either of -these remedies should be closely watched, as by their astringent nature -they might induce constipation. - -With a view to the comfort of the sick one, and the convenience of the -nurse, it is better to prepare a bed of some light material, on which -the patient can lie with its body flexed. Too often the little creature -is forced to lie in a narrow place, or more frequently on the lap, in -one position, till it would seem as if it would be paralyzed. There -should be two sets of bedding in order to expedite recovery. The -material should consist of goods that could be easily washed, and kept -clean. It is essential, too, that flannel be worn by the sick one; but -it is a sad mistake to imagine that flannel clothes do not need changing -as often as cotton ones. - -When I have suggested a bed for sick infants, some grandmas have thought -me cruel. But in such critical cases as the one in question, a few -moments’ trotting and rolling on the lap might undo all that it had -taken weeks to do. Should the stomach become settled, but the lower -bowels remain rather weak and liable to looseness, and there is no fever -present, I think much of the burnt brandy in small doses. I prepare it -in the following manner: Take a wineglassful of the best brandy, one -tablespoonful of refined sugar, dissolve it well, then pour it in a -shallow dish and set fire to it with a lighted paper, not a match; when -the blue flame is off it is fit for use, and should be put in a clean -vial and labelled. Of this, I give to a child six weeks old and upward, -six drops in a little water, say about three times within twelve hours. -To one six months and upward, I give ten to fifteen drops twice a day. -This warms up the stomach and stimulates the digestive fluid glands to -action. After the brandy has had the desired effect, a speedy recovery -may be hoped for. The bathing, nourishing diet, quietness, and, above -all, patience, need to be continued with greater zeal when recovery is -apparent. The recovery from cholera is probable only when the -surroundings are favorable; it is doubtful where the locality is densely -inhabited, the disease prevalent, and where there is a lack of means to -provide ample care and nourishment. Patients recovering from a disease -like cholera, which so undermines the nervous system, require a deal of -determination to prevent the undoing of what has been done by catering -to their whims. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CHOLERA INFANTUM. - - -It has been argued, authoritatively, no doubt, that the causes of -cholera infantum are, poor milk, bad air arising from old water-soaked -cellars, of tenement houses, or when it affects those of all conditions -in life, the rich, the poor, the black and the white,—its cause is said -to be in some atmospherical phenomena. I think the last mentioned might -be reconsidered, since it appears, from noticing the health records, -that mortalities from this disease have increased in extremely warm -weather only in proportion to the influx of emigrants. - -If poor or adulterated milk were the cause, there should be an entire -absence of the disease at present, since such stringent efforts are now -put forth to punish the wretch who dares adulterate the milk he sells. - -Quite enough has been published of late concerning the adulteration of -milk by putting in saltpetre, chalk, glucose, anotta, and other -ingredients for the purpose of increasing the density, while water is -added to increase the quantity. Admitting these shameful facts, have -they not been practised long enough for the news to have reached the -ears of every housewife in America? Why, I have been hearing those -reports at different times for forty years. With these facts, then, so -generally known, why do people water the milk they buy, and depend on it -for the support and nourishment of infants? There is trouble somewhere. -Children have been successfully raised on milk from animals, both in -city and country, at all seasons of the year, in hot or cold climates; -and many thousands of aged mothers to-day, could doubtless advise young -women in the matter of baby raising, did they not settle down in the -thought that the young people are getting all such knowledge along with -their great facilities for education. Oh, how sadly mistaken have many -thousands gone to their long home! - -The management of cholera infantum is not to be coveted; the best of all -is to know how to prevent it. I sincerely believe that the greater -number of cases of cholera are induced by the unnatural custom of -preparing a bottle of food, and putting the child in a position to sleep -while it sucks from it. Where is the woman or man who can sleep and eat -at the same time? The mode of preparing it is generally putting a little -milk with a quantity of water, and a little sugar, into a half-pint -bottle—if the babe is only a few days old—and this is kept close to its -warm body for hours, or what is just as bad, re-warmed every time it is -suspected that the baby is hungry. - -Pure milk needs no watering; it is simply converted into slops by so -doing. It contains naturally sugar, butter, lime, and all that is -required for the nourishment of the young. - -The saliva of the glands of the mouth and the juices of the stomach are -as fully able to dilute and separate the life principles of milk for a -babe, as they are to prepare solid food for the maintenance of the -adult. We eat a beefsteak in its purity, risking the after effects; were -there more ventures in administering pure food to helpless infants, no -doubt but there would soon appear a change in the physique of our young -men and women. - -To insure a healthy meal, an infant should invariably be fed with care -before laying it down from the very first day of its attempt to suck -from a bottle, for the following reasons:— - -As the babe dozes, its breath goes down the tube; the heat and churning -motion together separate the butter globules from the fluid so that they -cannot get through the holes, unless, as is often the case, the holes -are made too large, for some selfish convenience. And by this latter -means the danger of strangulation becomes more imminent if the child is -left alone. Scores of times have I seen the infant tugging away between -naps, for hours, trying to get what it should have finished in less than -twenty or thirty minutes, and been sleeping soundly. - -Numbers of them cry half the night, or are pacified by having the rubber -nipple of a filthy-smelling sucking-bottle continually stuck in the -mouth. Thus some babes are literally worn out sucking, trying to get a -bare subsistence. Even if an infant nurses from the breast, it is wrong -to put off suckling it till the powers are almost overcome by sleep. -While we are aware that its breath cannot go into the mamma, the -liability to strangulation is none the less apparent. - -There can be no more important duties to perform in the capacity of -housekeeping than that of caring for the helpless babe. Women doctors, -or, more properly speaking, doctresses of medicine, although usually -treated with less courtesy by doctors, are, nevertheless, by them -considered to be in their proper sphere in the confinement-room and -nursery. While I feel under no obligations to them for their charity, I -must admit their honesty and truthfulness in the matter; for surely -woman cannot fill a single position in the world so freighted with -material, out of which the moral and physical condition of humanity can -be affected either for good or evil. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - CONVENIENT METHODS FOR RAISING INFANTS WITHOUT THE BREAST. - - -A small bottle holding an ounce, for the first, should be in readiness; -a smooth round hole made in the cork, through which to put a quill; the -whole to be well covered with a strong soft linen, the edges of which -should be hemmed and securely tied under the lip of the bottle. This -constituted a sucking-bottle of fifty years ago. The modern rubber tube -and nipple, if composed of healthy material, removed from the mouth and -washed as soon as possible after using, may do as well. If a child is -allowed to sleep all it naturally inclines to, four ounces of milk or -two of cream will suffice it during the day, say from seven or eight -o’clock in the morning until six in the evening. From that time until -bed-time, say nine or ten o’clock, half as much. After ten, the feeding -should be as seldom as will allow of comfort. In this way, one pint of -milk or half a pint of pure cream will be sufficient to last a babe of -from one to four weeks old, a whole day, allowing the cream to be -increased to nearly a pint by watering. The quantity should be increased -gradually, while the number of meals during the night should decrease. -By these means a babe will soon cease to be any trouble after bed hours. -Only remember that it has nerves, through which it is supplied with -feelings. - -A small bottle insures renewal of the food, for positively the same milk -that a child has tried to draw from a bottle for any length of time is -not fit to be re-warmed or offered to it again; and if persisted in, -will act as a slow poison, which may develop into cholera at any period -of infantile existence. Again, if milk flows evenly, the butter globules -do not form in the bottle. If the milk flows too fast into the child’s -mouth, the healthful benefits of a meal is lost. - -I have often seen mothers force, with apparent anger, great spoonfuls -down the throats of their babes; perhaps such would think this cruel if -done by a nurse or overburdened servant-girl. - -If a child has cold in the head, so that the nostrils are stopped, means -should be used at once to clear them. No one can swallow properly with -the nostrils stopped up. To remove the cause daily will prevent those -sickening accumulations. A strict attention to cleanliness, and frequent -applications of sweet oil, or lard, or goose oil, with a feather, is all -that is wanting to prevent so many cases of sore noses, terminating in -the entire loss of smell, and not unfrequently the destruction of the -soft bones of the nose, or even the cause of cancer. Feeding during the -night should be discontinued as soon as possible, as it is then that -mistakes of giving the food too hot or too cold are liable to occur. -Night feeding may only be avoided by encouraging babes to keep awake -during the evening. But if they must be put to sleep early in the -evening, as a rule, to suit some one’s convenience, it may be expected -that, as a rule, they will wake up just when other people are sleepy, -and desire some notice. Infants from three months old and upward will -thrive well on a pint and a half of milk a day, but will get on much -faster if fed with rolled compound cracker and milk during the day. It -is needful to give some babes fluids only, while others starve on them. -It is the continual emptiness that causes many children to fret and -whine; for whatever they smell, cooking excites their appetites more or -less as they grow in intelligence. And, too, children take appetites -from their parents in a marked degree. As a doctress, I never could feel -it justifiable to direct any woman to wean her babe on account of any -conceited inability on her part to suckle it. - -I knew a lady whose infant of two weeks was taken suddenly ill while -nursing. A doctor was sent for, and when he was informed by the mother -that her milk was too rich for the babe, he at once advised her to wean -it. What more, think you, could have been expected with a diet of soft -boiled eggs for breakfast, custards for dinner, and wines or ales at -night? Surely if women ask no questions of the doctors, no answers can -be given. It does seem too bad to punish the child for the faults of the -parent. Eggs, like fish, may act like sure poison to the milk of a -nursing woman. The continued dry belly-ache or wind colic so much -fretted over by old ladies in the past, was but a sequence of the custom -of feeding lying-in women on wine custards. During the time of those -baby afflictions it seldom entered the mind of either nurse or doctor -what caused the almost universal three months’ “belly-ache” of infants. -Articles that may not perceptibly affect the mother or wet-nurse, as the -case may be, may prove certain death to the sucking babe. - -Infants should never be obliged to lie over their accustomed hours of -rising. If necessity demands this, however, there can be far more gained -by taking up, cleaning, exercising, and giving them a fresh supply of -food. It is not that too much sleep may be enjoyed, but that the -condition in which it is taken should warrant the refreshment needed to -build up the new being. - -Soft bones, enlarged joints, inverted feet, flattened back-heads, -sickening sores, dropsy, blindness, and numerous ills have befallen -infants from the thoughtless practice of letting them lie too much in -soiled clothes, and being insufficiently fed. In the matter of early -rising, the farmer’s child has the advantage of the city child. In the -country a babe is looked upon as one of the family, with rights that men -are bound to respect; but in the city it is, “Wait dear, till Johnny -comes home from school.” - -There may appear small white scales or patches on the tongue and inner -surface of the mouth. This is commonly called “thrush.” It is usually -caused by too great heat, either of surroundings or diet. Sugar in large -quantities will create it in some babes. This complaint _may_ run on to -an alarming extent, but yields readily to mild treatment timely applied. -It not unfrequently happens that, during the presence of apthæ in the -mouth, the back passage becomes sore, or presents much the same -appearance. The thrush is then said by old ladies to have gone through -the child’s bowels. This can hardly be a fact, since the whole trouble -disappears readily upon removing the cause. - -I have seen it upon the edges and under-surface of the eyelids, in babes -that are allowed to sleep where it is generally very close, with the -face covered over, or closely nestled to the breast of the mother. The -treatment should be cooling. Calcined magnesia in from three to -five-grain doses daily, for a week or two, and gently washing the scales -over once a day with sugar and water, will, if persisted in, effect a -cure. Giving “baby just a taste of everything mamma eats,” is no doubt a -frequent cause of this distressing complaint. - -If the appetite fails in a child, and there is no perceptible cause, and -the mouth is dry and hot for a time, it will do no harm to touch the -front edge of the tongue with a mite of table-salt. One or two trials -will suffice to set the saliva flowing, then with a little coaxing and -proper food the appetite will return. I may have digressed somewhat, but -as apthæ is frequently accompanied by diarrhœa, I deem it well to guard -against fear and loss of hope that might ensue from its being mistaken -for cholera. In any case of vomiting or purging of infants, great -caution is required not to give all kinds of palliative suggested by -incomers; this is “going it blind,” so to speak. Cholera is a terrible -disease, and should be subdued as speedily as possible. At best it -leaves its merciless traces throughout the remainder of life; the victim -being frequently annoyed by choleric pains, indigestion, nervousness and -cough. To sum up all, the causes of cholera infantum are movable unless -fixed by some perceptible atmospherical pressure. The causes of cholera -are no doubt overlooked by the major portion of a community where its -ravages from time to time have been the greatest, and consequently no -efforts are put forth in a general way to prevent a repetition of its -visits. Even where the conditions of the atmosphere may give rise to -cholera, its force can be modified, and the number of fatalities -lessened. I have frequently been asked if cholera is contagious; in -answer, I can safely say, it is not, as a disease; but like causes will -produce like effects, in the same locality, and at the same time. In -regard to the fumes of carbolic acid, chloride of lime, sulphur, and the -like, as disinfectants, I believe that they are all decidedly -depressing, and against the speedy recovery of cholera patients if used -in immediate contact. The removal from a crowded district in time of an -apparent epidemic is decidedly commendable. It is well known that -poverty, wretchedness, and crime favor an increase of mortality from -this disease. Yet the prospects of thousands remain the same year after -year. - -Strange ’tis, but true; in all this vast American domain, is there not -room for the welfare of God’s moving images? In the city of Richmond, -Va., the heat is much more constant in midsummer than in Boston, Mass. -Yet of the three hundred visits among the most forsaken poor of the -former city, infantile cholera is comparatively rare, and from July 15, -1877, to Oct. 30, of the same year, I found but one case of cholera from -starvation; that being a case where the parent had to be out all day, -while it fed from a bottle or sucked on something. Whatever saved many -others in like situation, it is beyond my power to tell. There would no -doubt be more numerous fatalities with children in warm climates if it -was the almost universal custom to feed them on slops; but on the -contrary, where they are not at the breast, among the laboring classes -at least, they are fed on what is convenient for the rest of the family; -and although many times the fare is decidedly objectionable, the Lord -crowns the efforts for good with success. - -Going South, as I did, a teetotaller, I was pleasantly surprised to find -that the freed people were no more intemperate than any other would be -if placed in like circumstances; perhaps not so much so as many of those -who could better understand how, when freedom came, all of the -necessaries of life were speedily cut off from them, but where rum and -ruin were, they could find an open door. Instead of setting out a -decanter and glasses, as was the custom in the days of slavery -(according to all accounts), I noticed a delicacy, lest they might be -suspected of wrong-doing. In order to encourage the impression for -reform, whenever an opportunity offered, I would say that children have -grown weaker every generation in families that have indulged in the use -of rum and tobacco. - -Frugality is advisable; looking to securing a home in the outer limits, -away from all objectionable odors, where rooms can be ventilated and -sunned in winter as well as in summer. Every room in a dwelling should -be swept and dusted once or twice a week, the beds aired, and bedding -changed. The general custom of housekeepers in our large and crowded -cities, of keeping their rooms dark, winter or summer, inoculates into -the system the germs of more diseases than could be enumerated and -prescribed for in a day. A cheerful home with a small tract of land in -the country, with wholesome food and water, is worth more to preserve -health and life, than a house in a crowded city with luxuries and twenty -rooms to let. That bad air is not the sole cause of infantile cholera, I -will mention an incident in proof. While travelling through some of the -thinly-settled districts of the British Provinces during the prevalence -of cholera in the autumn of 1865, I noticed that most of the children -suffering from the disease were those of parents whose circumstances -would not warrant the comforts of life. This was during the months of -September and October, when fish, oysters, milk and eggs are indulged in -to some extent. I thought the custom of advising the removal of such -patients to some elevated point near the salt sea air could avail but -little, since they were near the sea air and mostly in well-ventilated -houses, judging from the style of architecture. Also I noticed the same -uncertainty on the part of women as to the management of the complaint -as in the States. Herb teas, no matter what their nature, “catnip tea, -castor-oil and paregoric.” Every drink sweetened, as a rule. The visits -of the doctor few and far between; “so many cases he can’t possibly get -around to them all.” I had a little charge at the time whom I never left -an hour from the time it was taken ill till its recovery, three weeks -later. The family doctor called in occasionally, but the circumstances -of the young parents were such as to warrant the necessary aids to a -recovery which it was my good fortune to administer. This was in a -thickly-settled locality in the city of St. John, N. B., while in many -upland towns of Nova Scotia it generally proved fatal. May we not be too -willing to agree in charging our Heavenly Father with poisoning the air, -so that it destroys infants by the tens of thousands in less than a -quarter of a century? - -Let the interested humanitarian visit those families where necessity -demands the absence of the parent a part or all of each day, to seek a -daily subsistence, leaving the youngest to the care of the eldest, -winter or summer, before deciding whether it is a want of stamina, the -depressions of the atmosphere, or indirect starvation which causes so -great infantile mortality at certain seasons of the year. It is a -mistake to suppose that cold milk given to a babe in excessive hot -weather will answer as well as if warmed. The human stomach is supplied -with heat from the blood and natural fluids, and when a quantity of -anything colder than the contents of the organ is poured into it, the -process needful to a healthy digestion cannot go on properly. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - - SECTION I. - TEETHING MADE EASY. - -As a general thing, children begin to get teeth from the ages of five to -seven months. The middle, or incisors, in the lower jaw, are the first -to appear, one in advance of the other; and, too, these may get through -almost unnoticed. It is a custom with many persons to begin poking into -a babe’s mouth just as soon as it shows restlessness, or signs of -getting teeth; and, perceiving that it bites, as naturally it should, -they at once introduce a rubber, or some kind of hard substance, for it -to bite upon, to assist the teeth through. This is unnatural, and liable -to increase the already feverish and fretful condition of the child. The -more artificial friction is applied, the more inflamed will the gums -become. Teaching babes to bite on the fingers, rings, dolls, and the -like, is but subjecting them to torture which they would gladly repel -could they speak. - -There is really no set time at which babes should get teeth; some begin -much younger than others. There are instances recorded of children being -born with teeth; this, however, is of rare occurrence; but it is a -common thing to see the forms of well-developed teeth through the -delicate, transparent cover of the gums at birth. The development of -these little bones is really peculiar, and worthy of the most profound -study; but I shall only attempt to speak here in reference to the -maturing process, or their making ready to come through the gums, -hoping, by so doing, much of the seeming anxiety of young mothers and -nurses from this cause may be removed. - -The term “critical period” is applied so much to the process of getting -teeth that it becomes fixed upon the heart of many mothers long before -its time of beginning. The most that must be guarded against is fatigue, -either from lying or sitting too long in one position, irregular habits -of feeding, and untidyness. The more a child slavers when getting teeth, -the better; yet this is not always a sign of coming teeth. The slaver, -nevertheless, keeps the mouth cool and moist, preventing dry or papular -eruptions. Cold water is advisable, given frequently from a spoon, while -the teeth are breaking through. If the child is at the breast, well; if -not, its food should consist of scalded milk; as it grows in strength, -oatmeal is a good addition. If hearty and craving in disposition, Graham -crackers crumbled in and fed to it with a spoon, about twice a day, -generally gives due satisfaction. If the passes from the bowels are -numerous, yet healthy, a drink of gum-arabic water two or three times a -day, together with flour added to the milk in place of oatmeal, will -generally regulate them. Over distention of the stomach by sweetened -drinks should be strictly avoided. The extreme fretfulness of the babe -at this time is caused by the pressure of the crown of the tooth against -the sore or swollen gum. When the teeth get through, the cause of the -distress will be removed. Should the gums continue painful, as is often -the case with the double teeth, a dentist or the family physician should -be consulted at once; and, if Nature has made ready the bony structure -to be bared, the least touch with the lancet will part the skin and -assist it through. I repeat that the gums in a healthy condition seldom -need lancing; they may be left to Nature. Admitting, however, that there -are numerous cases of daily occurrence where the lancet ought to be -applied, it is positively forbidden by some would-be friend. The surest -way to stop toothache in the adult is to extract the decayed member, and -so the surest way to cut short the sufferings of an innocent babe, whose -gums are swollen and painful, is to lance the gum, and let the tooth -come through. Children whose mouths are dry from being kept too hot, -eating highly-seasoned or salt food, or from some hereditary -disposition, are especially liable to be late getting teeth, and there -are many living evidences where none ever appeared. - -The greater mischief is done to the whole nervous system by the -unnatural but ancient custom of pressing and rubbing the gum long -before, or at the time the teeth are making ready to come through. I -believe it possible to trace the cause of insanity to the pernicious -custom of rubbing the gums of infants. Once commenced, it, like all -applications that arouse the feelings, is looked for at a certain time, -rendering the child a burden rather than a pleasure to the family -circle. It is strange, but true, that the anxiety of some mothers to see -the much-mooted “critical period” culminates in a desire to bring it -about. - - - SECTION II. - THE ORDER IN WHICH THE TEETH COME. - -The four cutters may appear in the upper jaw before the lower ones; two -may come close together, then the two lower ones. After a while, the -other cutters get through, making eight in all,—four up and four down. -Then comes the canine or dog teeth, of which there are four,—two upper -and two lower. About this time the stomach begins to be more or less -affected, according to the surroundings; the child is said to be -“cutting its eyeteeth.” Lastly come the grinders, of which there are -eight,—four upper and four lower,—twenty in all,—and are denominated -milk teeth. The following is the order in which they appear: Eight -incisors or cutting teeth; four canine or dog teeth; eight molars or -grinders. - -Many babes keep their mouths firmly shut against rubbing intruders, and, -as if to surprise one, open the mouth to cry, and display quite a row of -pearly teeth. Healthy, well-developed children generally have all their -first teeth by the third year. Backward or rachitic children often have -none at that age. I am acquainted with several apparently robust persons -who never had all of their first teeth, and who are now probably past -the age to get them. - -After the first teeth are through, precaution is necessary to preserve -them. They should be kindly looked after each day, any foreign particles -removed, and the teeth wiped with a wet cloth. No hot or exceedingly -cold, sour, hard, or brittle substances should be allowed to be bitten -on, as they are easily broken. A snagged-tooth child looks almost as -repulsive as a snagged-tooth man or woman. If people will let their -children go around, as in midsummer they frequently do, with bare feet -on the cold sidewalk, or with wet feet from having waded in every -accessible puddle of water, while getting their grinders, they should -not wonder at the great number of deaths under four years old. For thus, -many, besides suffering greatly with pain from teething, take cold, -which may develop in lung fever. Hardly any one says, “My child died -from exposure while teething.” Nay, but pneumonia sets in, and the -teething has to bear the blame. The primary cause is overshadowed by the -probable secondary cause of death. If the first teeth are well cared -for, all decaying ones removed in good season, the foundation of a -handsome, permanent set will be sure, there being no constitutional -diseases of the teeth themselves. - -Loose, aching teeth are no less annoying to children than to adults, and -it is cruel to force them to endure the pain when a few cents paid out -to a dentist would remove it at once. Uneven, overlapped, inverted, -projecting, and anomalous teeth are nearly all occasioned by neglecting -to remove the milk teeth in proper time. Usually the application of the -dental forceps is no more dreaded than the linen thread. - -It is a mistake to suppose that children must have sore ears, eyes, -mouth, nose, head, or some sickening eruption of the skin while -teething. On the contrary, it has been clearly proved that too much heat -and uncleanliness are the chief causes of these repulsive troubles. If -sores or pimples do appear at times, they can with propriety be washed -often with warm water, anointed with cold cream, till well; or, if there -are bleeding pimples, sprinkling the parts, after washing each day, with -calcined magnesia and elm flour, in equal quantities, will soon effect a -cure. Babes whose scalps are well cleaned at birth seldom, if ever, have -sore head. There is not the slightest danger of giving the child cold by -cleaning it off as fast as possible, when discovered. I have frequently -seen little three-year-old ones playing about with not only a sore patch -full of greasy dirt on their scalp, but a filthy-looking cap, called a -tar cap; in this way they have been kept till the hair-tubes were as -completely destroyed as if the head had been scalded. It is not very -encouraging to know that the great wisdom which prompts people to do, or -persist in having done, these mischievous things, is never sufficient to -find the remedy for the injury done. Whenever scurf does form on the -head, it may be removed by applying sweet oil; should there be -disposition to matter, a wash, made by boiling burdock root in -water,—say half an ounce to a pint,—applied once or twice a day, is -cleansing. To heal a healthy scalp sore, red oak bark, steeped in -water,—say half an ounce to a quart,—makes a good wash. Sometimes the -cure is very tedious; but, with due patience, all will be well. - -When children get so that they can nibble, it is not a good plan to -begin putting candies and knick-knacks in their hands as a play-rule; -for this habit induces, to a certainty, all the unpleasant symptoms -attendant upon indigestion; the most marked of which, in children, is -unrest, fretfulness, loss of eye-sight, loss of teeth, and dwarfed -statures. I take pleasure in recommending the following as a healthy, -desirable kind of biscuit for children: Take one teacupful each of wheat -and Graham or Indian corn-meal; one half cup of brown sugar or molasses; -half teaspoonful of salt; mix with warm milk, knead well, cut into -medium size cracker form, and bake quickly. They are nice, and should be -eaten at regular meal times, dry, or crumbed in milk-and-water tea. Milk -should never be withheld from children on a pretext of being feverish. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - COMPLICATIONS OF TEETHING WITH DISEASES. - - -Diarrhœa is the most common trouble during the teething period, and is -deserving of the most generous treatment. Should the food seem to -disturb the stomach and pass away undigested, or in pieces, with some -degree of sourness, the pulverized magnesia in from three to five-grain -doses, once or twice a day, will correct it; after which gum-water, or -milk, made like gruel, with flour, should be the chief diet till -relieved. No fresh fish or eggs should be allowed in time of diarrhœa. -Should the discharges continue, frequent drinks of a decoction of -blackberry or raspberry leaves, or what is just as well, the juice of -those ripe fruits, may be given in spoonful-doses. Also the fine lean -corned beef, rolled or pounded fine and fed slowly in small -quantities—say a tablespoonful during the day—will frequently arrest the -whole trouble; emptiness, it will be remembered, being an exciting cause -of diarrhœa as much as overfeeding. There will be emptiness if a -continual nibbling is allowed, with the smallest chance of ever getting -a substantial meal. Usually, in the diarrhœa of teething, there is great -thirst, which may best be abated by giving plentifully of thin, cool -gum-arabic water, no sugar. It is this everlasting sugar sweetening that -creates fermentation at such times. It is the over-indulgence in -objectionable food that causes much of the bowel complaint in teething, -rather than the teething itself. We are aware that the pain caused by a -coming tooth is annoying, yet this is no reason why children cannot be -kindly prohibited from grasping and tasting everything they seem to see -or cry for. Children are very sensitive to odors, therefore cooking and -eating should be done as remote from them as possible. In this matter, -however, many of the laboring classes and indigent are deserving of -sympathy; being either from choice, or ill-fortune, huddled together in -close tenements, where each can smell what the other is cooking. And it -is next to impossible for them to better the future condition or -prospects of their offspring while continuing to live so. It may not be -unprofitable to insert here what I have frequently suggested as a -sanitary measure: that is, for families to make it a rule not to occupy -the last room at the top of the house, even for storing goods; as -carpets, trunks, hanging garments or curtains, and bedding catch and -retain the odors ascending from below. Smoke, gases, dusts, breaths of -inmates, steam, the odors arising from old drains, or fever patients, -all go to the top of a building, and if there is no outlet it must stop -there and endanger the health of persons occupying it. By leaving one -room vacant, a window in it could be continually open and no one would -suffer from bad air. A skylight in the roof would answer the same -purpose, but these are scarcely ever opened. - - - WHOOPING-COUGH. - -Frequently when whooping-cough intervenes during the time of teething, -the irritation of the gums somewhat abates. Some children have -whooping-cough and diarrhœa for some length of time, and upon recovery, -show quite a number of teeth. I am not all in favor of encouraging any -increased discharge from the bowels, but sometimes in congestive -whooping-cough a little looseness is beneficial. Cholera often sets in -just as the teeth have begun to break through the gums. The treatment, -however, should be the same as if not teething. Great caution should be -observed not to administer drugs containing laudanum; for by so doing, -air and mucus collect in the air or bronchial tubes, inducing a stoppage -in the breathing. Possibly suffocation and death have resulted from this -cause in numbers of cases. Whooping-cough, if gently treated, seldom, if -ever, proves fatal. I have had patients under my charge with it from -four weeks old, upwards. It would, nevertheless, be well to keep the -tender infant from exposure to whooping-cough for a while. It does seem -as if sooner or later in life we are to encounter these peculiar -complaints. The main thing to do to relieve the force of whooping-cough -is to keep the chest and air-tubes warm, and, most of the time, moist. -If there is danger of congestion, a warm poultice of flaxseed meal -spread over the chest and throat, and keeping clear of dust, smoke, or -smells of any kind, will aid much. By all means the nose should be kept -running, which may be done by sweating the forehead and nose. Bronchitis -or wheezing, like whooping-cough, is a disease that affects the -air-tubes in a greater or less degree, the inflammation sometimes -becoming very distressing. The treatment should be about the same as for -whooping-cough. - - - PNEUMONIA. - -Pneumonia, which is lung fever, frequently sets in just about the time a -child is getting teeth. When there is known to be inflammation of the -substances of the lungs, active treatment is called for. To the nurse, -or mother, I will say that the surest signs of lung troubles are in the -manner of breathing. If the nostrils flare at every attempt to take -breath, or in other words, if they open and shut in quick succession, -there is little doubt as to the presence of lung fever well advanced. Of -course, there is great heat prostration and perceptible agony from pain, -even in the infant of three or four weeks. Thousands of babes die -annually from this disease, who have never looked out at a door or -window; how is it? Quick breathing may be occasioned by extreme pain, -but never flaring of the nostrils without some lung pressure. Active -measures to reduce the blood is the proper way to treat lung fever. The -flaxseed meal poultice over the entire chest, or wrapping the body up in -flannel cloths wrung out of hot water, and giving to drink, plentifully, -of cream of tartar and gum-arabic water,—one teaspoonful of each -dissolved in a pint of boiling water and a teaspoonful every hour to a -child one month old, and upwards, increasing the quantity according to -age,—all tend to reduce the fever. - -Very young infants are liable to perish in the acute stage, yet where -the constitution is solid, in older babes there is a chance, with -proper, special treatment, of raising them. Patient watchfulness, pure -air, and absolute quiet, in all such trying afflictions, will more than -pay for the enduring. - - - SORE THROAT, OR TONSILITIS. - -It is with the deepest regret that I have to say that, of late, nearly -every case of inflamed or sore throat is termed “diphtheria”—a name -which sends a severely depressing blow to the heart of many a true, -devoted mother. It is a pity that simple, curable diseases should be -given such long, technical names that parents get frightened out of all -common judgment, and give up all hope of successful efforts to save. I -frequently hear mothers say, “I lost my boy just as I had entered him in -school.” And rehearsing the causes, they are invariably these!—teething, -diphtheria, “pneumonia on the lungs,” one or all; “He couldn’t live,” -and explicit pains is taken to state that “the doctor said so.” I will -simply state here that the throat is very likely to be affected while -getting the first four grinders, or at the age of from sixteen to -twenty-four months; and the true condition of the membranes of the mouth -and throat cannot be guessed at. They should be examined by a skilled -practitioner, that the danger may be modified in the outset. An ordinary -sore throat may easily be converted into a malignant type by improper -treatment; as in case of the sore throat of scarlet fever, for instance, -the greatest danger arises from giving hot drinks, or applying some -severe irritant to the membranes of the throat. It is well in all cases -of sore throat to apply cooling treatment; this may be done by the -following means: Wring a cloth out of hot water, wrap it around the -throat, and cover with a dry flannel. Change every hour or two; give -plentifully of warm barley-water to drink. Anoint the glands of the -throat and ears once a day with goose or fish oil (no camphor), aiming -to keep the parts soft, thereby scattering the inflammation. The diet -should be nourishing, as of scalded milk, or, if the bowels are dry, raw -milk with oatmeal pudding. The throat and mouth should be swabbed out -frequently with a weak solution of bread soda; also common salt is good -to excite the glands on the back of the tongue, and assist Nature to -carry off the disease. By these, and various other domestic means, the -sequences of scarlatina, such as dimness of vision, deafness, and -glandular knots, may be avoided. Severe physic should never be given a -child if costive while teething. There are other methods which, if -applied, will be more lasting in effect; such as wringing a flannel -cloth out of hot water, and covering the bowels; giving a pretty warm -bath once a day. If injections are given, great care should be observed -not to injure the soft internal folds of the lower bowel, but they -should never be used if avoidable. Repeated but small doses of Epsom -salts, dissolved in warm sweetened water, are invaluable. - - - WORMS. - -Children who are allowed to eat candies, and unripe fruit of all sorts, -are liable to be troubled with worms. Such children are constantly -thirsty, and almost as constantly desiring to go to the water-closet. -Young children that are fed on pure milk rarely have pin or -stomach-worms; but the irregular slop-feeding of children gives great -chance for their development. In nearly all cases where they are known -to exist, a few grains of salt given in water early in the morning will -drive them downward. Then three grains each of calcined magnesia and -pulverized rhubarb, mixed in cold milk just moist enough to be drunk, -should be given at bed-time. This continued for about one week, with -solid food at regular hours, will drive them out of the system. If -pin-worms appear in the back passage, the injections of salt water twice -a week, and giving a teaspoonful of salt water to drink every morning, -will generally give relief. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - GENERAL REMARKS. - - -We have, no doubt, learned, through the histories of the past, that war, -or any civil commotion, naturally interrupts the moral and physical -condition of the people in whose midst it is carried on. Not far from a -quarter of a century has elapsed since the close of our civil war, and -really the moral and physical condition of some of the people, the more -remote from the scenes of those terrible deprivations and conflicts, are -just beginning to develop the worst consequences. - -It is my serious opinion that thousands of children die annually in the -city of Boston, under five years of age, from diseases brought on -through the excitement of expecting to go to school, the early change, -the exposures from actual compulsory attendance, while the system has -barely recovered from a lengthy prostration, and now needing fostering -at home with regular meals and plenty of toys for amusement. - -Many are the little children of three and a half, four and a half, and -five years, that are still getting teeth, sent out in the streets to -saunter along in the chill air of our hill-streets to some school-house. -Heaven bless our schools, for they are invaluable; but may God change -the minds of the people as to such early exposures, being best for the -credit of our Commonwealth. In school at four and a half, and in the -grave at five; or in school at five, and in some State Reform School at -seven or eight! just when the mind is beginning to be formed. It is well -known that diphtheria, pneumonia, and various contagious diseases are -more prevalent where there has been some exciting cause. For instance, -during the warm days at the breaking up of winter, when the snow is -melting and the atmosphere is filled with vapors, one can see children -of all ages wading about in running water, dragging sleds, moving snow; -some heavily-clad feet well protected, while others are not supplied -even with wraps, but with rubber boots, it may be, minus the toes. In a -few days many deaths of this very class of children are reported in some -locality or other. Children will sit or stand around in places injurious -to the health, and will go into dangers where they seem really to be -admired by some adults. In the hurry and excitement to go in the street, -so much is lost of a chance to build a solid foundation either of health -or character. I know it is hard to restrain little ones after they have -tasted of so much freedom as is given them during the weakest period of -childhood, the teething period. This is why I feel so anxious to do or -say something that will assist parents to lighten their burdens in this -matter. In the first place, let me advise, with all due feelings of -respect, the entire abandonment of low, dark, bad-smelling, water-soaked -basement kitchens to work in, and the adoption of a rule to live more on -top of the ground, and less under the ground. The depression upon the -system of any one who has been permitted to exercise in open daylight, -is equal to that of being incarcerated. Some persons say they send -children to school to get them out of the way; a child soon begins to -know this, and gradually goes out of the way, until some aching tooth or -biting pain sends him crying to his friend. - -If rooms are occupied all on the same floor, it is much better for the -health and comfort of all. Windows can be dropped from the top; or a -swinging pane, set in the top of a sash, is a very good way to ventilate -or let in fresh air. So few people that depend on their bodily strength -from day to day, stop to think that pure air is the all-essential -element, and that without light, air, and sun in their dwellings, the -poisonous gases cannot leave them, but they must sooner or later succumb -to them. Children need a great amount of rest while growing. Yet few -children are ever permitted to lay down during the day after entering -the primary school. “Oh,” said a mother, “children rest sitting in -school.” The probabilities are, that those little nerves are all on a -stretch for the first six months (if they last that long). And they -never rest except the meals are regular, the mind made happy, and the -sleep quiet and sweet. Not only so; the nervous system of children is, -in many instances, run down before entering school at all. Thus, through -a desire to humor or cater to its seeming wants, a child is permitted to -toddle about on foot, aided by some excitement, all day long, eat -whatever it should not, fret and fume till it is literally outdone. This -might be avoided by the exercise of a little early home rule, which -could be the better understood by the time the child is old enough to -enter a public school. If there are a dozen children in one family, each -one should be supplied with a chair, according to its age; so that when -the word is given to sit down, it may be understood and obeyed. If -children can conform to rules of order for strangers, they certainly -will for their dear parents and guardians. Would it not be well for -mothers and friends to withhold some of their indulgences from children -who are entirely too young to appreciate their endearing acts, and -bestow them more lavishly when the possibilities of experience will -insure a reward? Would not a little more kind persuasion bring sunshine -into the family circle? Would it not pay for every laboring man of a -family to reserve an empty room at the top of the house for a play-room -for his children? There is not the least doubt but that every mother -would be made to rejoice from the advantage; if not at the top of the -house, on the same floor with the sitting-room. - -There is nothing particularly commendable in the habit of permitting -cats and dogs to be closely imprisoned with children, as little ones are -prone to put their mouths to everything; thus, there is a probability of -worms making from the hair of such animals when swallowed. By the close -observance of the different traits of mankind, I have been led to -believe that true philanthropy is ingrafted into the human heart only -through Divine agency. So that if belief in God and His attributes is -entertained by each, no sacrifice will be considered too great for the -sake of relieving the helpless ones within the family circle. -Philanthropy cannot dwell in the heart of an eye servant, it must be -inborn and unbiased in applications relative to human happiness. Too -often, it happens that mothers give up all hope just at the weakest -period in a child’s life, willing, on the slightest pretext, to abandon -the offspring of their body. Words are not adequate to portray the -lasting miseries that, in consequence, daily encircle the minds and -bodies of the youth of our land. With many parents, the beginning to -raise a family is novel and pleasing, but at the very time the most -particular care is required, patience and watchfulness flag, so that it -is no uncommon thing to hear mothers, in particular, declare their -inability to rule and rear their own children. Would it not be well for -mothers to make a little sacrifice for the sake of equipping the mind, -that they may be able to dispense the required rudiments of moral and -intellectual education at home, till a child is at least seven years -old? Let mothers awake to duty; let them seek to know the causes of so -many bleeding hearts and weeping eyes, and learn to compare effect with -means, and means with ends; then the pall that is ever ready to obscure -their sky of cheer, will rapidly disappear. We find, when comparing the -statistical reports of the death-rates of children under one year old, -that they are largest in those cities where the influx of immigration is -constant, and the women, either from choice or necessity, are so engaged -in other pursuits, that they do not take care of their young. Also that -the death-rate of children under six years old, is greater in those -cities where early home discipline is thwarted and early school -privileges are the rule. But a few months ago, a gentleman informed me -that he had lost his only daughter. “What caused her death?” I inquired. -“The doctor said she studied too hard; she was taken with a hemorrhage, -and died in a short time.” “Was she old enough to go to school?” I -asked. “Oh, yes,” was the answer. “She was five years and a half.” I -knew the child was delicate from birth, but, notwithstanding, her mother -had taught her the alphabet at home. No wonder, the doctor said she -“studied too hard.” - -The “mind your own business” policy goes down too well with some women, -for when the doctor pronounces the sickness of their babe a hopeless -case, they seem at once to give up all hope, they have no alternative, -they are mute, and will not so much as direct a petition to Almighty -God, the great Physician for relief. Would it not strengthen the -advocacy of equal suffrage in a population of over three hundred and -sixty thousand, if every woman would cultivate a desire to know more -about the prevention of disease and the preservation of health? - -Diminutive, sickly, half-dependent people, care little what party -governs, so long as they, themselves, barely exist. By real, earnest, -devoted measures, women may be enabled, within the next decade, to -exercise the right of franchise, and fill positions of honor outside of -the domestic circle. But the women that compose the domestic circle have -been, are, and ever will be in the majority; these are the women that -have the greatest work of reform before them, namely, that of nourishing -in infancy, ruling in childhood, and persuading in youth, the children -of their fireside, that their sons may not graduate from the highest -school of State penitentiaries, nor the bright future of their daughters -be blasted by reason of early abandonment to the mercy of State -charities. Parents should hold on to their children, and children should -stand by their parents until the last strand of the silken cord is -broken. It is natural to the childhood days to sport and play. All -cannot bear the early and long-continued expectations through adverse -circumstances and frequent unpleasantness of a finale. The vexations of -youth from these causes, often serve, no doubt, to embitter the mind -against further progress. We need in every community educated men, it is -true, but the foundation dependence is in healthy, moral men and women. - -Children should not be asked if they like such and such things to eat, -with the privilege of choosing that which will give no nourishment to -the blood. You may as well ask a child if the new shoes hurt the feet, -if it is advanced enough to know that the old ones must be continued -till the new ones are changed. Too much is expected of little children -for their own good. All of the bones of our bodies, when broken, will -unite again; but if the enamel of the teeth gets cracked or broken off, -they soon decay, and will be destroyed if not cared for by the means of -art. From the age of seven months to twenty years, man is being supplied -with those thirty-two pearly bones with which to prepare the food for -entrance into the stomach, that it may be converted into milk, from -which blood, the life principle, is derived each day. - -Headache and toothache, one or both, render the school days of many a -youth burdensome. This, too, may be caused as much from cold feet, -indigestion, and constipation, as from either arduous studies or -decaying teeth. Some parents would stand in amaze if their sons or -daughters were discovered perusing some work upon the anatomy and the -preservation of the human teeth in youth; while the same parents would -boast of the almost frenzied determination of their children to read -every available love-novel; that, too, while the new teeth are daily -pushing against decaying ones. The study of the science of Dentistry is -wise and commendable to all. - -Pauperism, like familiarity, “breeds contempt”; therefore persons should -try with all their mind and might to avoid its conditions. Is it too -much for me to say that the excuse for a mother’s consigning her child -to some almshouse, while she goes free, can be but shallow? -Unfortunately, the “I can’t” finds many prompters, and gains the -precedence in many instances, where renewed and determined resolution -only is required to succeed in caring for the helpless, and governing -the passions of the youth, until they are old enough to hire out, or be -put to some trade. To labor is honorable. Mothers, before you forget the -tie which binds you to your child, and deliberately consign it to the -care of strangers, look into those dear little eyes. Remember, few ever -return, or are restored, as was Joseph of old. - - Cast me not off, dear mother, - Oh, cast me not off, is my plea, - I have ears with which to catch the sounds - Of rejoicing or murmur from thee. - - I’ve a look that ne’er has been given, - Which can only be given to thee; - I’ve a word that has never been spoken, - But yet can be spoken so free. - - Yes, a token of gratitude ever - Shall dwell on my lips for thee; - I’ve a tear that has never yet glistened, - That some day may trickle for thee. - -In the bleak and changeable climate of Massachusetts, in the city and -vicinity of Boston, for instance, there reside many families whose -ancestors were born in a more genial clime. Therefore, it is not natural -that they, themselves, should be able to endure exposures to hard fare, -even had they been early accustomed to it in a warm, native clime. - -Our women work hard, seemingly, and many of them against a heavy tide; -nor does there ever seem to be an end to their toils. Especially do some -of the laboring women of my race appear to work under heavy -disadvantages; if the family is small, they are never through with their -work; if it is large, there is a double excuse for having no time to -rest; yet many real needful things are left undone. I have often -wondered if such housekeepers, whose own affairs are neglected, and in -whose homes things go to waste, while they take so much upon them of -other people’s work, never thought of the story of “filling a hogshead -at the spigot that had no stopper at the bung.” - -So with our men who labor hard; they are anxious to keep the wolf from -the door, and they thoughtlessly rise in the morning, go to work, -perhaps, without breakfast, working for hours in a condition for odors, -contagious or otherwise, to affect the system. Thus the liabilities to -colds in the vital organs, which may go on for years, gradually -undermining the general health, or may, as frequently happens, develop -in lung fever, and consequent shattered constitution. The laboring men -of my race, generally speaking, take much better care of the horses -intrusted to their care than they do of their own health. Were men just -as particular about what they themselves eat and drink, and how they -dress and sleep, the deaths of young men of thirty and forty years would -not be so common. Those who are not careful of their health die early in -this climate, and their offspring _die earlier_. - -It is not the blood we wish to keep hot, as some desire to do; this -induces disease and premature decay. It is the body that needs to be -kept warm while the blood is normal, or rather cool. This is just as -easily done with man as with the horse. - -Frequent baths, wearing all-wool flannels next the skin in winter, -changing for thinner ones in hot weather, eating coarse dry food, taking -less medicine, desisting from the use of tobacco and “firewater,”—all -tend to lengthen the days of mankind on this beautiful earth. It is -authoritatively stated that the colored population decreases in Boston, -but it is not all the fault of the climate; for there have been native -Africans who lived to a great age here. It is the neglect, in a great -measure, to guard against the changes of the weather. - -By seeking to get in possession of the comforts of life, and buying a -little home, our men can yet be enabled to live, and raise up children -who shall be an honor to that noble race with which we are identified, -in point of strength and longevity. The Lord gave the qualities, it is -for us to preserve and improve them for His final acceptance. Our -Heavenly Father has provided a healing balm for every disease that man -is liable to, and I am prepared to say that all diseases can be cured -without the use of alcoholic stimulants. We have access to a large and -varied field of remedies, both in the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, -the virtues of which unfold to man in proportion to his possession of -heavenly virtues. - -Let me, in conclusion, appeal once more to the united efforts of mothers -and fathers. Do not try to be blind when you are not. Can you not cut -short the certain destruction that awaits your sons and daughters, -through the influence of impressions gained by the constant perusal of -fictitious, and, in many cases, corrupt library books? Will it not pay -to prohibit those under age, or at least under fourteen, from reading -even Sunday-School story-papers? We are aware many of them are given for -the moral to be derived, but not more than one boy or girl in a hundred -ever cares a fig for the moral. - -Does any one believe that the majority of the little children who -witness the farce of “Punch and Judy” on Boston Common every summer, -gain a moral, or feel that it is wrong to imitate beating a wife, -killing a baby, or hanging a black man? The popular adage, “No nigger, -no fun,” is why such schools are tolerated on our Public Parks. Are they -not a curse to our land? May not such shameful scenes prove to be the -primary lessons in pugilism, murder, and suicide? Possibly they best -serve to prolong the barbarous system of flogging, whether it be by -lashing to a post and applying the cat-o’-nine-tails, or otherwise. Then -will it not pay to endeavor to cultivate inborn morals early in life, -thereby shutting out a desire for vulgar and debasing sports? - -Volumes might be written in which could be inserted plans, which, if -enforced, could not fail to prevent the adversities of life, the gloomy -foreshadowings and prolonged deficiencies in health. Some do not wish to -know about the human system, others cannot read, and more have no time -to read, or think how to live and be happy; seeming to forget that our -Heavenly Parent gave the earth, with all it contains, for man’s -inheritance. Many such are laboring day and night, and trying to educate -their children, yet do not always turn the abilities of their children -to good account. Books on the laws of health from the proper source -could never injure the mind and morals; but would, if read aloud in the -family circle half as often as trashy novels are thumbed over, prove a -blessing more lasting than gold. Let us strive to know more about -ourselves,—it is human, it is Christianlike to do so. Then will there be -minds from which to select students for the college, that may come forth -to the community graduates in Pharmacy, Surgery, Dentistry and Medicine. -It is well known that many noble-minded women have graced the chambers -of the sick with good service, in different conditions of need, too; but -at the present, women appear to shrink from any responsibilities -demanding patience and sacrifice, or rather seem not to rely on the -union of their strength with that of our great Creator, in time of need. - -What we need to-day in every community, is, not a shrinking or flagging -of womanly usefulness in this field of labor, but renewed and courageous -readiness to do when and wherever duty calls. - - - - - PART SECOND. - - - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. - -All the objects in the material world are divided into organic and -inorganic. The principle of life is always associated with organic -bodies, examples of which are animals and plants. Quite a number of -inorganic substances go to make up the human body,—to wit: Water, air, -lime, magnesia, iron, potassium, sulphur, sodium, phosphorous, and many -more. - - - HUMAN LIFE. - -Through the aid of scientific researches, we are informed that the -development of a being begins with a soft jelly-like substance. Later, -the parts intended for bone, become cartilage or gristle, progressing -with more or less uniformity from a few hours after conception, till -about the seventh month of pregnancy. - -Anatomists nearly agree in stating that not more than six of the bones -are ossified at birth, the greater number being finished at different -periods of childhood. The lower portion of the vertebræ or backbone is -not usually completed until after the twenty-first year of adult life. -The bony framework of the adult man or woman is composed of about 246 -bones, including the teeth. These are covered by about twice that number -of muscles or fleshy supports. The muscles, cords and ligaments, which -serve as so many bands for the support and protection of the body, are -generally much larger and firmer in men than in women. The custom of -suspending wearing apparel from the shoulders, conforms to the laws of -nature; as those muscles are so arranged as to admit of considerable -pressure without injury. Pressure upon the soft parts, as tying many -bands around the waist, or tight lacing, is apt to cramp the internal -organs of digestion, and crowd them out of their natural position, -thereby inducing headache, or other unpleasant feelings. - - - WOMANHOOD - -Begins with the appearance of the monthly sickness, at which times all -undue exercise of the body should be avoided. Disobedience to the rules -of decorum and the laws of health at such times, may induce ovarian -inflammation, dropsy, consumption, and even barrenness. - -It is a great mistake to administer brandy, gin, or any alcoholic or -narcotic stimulant to girls for the relief of pain, when the periods are -coming on. Opiates may destroy the functions, while alcoholic drugs can -only relieve by blunting the sense of feeling, through the deceptive -influence of intoxication. - -Hot water foments, applied perseveringly, will bring more certain and -permanent relief. - -Menstruation begins much earlier in some girls than in others, yet is -natural from the 11th to the 18th year, depending upon the state of the -health, also, climate. - - - MORAL RESTRAINTS. - -An enema should never be given to infants in the presence of older -children. Little girls have been lacerated, and thus injured for life, -through accidents growing out of imitating mother, or “playing sick,” -and giving injections. A young girl should be subject to the advice and -protection of her mother or guardian, till sufficiently able to care for -herself. Poverty, with chastity, is an enviable condition. - - - INTERNAL ORGANS OF WOMAN. - -The internal organs consists of the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, -spleen, kidneys, bladder, intestines, or guts; the uterus, or womb, and -ovaries, or eggs. - -The heart is in the centre of the breast, pointing toward the left -nipple; the lungs are on each side; the stomach lies below the true -ribs, in the left side; the liver, with the gall-bladder attached, is -situated below the true ribs, on the right side, reaching across toward -the left side. - -The spleen, a spongy melt-like viscus, is attached to the stomach and -liver somewhat, but situated under the left side of the stomach; the -kidneys are situated on each side of the spine or backbone, just above -the waist; the bladder, into which the urine drops, is situated in -front, just below the umbilicus, or navel; the uterus, or womb, is -situated just behind the bladder; the ovaries are situated on each side, -and a little behind the womb. Their office appears to be to secrete the -menstrual flow, and also to supply whatever is needful in the formation -of a new being. The womb is to receive and protect the impregnated germ, -together with the vessels through which it is nourished from the mother, -till the ninth month, or time of labor, at which time it is dangerous to -drink stimulants unless directed by a physician. - -The large intestine arises on the right side of the abdomen, extends up -and across in front, just above the navel, then descends, terminating in -the rectum, or straight outlet, just behind the womb. - -In case of dry colic in men and the aged, rubbing with the hand, and -steaming with hot cloths over the right side and down the spine, will -sometimes induce an operation of the bowels when other means have -failed. - -Blood, in all animals, is the life fluid; in man it is obtained through -the mastication and digestion of his daily food and pure air. The blood -is considered to be pure when we feel well, that is, can eat with -pleasure, pursue vocations of livelihood, and enjoy refreshing sleep, -but impure when the reverse. Physic can act beneficial only by hunting -out and removing the obstructions to a natural flow of the digestive -juices; but it does not, nor cannot purify blood. Blood medicines is a -name used in reference to those which are employed to supply a principle -wanting in the blood, but they do not make blood. Therefore, blood is -supplied, and can be maintained without the intervention of art. There -is scarcely a principle natural to the blood, but that can be obtained -from something upon which we daily subsist. - -A person may have pure blood, and yet suffer from obstruction in its -circulation. - - - INFLAMMATION OF THE OVARIES. - -The ovaries are liable to affections from cold; the most frequent of -which is acute or dumb aching pains, accompanied with great heat, -depression of spirits, and thirst. It often seizes one while sweeping, -or otherwise exercising. It not unfrequently comes on while asleep in -bed, having the character of cramp, particularly after having wet or -cold feet, as it is through the feet such sensations travel rapidly to -those organs. - -_Treatment._—A pad made of hops or any soothing herbs, wet in hot -vinegar, and laid over the lower part of the bowels and over the -kidneys. Internally, one and a half teaspoonfuls of Epsom salts, and -one-eighth as much of pulverized cinnamon, dissolved in a little warm -sweetened water, observing absolute quiet, will, in most cases, give -speedy relief. Opiate treatment should always be left to the discretion -of a physician. It is the collections from repeated attacks of ovarian -inflammation that give rise to tumors. They, too, can be cured if taken -in time, but it requires total abstinence from all kinds of fish or -stimulating food, or drinks, and very regular bowels. - - - RHEUMATISM. - -Rheumatism, or nerve pain, of which there are several characters, is -nevertheless caused by taking cold, in some certain condition of the -system, at almost any time of life. Persons who get in cold or damp -beds, or sleep in cold, ill-ventilated rooms without night-clothes, or -otherwise neglect to comfortably prepare the body for the maintenance of -pure blood, are mostly liable to rheumatism in some form. It may last -for a few days only, then again, it may remain in the system for years. -It frequently attacks one part of the body and goes off, leaving a -lasting depression, remote from the seat of the attack. Ofttimes it -affects the nerves that control the organs of voice and speech; more -especially in those persons who use tobacco and “toddy.” - -_Treatment._—In nearly all cases, in full habits, having been exposed to -great heat, alternating with cold, purging, sweating and extreme quiet, -will relieve. Anointing the parts with warm goose oil, or boiled olive -oil, is highly serviceable. In cases of long standing, with poor blood, -the opposite treatment is indicated, _i.e._, food or medicines that -create warmth, and supply principles wanting in the blood; such, for -instance, as beef-juice, rare-done beefsteak, lamb chop, corn bread, -pure wheat bread, milk, and stewed fruits. - -Articular rheumatism, or that affecting the joints, long after the acute -or first attack, can generally be cured by feeding the joints, as it -were, from without. Ligaments and joints are not quickly affected by -what enters the circulation, but very much can be gained by wrapping the -joints with bandage, wet in some stimulating sedative of which hot water -takes first rank, pulverized opium and water next. Dissolve ten grains -in as much hot water as it will require to wet the bandages, apply and -cover with a dry flannel. Liniments should be used with caution, as they -tend to close up the pores of the skin. - -Very much may be gained by taking a hot salt bath twice a week, not -necessarily going to the sea-side. In all cases of rheumatism, with -feelings of languor or loss of appetite, a tea of seneca, snake root and -valerian is advisable, and may be drank at pleasure, cold. Also, a cold -infusion of hoarhound and hops, made sweet with maple sugar, is good, if -continued for quite a while. Dose—a pint during the day. - - - SOFT BONES. - -Soft bones, or a tendency to crooked limbs, in many families, may arise -from a taint of ill-humors, or rachitis in the parents, or even -grandparents; likewise, weak joints. The preventive means are, not to -keep the infant too hot, or closely bound, while asleep. Children born -free from any imperfection may develop distorted, if allowed to creep -around or sit on a cold or damp floor, be tossed into a bed between cold -sheets, when the nerves are excited and the blood is warm. It would -require but little outlay to provide close flannel drawers for children -to creep around in; besides, the nation would be blessed, in the future, -with men and women possessing firm muscles, with well-fed marrow in -their bones. - -_Treatment._—Wholesome food, frequent warm salt baths, comfortable -clothing, sufficient sleep, and that in a comfortable place. - - - HEADACHE, - -so frequently complained of by both sexes, generally denotes some -irregularity, either in the manner of eating or sleeping. For instance, -strong tea is binding in nature, but there are persons who “must have -it,” yet, nevertheless, are usually constipated or nervous. Eating a -lunch just before retiring will mostly insure headache, as will, also, -over-taxation of the mind or body. - - - HEMORRHOIDS. - -Hemorrhoids, or Piles, may be brought on by whatever irritates the folds -of the rectum or back passage; as sudden cold, frequent attempts at -stool with dry bowels; frequent and severe physicking, or the passage of -fecal matter rendered acrid by the indulgence in highly-seasoned food, -alcoholic drinks, or late suppers. - -_Cure._—Abstinence from heating food or medicines, bathing the lower -portion of the spine with warm water, applying simple goose oil, or the -simplest ointment, whether the sores extend to the opening or not. The -patient should take, as a cooling potion, a teaspoonful of Epsom salts -in warm water, two or three times a week. Nothing reduces the blood in -the parts more speedily; and there is not the least danger, as is -erroneously supposed by many, of taking cold by its use. There is a -thousand times more danger in numerous other drugs and potions given -under the cover of a great name, to cure the piles. - -It is an error to suppose that certain remedies are only serviceable at -certain times and in certain places, at certain times of the year. Every -means possible should be put forth to reduce the piles before submitting -to an operation; a thing that is seldom needed, but nevertheless is -frequently done. - - - LEUCORRHŒA, OR WHITES. - -This is a very common complaint among women of all ages and conditions -of life; but not more so, probably, than seminal weakness in men,—a -similar complaint, by the way. It frequently comes from taking cold, -after fatigue, which may run its course with some degree of fever, -languor and chill; during which time ulcers may form on the membranes of -the vagina, or entrance to the womb. These ulcers may remain quite a -while, and cause a continuance of the discharge, or they may come off, -and leave weak patches, even in virgins. This complaint is not -contagious, but if allowed to remain about the parts, may become -offensive and excoriating. It requires much the same treatment as -catarrh; hence frequently receives the name, catarrh of the womb. It may -come from getting up too soon after confinement. - -_Treatment._—If ulcers are known to have formed, they should be removed -in the surest manner, that the introduction of the speculum may be -dispensed with as soon as possible. After their removal in that way, the -cure can be accomplished sooner, but ulcers can be removed without the -introduction of the speculum in very small women. If the evidence is -conclusive that ulcers have formed, the remedy for their removal can be -applied with less pain and displeasure with the vaginal syringe. No -astringent washes, such as alum, oak, bark, or lead, are in place while -ulcers remain. When there is no unhealthy discharge from the vagina, -there can be no need of using a syringe. Salt sea or home baths, -nourishing food and rest; applying a wet bandage, warm, during the hours -of rest, and keeping the bowels free without the use of severe physic; -avoiding laborious work for a while, will give great relief. - -The constant use of preparations of iron is binding; and while, at the -same time, they may tone up the muscular fibre, they may but invite a -renewal of the discharges, by reason of pressure upon the vaginal walls -from the loaded rectum. It is a complaint which may at any time give -rise to evil imaginations, therefore should be cured as soon as -possible. It has been thought, that using the treadle sewing-machines -has increased the liabilities to leucorrhœa; but I have yet to conclude -whether it is from the use of the machines or the manner in which they -are used by most women. - -In the first place, the operator sits too far from the machine, thereby -causing a motion of the whole body, while she leans too much forward; -secondly, operates too fast; thirdly, works too long at a time; -fourthly, allows herself but little time to eat or sleep. And, what is -more than all, frequently gets angry with the machine, unstrings it, and -gets it in as bad condition as she has her own nerves. - -I would suggest, that weakly women use a sewing machine that is turned -by hand. Whatever causes a discharge, should be speedily removed, as the -first means of cure. - - - FALLING OF THE WOMB. - -Numbers of women persist in saying their womb is down; I must admit that -there are many who suffer from a partial prolapsus, or protrusion of the -mouth of the womb; the causes of which are usually traceable to hasty -deliveries, miscarriages, over-lifting, pressure from a distended -bladder, or constipated bowels. But the most frequent cause of a bearing -down or a dragging sensation, is from weakness of the whole muscular -system. The walls of the canal that leads to the womb, partakes largely -of this weakness, which of course is increased by the retention of urine -or fecal accumulations in the lower bowels. - -There are a variety of uterine difficulties that afflict women of all -classes and conditions of life. Yet it is somewhat encouraging to know -that the cure of each is possible when rightly understood. - -_Treatment._—If the bowels are kept free by taking a teaspoonful of -Epsom salts, dissolved in warm water, about three times a week, bathing -frequently, and absolute rest observed, relief will be certain. - -A pessary or ring should never be worn if avoidable. There are other -means to resort to less unpleasant and more certain to give permanent -relief. All misplacements of the womb should be rectified at once. - - - CHANGE OF LIFE. - -The appearance of the menses in girls, denotes the beginning of -womanhood; but the irregularities which the periods sometimes exhibit -from the ages, of 35 to 50, have given rise to the term “change of -life.” - -Women are considered to be in their prime at from 25 to 45, and if -careful of habit, may escape any perceptible irregularity save but a few -months before the entire cessation, or till after the fiftieth year of -their age. - -What is needful for a pleasant and healthy cessation of the turns, is a -more strict observance of the rules of self-preservation. In some cases, -where the menses appear early, they leave early. Climate and the state -of the mind, and general health, very often influences the periodical -flow; the mere change of residence for a few hundred miles, causing them -to vary or disappear entirely, even in young girls. It is a great -mistake for young women, thus affected, to seek a doctor or doctress who -is considered an expert in “bringing the turns on again.” Probably any -amount of mischief has been done by neglecting to cultivate patience in -this matter. - -In the decline of life, the cares become burdensome, and the system is -in a more irritable condition, therefore liable to cold. The ovaries -sometimes become enlarged, causing the abdomen to bloat, and sometimes -present the appearance of dropsy, or tumor; or a general enlargement may -take place. There may be periodical flooding of bright or dark, even -black blood, and large pieces of clot may cause great pain for days, -then pass away unattended by any serious change in the general health. - -Very many women begin to notice the change by feelings of suffocation, -flashes as of hot steam, alternating with a slight chilly feeling. If at -any time perspiration is free, it should be encouraged rather than -suppressed. It is better to endure the hot feelings and save the lungs, -than to expose them by inhaling cold air through the tubes, or driving -the perspiration in on to them. Fanning, rushing into cold air, drinking -ice-water, all tends to throw the danger internally, inducing paralysis. -When the feeling of suffocation comes on, it is decidedly best to sit -quiet. When there is much fluttering of the heart, it is a good plan to -take one or two swallows of cool water, just as it is coming on; this -sometimes has the effect to retard it for weeks. - -_Treatment._—Avoid over-heated rooms or exciting scenes; keep the bowels -free without severe physic. Use coarse plain food, drink very little of -fluids, avoid spices, stimulants, and secure cheerful exercise for the -mind, with an abundance of outdoor scenery; cultivate a love for the -gifts of our Heavenly Father, seek to do good for those who are worse -off than yourself, and all will come out right. - -After the turns have ceased altogether, a woman may live to a good old -age, and fill many hours of usefulness to her sex. - -Should the beats of the heart interrupt sleep very much, it is a good -plan to drink about a half-pint of hop tea, sweetened with brown or -maple sugar, at bed-time. - -If the heart beats full and heavy, three grains of Bromide of Potassium -should be dissolved in cinnamon water, and drunk at noon and night, for -a week at the time, then left off to watch the result; and continued, if -needful. When there is great heat of the skin without perspiration, a -little mustard should be added to the daily baths for a while. Much -depends upon keeping the blood in a normal state at such times, and if -the luxuries of life are indulged in, the tendency is to fire the blood, -so to speak. - -Meats, and sweets, or pastries, induce thirst, simply by their chemical -combination with the juices of the stomach; and the more water is drunk -to quench the thirst, the longer will the distress continue. - -It is not at all improbable that the frequent sudden deaths of women -about the age of 36, is owing to taking cold through some imprudence, at -this time. Great care should be taken not to have the beatings of the -heart stopped too suddenly. - -All women are not affected alike; many never experience any heart -trouble, whilst a great number are subject to it from early maiden life. -If there is much wind in the bowels, it is a good plan to take about -five grains of pulverized magnesia and three of pulverized cinnamon, in -a little sugar and water, every morning; it gives a gentle operation, -and may be repeated at will. - -Irregularities of the menses, like the event of pregnancy, very -frequently occasions cramp in the stomach, for which many women boast of -drinking gin, or some equally volatile stimulant; this should never be -done. Putting on cloths wrung out of hot water, and sipping hot water -with a little mustard in it, will soon relieve. In case of pregnancy, -the cramps mostly cease with delivery. - - - CATARRH—COLD IN THE HEAD. - -Catarrh is caused by exposure of the face and glands of the neck to -sudden draught, while the blood is quite warm. The mucus that drops from -the internal membranes of the head becomes dry, accumulates in flakes, -pieces of which gradually drop down on the soft palate and organs of the -voice, thus obstructing the air-passages. If it is permitted to go on, -it is apt to cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes. - -Northeast, and easterly winds, favor its development much, but, with -timely aid, it may be cured. - - - BRONCHITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE AIR-TUBES WHICH LEAD TO THE LUNGS. - -_Treatment._—In all cases of catarrh or bronchitis, means should be used -to soften the glands and muscles of the neck. Warm steam should be -applied to the nostrils and inhaled into the lungs. Medicines taken into -the stomach, cannot reach the difficulty. Much may be gained by snuffing -a little warm salt water up through the nostrils. When there is great -distress from mucus in the air-tubes, about three grains of pulverized -ipecac should be added to about a gill of hot water, and the steam -inhaled into the lungs. All inhalants should be boiling hot, and used -repeatedly for an hour or more. Inhaling cold air after sitting in a -close atmosphere, will induce an attack of bronchial inflammation, or -thickening of the air-tubes, in persons of all classes and conditions. -Persons who are liable to frequent attacks of bronchitis, are apt to -imagine that their lungs are affected, since it prevents a free use of -the voice in singing or speaking audibly. I will repeat that this -complaint generally terminates with a loss of tone in the lung -substance, caused by the failure of the tubes to supply them with oxygen -or air; notwithstanding, one may live on for years with it. Sudden -changes of air, food or medicines that contract or depress muscular or -nervous vitality, may cause suffocation and death at any moment. - -When there is much cough present in chronic cases, inhalations of tar, -pine bark, or roasted coffee, are beneficial. I never derived any -benefit from the use of preparations containing camphor, in the -treatment of diseases of the air-passages; but have always succeeded -with remedies that moisten, soothe, and warm. - - - BURNS AND SCALDS. - -For ordinary burns or scalds, cover the parts well with molasses, and -give some internally. If blisters have not formed, this will prevent -them; and if they have formed, the water should be let out, and the -molasses well applied. It will keep out the air most effectually, and -draw out the fire in a short time. Also, chilblains, skin or scalp -sores, either on infants or adults. Corns, tetter, etc., may be cured by -covering the parts at night with molasses, and washing it off in the -morning with a weak solution of borax. In scalp sores of infants a -little sweet oil should be added to the molasses. - - - CORNS, OR CALLOUS. - -Corns, or callous, whether on the feet of children or adults, come from -wearing shoes that are too short and too wide, or otherwise ill suited, -the friction of which, when walking, creates festers, the matter of -which dries and becomes a corn. - -_Treatment._—Remove the cause, keep the feet clean, and comfortably -clad. - - - SORE THROAT. - -This term is generally applied to all forms of throat troubles; but the -most frequent cause of difficulty in swallowing comes from cold attended -with swelling, and some degree of inflammation of the tonsils, hence -tonsilitis. The palate, or curtain-like arrangement over the root of the -tongue, usually partakes of the irritation. The uvula swells, or becomes -inflamed, and rests on the root of the tongue, creating a disagreeable -sensation in the attempt to swallow. The palate is then said to be -“down,” when, in fact, it is not down, but enlarged. Ulcers frequently -form on the tonsils, or almond-like glands, inducing extreme suffering -for weeks, when it could be cured in a few days. - -_Treatment._—Apply with a quill, or hair pencil, a grain or two of bread -soda (carbonate of soda), and give one teaspoonful of Epsom salts -dissolved in warm water daily; at the same time, keep the neck moist -during hours of sleep by the application of cloths wrung out of hot -water, until relief is obtained. Epsom salts should be of the finest -quality, well dissolved, and sweetened with sugar, whenever -administered. The quantity should be reduced or increased to suit the -age and condition of the patient. - - - DIPHTHERIA. - -This disease is usually ushered in by complete lassitude or loss of -strength. The patient appears to lose intelligence, has no disposition -to fret or laugh, the nervous powers seem to be blunted, with complete -loss of appetite. - -The chances of recovery are more favorable when the disease is rightly -understood in the onset. This can seldom be the case, especially among -the indigent, for in those instances the true nature of the complaint is -overlooked, till it is too late to change the course of the malady. - -_Treatment._—Medicines and external baths tending to reduce and brighten -the blood, are of great importance. Of the medicines, bromide of -potassium, given in from three to four grain doses, or two drachms -dissolved in four ounces of water, given by tablespoonful doses three or -four times a day for an adult. If the body is kept wrapped in a wet -blanket, and changed every twenty-four hours, having it warm when first -applied, it will greatly assist the recovery. Every means possible -should be employed to keep the throat open. As this dreadful disease -appears to arise from cold, irritation, and poisons in the blood, -affecting the whole system, it may be a question if whiskey and such -stimulants are beneficial in the first stage. Stimulants may be employed -throughout the disease externally with great satisfaction, alternating -with water baths, for if they are going to revive the powers at all, -they will do so more readily and permanently by absorption from without. - -As yet the treatment of diphtheria appears to be undecided by the -medical faculty; an ailment must be well understood to insure decided -treatment. - - - SCROFULOUS OR GLANDULAR SWELLINGS - -may develop by exposure to sudden atmospherical changes, but all -glandular enlargements are not a sign of scrofulous taint. - -Nearly all of the ordinary swellings of the neck, or of any of the -glands, may be entirely removed by the continued application of salt -moistened with the pulp of apple. Hot salt-water baths are scattering, -as is also an occasional anointing with the ointment of helebore. - -Should they fill out with pus, they should be carefully lanced and the -matter encouraged to flow out by applications of warm water or a -poultice of flaxseed meal; should it not run freely and appear firm, add -a little honey over the surface of the poultice for a short time. When -the wounds are healthy they may be healed over by the application of an -ointment prepared by melting white pine resin and tallow together. The -system must be kept open, and the blood well fed at the same time, as -poor living both propagates the disease and retards its cure. Scrofula -frequently terminates in consumption. - - - TUMOR. FALSE GROWTHS - -May develop in or on any part of the body, in either sex; but in women, -most likely to form in the uterine regions. Some of the principal causes -have been mentioned in Part I. I will here advise the general -management:—Avoid eating fish, eggs, oysters, pork, vegetables of a -gaseous nature, or any stimulant drinks; also avoid anything that may -depress or excite the mind. As much of the distress which frequently -accompanies tumor is the result of wind and loaded bowels, it is best to -keep them free by small but repeated doses of warm Epsom salts; frequent -hot salt-water baths; anointing the entire body with ointment of -helebore, or goose oil. The dress should be of comfortable material. -Where there is much bloating, a decoction of water, pepper herb and -horse-radish root, maybe drank at will for months; likewise, hop -sweetened with brown sugar induces sleep. In this way one may live on -comfortably for years with tumor. - - - BRAIN FEVER. - -In all cases where it is known there is a tendency of the blood to the -head, the patient should be placed in a cool, quiet room. The hair -should be shaved, or closely cut off; cloths wrung out of warm water may -be kept continually over the scalp and back part of the neck. The feet -and ankles as well as the wrists should also be kept moist during the -height of the fever. Small doses of Epsom salts, say one quarter of a -teaspoonful, dissolved in a little warm sweetened water, to a child from -one to five years old, will generally relieve the blood-vessels, if -given long enough to produce large passages from the bowels. The same -remedy should be increased for adults. Also the bromide of potassium, -administered as in case of diphtheria, is excellent. - -It is usually some irregularity, over-work, or undue excitement, some -way or other, that induces the alarming symptoms of brain fever. - -But, at all events, it shows that there is an overcharged condition of -the blood-vessels, which should be promptly relieved. Efforts to this -end should be both general and special. I have here inserted the general -course, which is to reduce the blood in density by keeping the system -open. Applications of ice, or ice-cold baths, over the head, after the -fever is at its height, does not always prove beneficial to the general -circulation. Ice may cause the blood to congeal in the parts, and thus -prevent a chance for the removal of the pressure, through the ascending -and descending blood-vessels. Cold water checks the flow of blood, -while, on the other hand, warm water assists it to flow. It is just this -assistance that is needed to free the system from all poisonous -irritants, and when timely and rightly applied it cannot fail to -relieve. - - - FORMULA FOR MAKING DOCTRESS CRUMPLER’S VEGETABLE ALTERATIVE. - -Take of fresh Indian posy and water pepper herbs, each one ounce; white -pine bark, or tops, one half ounce; horehound herb, one fourth. Simmer -in two quarts of water in a covered vessel four or five hours. Have -three pints when strained; then add two and one half pounds of loaf -sugar. Boil briskly to a clear, thick syrup; pour out, and stir in while -hot, one teaspoonful of pulverized mandrake root. Strain again through a -fine cloth, and, when cold, bottle and keep in a cool, dark place. If -podophyllin, the concentrated mandrake is used—which I prefer—only one -half-teaspoonful is required to a quart of syrup. Dose for an adult, -from one half to two-thirds of a small wineglassful once a day while -resting. Dose for small children, in case of bloating, worms, cough, -from half to a whole teaspoonful at bed-time for a short while. Good to -remove old colds from continued exposures, morbid craving for tobacco, -alcoholic beverages or other blood poisoning idols, for which the dose -is one teaspoonful in a glass of cold water at every inclination to -drink, chew, or smoke. - -Perseverance will insure success. No remedy should be continued after -relief is obtained; too much physicking impoverishes the blood. - - - - - NOTE. - - -In the paragraph on Sore Throat, page 102, I alluded to the danger of -giving hot drinks in scarlet fever: the same precautions were intended -for measles, or any of the skin diseases. But owing to a circumstance -which occurred with a young mother since the publication, I am -constrained to add some special advice for the management of measles. -This disease usually appears in the latter part of winter or the first -of spring. Children of various ages are liable to take it. This disease -comes on with some degree of sick headache, hot, dry skin, and not -unfrequently with cough and sore throat. A person may have it more than -once, it may be carried around in the clothes of visitors, or retained -for some time in the bedding, wall papers and carpets. It is very -dangerous to give hot drinks, to hasten the pimples to appear; they -usually do so about the fourth day after the fever begins, and if -nothing was given, unless the person was kept very cold indeed, they -would appear. It is this mistaken interference with Nature that causes -many fatal terminations of measles. The severe headache, heat, swollen -face and eyes, denote that the treatment should be rather cooling, in -order to mitigate the suffering. As a general thing measles need not be -considered to be any more than a cold; with a gentle purge, warm baths, -and drinks of warm water and lemonade, the patient will be all right in -about eight or ten days. But as the lungs are liable to be more or less -affected, a physician should be called in, that their true condition may -be known in the commencement. - - - - - ERRATA. - - - On page 16, line 7, for mama, read _mamma_. - On page 50, line 21, for panacea read _panada_. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Corrected the Errata as noted - 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. - 3. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. - 4. 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