Fainting may occur at any period of pregnancy; but is most frequent during the first three months, and especially about the time of quickening. It may come on when the person is at perfect rest; but is ordinarily produced by unusual exertion,—exposure to heat,—or any sudden excitement of the mind. The paroxysm or fit is sometimes of short duration; and the female does not lose her recollection; she has a knowledge of what is going on about her, and soon recovers; but in other instances the fainting fit is complete and of long duration, continuing for an hour, or upwards.
The treatment during a fit.—This consists in immediately placing the patient in a recumbent posture—the use of pungent volatiles—sprinkling the face with cold water—free exposure to air, and the cautious administration of cordials. And if the fit continue long, the extremities must be kept warm, and the friction of a warm hand be applied to the feet.
It is scarcely necessary to add, that those who are subject to these attacks ought to avoid fatigue—crowded or hot rooms—fasting too long, quick motion, and agitation of mind. The bowels must be attended to; and a wine-glass of the infusion of columbo or cascarilla, taken every morning, will be useful in giving tone to the system.
After a few weeks the disposition to fainting will altogether subside, and although a very alarming state to those who are inexperienced, yet the subject of it should never allow her mind to be depressed, or to anticipate an unfavorable result. Pure air, simple diet, and regular exercise, as we said above, will do much to prevent it.
Toothache.
This may appear a trifling disease, to notice in connexion with the subject before us: but, in the course of pregnancy, females will sometimes suffer severely from erratic pains in the face and teeth. As these pains are generally induced by the increased irritability of the nervous system, the result of the new action which is going on in the womb, and not from the decay of any particular tooth, extraction of any tooth for its cure is out of the question. Indeed, did the suffering arise from a carious tooth, its removal is unadvisable, inasmuch as this operation has been immediately followed by a miscarriage. The fact is, that the patients who have consulted me while suffering from this affection, have had, apparently, in most cases, very sound teeth; and, feeling confident that its cause has been what has been before pointed out, the treatment has been purely constitutional. The following pill may be taken, night and morning:—Socotrine aloes, one grain and a half; blue pill, two grains; together with one drachm of the rust, or carbonate of iron, mixed with treacle or milk. The latter must be repeated twice a day for four days, and then a third dose may be added in the middle of the day; and the remedy continued, even after all uneasiness in the face has subsided for some time, with great advantage to the general health.
The only local application I would advise, is that of washing out the mouth and teeth, night and morning, with salt and cold, or lukewarm water. This plan of treatment not only relieves the painful affection of the face and teeth, but allays also that local irritability of the nerves, upon which it depended.
If a carious tooth seems alone affected, it has been proposed carefully to apply a drop or two of nitric acid, which is said to be infallible; a drop or two of oil of kreosote or cajeput is frequently useful.
Salivation.
A pregnant female must not be surprised, if, some little time after conception, or during any of the months of gestation, the ordinary quantity of saliva, which lubricates and keeps the mouth constantly moist, should increase to such an extent as to be exceedingly troublesome; and, indeed, sometimes become so excessive, as seriously to affect her health. It is a symptom of pregnancy, but a very unusual one; although the quantity of saliva discharged has now and then exceeded three, and even four pints daily.