II. SOMETIMES an Extension or shooting forth of the Navel happens to the Child, and that frequently to the Bigness of an Egg, more or less; which Case is properly call’d an Exomphalon, and proceeds either from the continual Cries, or violent Coughs of the Infant, or from a Laxation or Rupture of the Peritonæum, or sometimes from an Exulceration of the Navel.
IN this Condition, whatever the Cause may be, the sooner that the Cure is undertaken, the more easily it is perform’d; for which End, after removing the Causes of Crying or Coughing, the relaxed Peritonæum may be strengthened and astringed; as when bursten, it may be reunited and consolidated by proper Cataplasms and Swaths; after replacing the Intestines (if fallen down) keeping the Child for the most part in Bed, with its Belly always loose, and never too full.
III. AND the same is the Method of Cure, in Case of an Intestinal Rupture, otherwise call’d Enterocele, i. e. Hernia; only, That a Truss is now more convenient than a Swath: However in this Place I would observe that all Tumours of the Scrotum, are not to be mistaken for the present Bursten Case; because the same may also happen from a Watry Humour collected in that Part, which is more properly call’d an Hydrocele, and is easily distinguish’d from the Enterocele: Insomuch, that, in this Condition the Tumour is most commonly, in one part of the Scrotum, I mean in its Right or Left Side; when also the fallen Intestines may be perceiv’d by the Touch; as the Rupture or Hole through which the Intestines are fallen, may be by the Finger: Whereas in the Case of an Hydrocele, the Tumour is commonly in both Sides, and the Scrotum is more puffed up, neither is there any Hole of a Rupture to be found in the Peritonæum. The Cure of which Case depends entirely upon proper Absorbents, or Discutients, for resolving and drying up the Water, or dissipating the Wind, and afterwards upon Corroboratives for confirming the Parts. But after All, in the mean Time this Tumour is also sometimes, upon occasion, properly open’d by a LANCET to evacuate its preternatural Contents.
IV. AN Inflammation or Exulceration of the Navel may happen to the Child, by the String’s falling off too soon, or before it be fully clos’d and cicatriz’d; which may proceed from any violent Agitation of the Belly, by continual Crying, vehement Coughing, &c. as it also may from an unskilful Ligature of the String, or from cold Air; upon which sometimes follows a great loss of Blood, and even Death itself, if not timely prevented.
THIS Inflammation is known by the Navel’s swelling-up, being red and hard with Heat and Pulsation; In which Case after appeasing the Infant’s Coughs, or Cries, &c.—I would apply to it the Unguentum refrigerans Galeni & Populeon, each one half mix’d; or a small Bolster dip’d in the Oil of Roses with a little Vinegar.
BUT, and if the Navel continues Ulcer’d after the falling of the String from it; in that Case proper Desiccative and Astringent Medicines are to be apply’d, such as small Rags dipp’d in Lime-Water, but not too strong; or in Plantane-Water, wherein a little Alum has been dissolved. If the Ulcer be but small, a Pledget of Dry Lint will be sufficient; observing always to keep a good Linnen Compress on the Top of whatsoever Remedy is us’d, with a Swath to keep all fast, until the Navel be perfectly heal’d and cicatriz’d; lest at the same time it should also force itself outwards, as in the ’foregoing Case.
V. THE Child is also very frequently troubled with the Aphthæ, or Ulcers of the Mouth; commonly call’d the Thrush: Proceeding either from vitious Milk, or from its Corruption, in the Stomach; emitting sharp Vapours, which readily affect the tender Skin and Superfice of the Infant’s Mouth, and that the more easily, because the same Tunick, or Skin, which invests the Mouth, is common to the Gullet, which naturally communicates the Affections of the Ventricle to the Jaws. Hence it is that the Nice Taste of the delicate Tongue so readily distinguishes all Relishes; and hence it is that the Ingenious Physician, by looking upon the Tongue only, is able to judge of the prevailing Intemperament of the whole Body.
THE Cure of these Thrushes, proceeding as aforesaid from the acid Vapours of bad Milk, or from its ill Digestion, depends properly and entirely upon defeating and obtunding the Acrimony, by proper Absorbents, and gentle Purgatives.
VI. ANOTHER Symptom not only familiar, but even Natural, to all Children, is their Teething; which tho’ This be the mere Work of Nature, yet because of the various Distempers and Symptoms, which commonly attend and conjoin this Dentition, it is not improperly reckon’d in the Category of the Diseases of Infants: Which however is to be understood, not of the Simple Dentition, but of the difficult Breeding of Teeth; Not but that the Child is furnished with Teeth even before Birth, tho’ they lurk so long in their proper Sockets, being cover’d with the Gums, until their due Time of Eruption[[189]]. Tho’ in the Interim, it has been observed that some Children have brought eminent Teeth with them into the World[[190]], as it is also for Instance, particularly reported of Lewis the XIV of France.
BUT however the Teeth most commonly break out about the Seventh Month, and first those call’d Dentes Incisores, or the four fore-Teeth; which after a short Interval, are followed by the two Dog-Teeth, commonly call’d the Eye-Teeth; and at last succeeded by the eight Cheek-Teeth or Grinders, in each Jaw; the two last of the Molares, properly called Dentes Sapientiæ, springing only out about, or after the one and twentieth Year. Now as this Eruption, particularly that of the Dog-Teeth, because of their very deep Root and small Nerve, cannot happen without an exquisite Sense, and intense Pain to the Infant; so, from the continual Solution of the Gums, many præternatural Affections seize the Child, according to Hippocrates’s Catalogue[[191]]; to which, in short, I must only refer: Because if I was to enter upon the particular Detail of all These, I should extend the Limits of this Work beyond all measure; wherefore I shall endeavour to comprehend them all under the one following general Head; viz.——