The Female Physician / Containing all the diseases incident to that sex, in virgins, wives, and widows; together with their causes and symptoms, their degrees of danger, and respective methods of prevention and cure: to which is added, the whole art of new improv'd midwifery; comprehending the necessary qualifications of a midwife, and particular directions for laying women, in all cases of difficult and preternatural births; together with the diet and regimen of both the mother and child.

by John Maubray

CHAP. XII.
Of the Acute Diseases of Infants.

THE very tender Nature and infirm Constitution of Children, subject them to many various and grievous Symptoms, besides those to which they are expos’d by a vast variety of Procatarctick Causes. But as I am not in this place to enter upon the Detail of these particular Symptoms, neither shall I enumerate their respective Causes: Which however is the less requisite, considering the Regimen and Nursement of the Child already prescribed in the foregoing Chapters; since the least step, degenerating from what is there inculcated, may prove an effectual mediate Cause; for all that indeed, according to the most Learned and Excellent Dr. Harris, the only immediate Cause of all Children’s Diseases is, an Active and prevailing Acid[^[192]].

THIS Doctrine, in as much as the Constitution of Infants is undeniably most Humid, appears also evident from Hippocrates’s his own Words, saying, the Rise of all Diseases is one and the same, the Place only makes the Difference[^[193]]. Hence we may justly conclude, First, That, however the Symptoms may differ in degree, the Diseases of the Infant-State are but very few: Secondly, That the Cure of these is far more Safe and Easy, than those of full grown Persons: Thirdly, That the Younger the Sick Child is, the more easy still is the Cure: Because its tender Body, abounding with Natural and acquired Moisture, is soft and flexile, and consequently apt to receive any Alteration: And Fourthly, I observe that the Infant easily falls into Sickness, or may be suddenly taken Ill, and as readily restored to Health, if but carefully and ingenuously treated: Because any Impression whatsoever, good or bad, is sooner received by a Soft, than by a Hard Body; tho’, I confess, the same is more Lasting, if once strongly impressed upon the Hard adult Constitution.

NOW as to the Diagnosticks of Children’s Diseases, These depend chiefly upon the Relation of the Nurses; since all Sentiments taken from their unruly Pulses, or their (naturally) thick Urines, prove most Uncertain. However, as the Stomach is always affected with an Acid Distemper, (whatever the reigning Disease may be, or howsoever it may be intitled by ingenious Authors) so it most commonly produces Fastidy or Loathing of Victuals, Vomiting of a thick Gelly, or a viscid and coagulated Phlegm, sour Belchings, and Excrements of a sourish Smell, and a greenish Colour, especially in the Beginning. As afterwards——

IF the Distemper continues, the Patient turns gradually Pale, and its discoloured Face is tinged a little Green or Yellowish; The Belly swells with Wind, which breaks frequently upwards; one or more red Pustules (a certain sign of Acidity) commonly rise in the Face, or upon some other upper Part of the Body; and the Infant growing daily worse, breathes high, and smells sour or Acid.

Again, As to the Prognosticks of these Distempers, of what kind soever they be, which afflict the Infant; I cannot in short, but readily agree with the most Ingenious Doctor before-mentioned, who plainly tells us, that These depend chiefly upon the Method of Cure, and the Conduct of the Nurse; Wherefore I proceed to the Cure.

AS to this point then of the Cure of Children’s Diseases, I shall First observe that, how many soever these Distempers are accounted, according to the Registers of Polite Authors, by what Name soever they are denominated, and how learnedly soever defin’d, as they all proceed from one immediate efficient Cause, (which has been already hinted at) so the Cure of them all is the same, and depends, in like manner, upon One only regular Method.

SECONDLY, I observe that as this Cause is nothing else than an Acid Humour, abounding in the Stomach, and coagulating the imbib’d Nourishment of the Infant, (as is evident from all the given Diagnosticks) so the proper Method of Cure, depends entirely upon obtunding that Acidity, dissolving those Coagulations, and eliminating the peccant Matter. But more particularly,

HAVING always a great and due regard to the natural Debility, and tender Constitution of the Young Patient, the Acid ought first to be prepared by prudent means, and then to be carried off by proper Medicines. I say prepared by prudent Means, because this is no indifferent Matter; For if we should take the same Method with these tender Creatures in this Case, that we do with more adult Persons we would certainly miscarry in our Attempts; or if we should attempt this Preparation, by Alexipharmacks, Cordials, (improperly so call’d) Causticks, or Sudorificks; these Things being most prejudicial to the Nature of young Ones, would rather promote the Crudity, than the Concoction of the Humours.