Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Children

by Pye Henry Chavasse

The treatment consists in keeping the parts clean, by syringing the ear every morning with warm water, by attention to food—keeping the child principally upon a milk and a farmaceous diet, and by change of air—more especially to the coast. If change of air be not practicable, great attention should be paid to ventilation. As I have before advised, in all cases of discharge from the ear call in a medical man, as a little judicious medicine is advisable—indeed, essential; and it may be necessary to syringe the ear with lotions, instead of with warm water; and, of course, it is only a doctor who has actually seen the patient who can decide these matters, and what is best to be done in each case.

247. What is the treatment of a "stye" on the eye-lid?

Bathe the eye frequently with warm milk and water, and apply, every night at bedtime, a warm white-bread poultice.

No medicine is required; but, if the child be gross, keep him for a few days from meat, and let him live on bread and milk and farinaceous puddings.

248. If a child have large bowels, what would you recommend as likely to reduce their size?

It ought to be borne in mind, that the bowels of a child are larger in proportion than those of an adult. But, if they be actually larger than they ought to be, let them be well rubbed for a quarter of an hour at a time night and morning, with soap liniment, and then apply a broad flannel belt. "A broad flannel belt worn night and day, firm but not tight, is very serviceable." [Footnote: Sir Charles Locock, in a Letter to the Author.] The child ought to be prevented from drinking as much as he has been in the habit of doing; let him be encouraged to exercise himself well in the open air; and let strict regard be paid to his diet.

249. What are the best aperients for a child?

If it be actually necessary to give him opening medicine, one or two tea-spoonfuls of Syrup of Senna, repeated, if necessary, in four hours, will generally answer the purpose; or, for a change, one or two tea-spoonfuls of Castor Oil may be substituted. Lenitive Electuary (Compound Confection of Senna) is another excellent aperient for the young, it being mild in its operation, and pleasant to take; a child fancying it is nothing more than jam, and which it much resembles both in appearance and in taste. The dose is half or one tea-spoonful early in the morning occasionally. Senna is an admirable aperient for a child, and is a safe one, which is more than can be said of many others. It is worthy of note that "the taste of Senna may be concealed by sweeting the infusion, [Footnote: Infusion of Senna may be procured of any respectable druggist. It will take about one or two table-spoonfuls, or even more, of the infusion (according to the age of the child, and the obstinacy of the bowels), to act as an aperient. Of course, you yourself will be able, from time to time, as the need arises, to add the milk and the sugar, and thus to make it palatable. It ought to be given warm, so as the more to resemble tea.] adding milk, and drinking as ordinary tea, which, when thus prepared, it much resembles" [Footnote: Waring's Manual of Practical Therapeutics.] Honey, too, is a nice aperient for a child—a tea-spoonful ought to be given either by itself, or spread on a slice of bread.

Some mothers are in the habit of giving their children jalap gingerbread. I do not approve of it, as jalap is a drastic, griping purgative; besides, jalap is very nasty to take—nothing will make it palatable.

Fluid Magnesia—Solution of Carbonate of Magnesia—is a good aperient for a child; and, as it has very little taste, is readily given, more especially if made palatable by the addition either of a little syrup or of brown sugar. The advantages which it has over the old solid form are, that it is colourless and nearly tasteless, and never forms concretions in the bowels, as the solid magnesia, if persevered in for any length of time, sometimes does. A child of two or three years old may take one or two table-spoonfuls of the fluid; either by itself or in his food, repeating it every four hours until the bowels be open. When the child is old enough to drink the draught off immediately, the addition of one or two tea-spoonfuls of Lemon Juice to each dose of the Fluid Magnesia, makes a pleasant effervescing draught, and increases its efficacy as an aperient.