Mother, Nurse and Infant / A Manual Especially Adapted for the Guidance of Mothers and Monthly Nurses, Comprising Full Instruction in Regard To Pregnancy, Preparation for Child-birth, and the Care of Mother and Child, and Designed to Impart so Much Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery, and the Proper Use of Medicines as Will Serve Intelligently to Direct the Wife, Mother and Nurse in All Emergencies.

by S. P. Sackett

The contraction of the eyebrows, together with a turning of the head and eyes to avert the light, is a sign of cephalalgia (headache).

When the child holds its hand upon its head, or strives to rest the head upon the bosom of the mother or nurse, it may be suffering from ear disease.

When the fingers are carried to the mouth, and there is besides great agitation apparent, and when it turns its head from one side to another, there is probably some obstruction or some abnormal condition of the larynx.

A feeble and plaintive cry indicates a trouble in the abdominal regions.

If the respiration is intermittent but accelerated, there is capillary bronchitis. In bronchitis the cough is clear and distinct.

A hoarse and rough cough is indicative of true CROUP. When the cough is suppressed and painful, there is PNEUMONIA or PLEURISY.

In diseases of the stomach, liver or bowels we have usually a coated tongue; a white tongue indicates FEBRILE disturbance or some THROAT trouble; a brown moist tongue, INDIGESTION; a brown dry tongue, DEPRESSION, BLOOD POISONING or TYPHOID FEVER; a red moist tongue, INFLAMMATORY FEVER; a broad, pale flabby tongue accompanies a DROPSICAL CONDITION of the system; a tremulous, moist and flabby tongue indicates FEEBLENESS, NERVOUSNESS; a pale flabby tongue which shows the pressure of the teeth, a generally relaxed condition of the system; the irritable or strawberry tongue with its red papilla, points to an irritated stomach, and is met with in SCARLET FEVER; a furred and dry tongue is indicative of VIOLENT LOCAL INFLAMMATION; if afterwards clean, red and dry, protracted INFLAMMATORY FEVER.

Wheezing cough and wheezing breathing indicates ASTHMA; dull, heavy aching pain at the base of the chest, ACUTE BRONCHITIS; urgent desire to go to stool, DYSENTERY; diminished secretion of urine, INFLAMMATORY and FEBRILE DISORDERS; cold hands and feet, NERVOUS DISEASES and low states of the blood.

In general, the diagnosis of diseases of children is easy if we simply compare the objective symptoms with those which should obtain in a healthy child of the same age. But we must remember that with children symptoms which appear very grave are often evanescent, and on the other hand the indications of very serious disease may be disregarded on account of their natural vivacity and recuperative powers. In each case each child should be studied by itself considering its antecedents, its peculiarities, its surroundings, and its relations to them.

The mother has the best chance to know these; she sees the child when awake and asleep, when dressed and undressed; she knows its history, what has been its diet, what her own health has been, her own habits, her surroundings and occupations, and whether there may or may not have been anything to cause sickness of the child in her own toils or trials. The nurse and the mother should note all the facts, for their own guidance and for the guidance of the physician if he is called.