The complete servant / Being a practical guide to the peculiar duties and business of all descriptions of servants, from the housekeeper to the servant of all-work, and from the land steward to the foot-boy. With useful receipts and tables

by servant Samuel Adams; Sarah Adams

Diseases of Children, &c.

THE YELLOW GUM.

The yellow gum is known by a yellow tinge of the skin, with languor and a tendency to sleep. It is to be relieved by giving a tea-spoonful or more of castor oil, to clear the intestines. When the disease does not give way to this treatment, three drops of antimonial wine are to be given in a tea-spoonful of water, so as to prove emetic. In about eight or ten hours, this is to be followed by ½ a grain of calomel, or four grains of rhubarb.

VOMITING.

When the food is vomited in an unaltered state, it is generally a sign of over feeding: but when the vomiting is bilious, or when the food is partly digested, the diet ought to be changed, and the bowels opened by one grain of calomel, given in sugar. This is to be followed by a tea-spoonful of castor oil on the following morning. If the vomiting should still continue, give a gentle emetic, and the calomel powder (containing one or two grains, according to the age)

soon afterwards. If there be much irritation, apply a blister to the stomach; and, if possible, give a tea-spoonful of the saline medicine, in a state of effervescence, and containing two drops of laudanum.

HICCUPS.

These generally arise from acidity in the stomach, and may be remedied by the administration of eight grains of prepared chalk, with two grains of powdered rhubarb, given in a little syrup, or gruel. If very severe, the stomach is to be rubbed with soap liniment, or opodeldoc, to which a little laudanum has been added.

GRIPING AND FLATULENCY.

These are known by continual crying, restlessness, and drawing up of the legs. When attended by diarrhœa and green stools, they are to be relieved, in general, by the administration of a few grains of rhubarb and magnesia. If sour belchings, &c. still continue, a tea-spoonful of very weak solution of tartar emetic should be given every quarter of an hour, until the child vomits. After this, particularly if there be any purging, it may be proper to give a little rhubarb and magnesia again, and now and then a little chalk mixture.