As these symptoms evidently arise from somewhat that irritates the intestines, doubtless the proper method of cure must be to expel it as soon as possible. The most safe and effectual method of doing this is by gentle vomits. Five or six grains of the powder of ipecacuanha may be mixed in two table-spoonfuls of water, and sweetened with a little sugar. A tea-spoonful of this may be given to the infant every quarter of an hour till it operates; or, what will more certainly answer the purpose, a grain of emetic tartar may be dissolved in three ounces of water, sweetened with a little syrup, and given as above. Those who are unwilling to use the emetic tartar, may give six or seven drops of the antimonial wine, in a tea-spoonful of water or thin gruel. Small doses of the ipecacuanha wine will be found more gentle than any of the above, and ought to be preferred.
These medicines will not only cleanse the stomach, but will generally likewise open the body. Should this however not happen, and if the child be costive, some gentle purge will be necessary: for this purpose, some manna and pulp of cassia may be dissolved in boiling water, and given in small quantities till it operates; or, what will answer rather better, a few grains of magnesia alba may be mixed in any kind of food that is given to the child, and continued till it has the desired effect. If these medicines be properly administered, and the child’s belly and limbs frequently rubbed with a warm hand before the fire, they will seldom fail to relieve those affections of the stomach and bowels from which infants suffer so much.
These general directions include most of what can be done for relieving the internal disorders of infants. They will likewise go a considerable way in alleviating those which appear externally, as the rash, gum, or fellon, &c. These, as was formerly observed, are principally owing to too hot a regimen, and consequently will be most effectually relieved by gentle evacuations. Indeed, evacuations of one kind or other constitute a principal part of the medicine of infants, and will seldom, if administered with prudence, in any of their diseases, fail to give relief.
OF THE MECONIUM.
The stomach and bowels of a new-born infant are filled with a blackish-coloured matter of the consistence of syrup, commonly called the meconium. This is generally passed soon after the birth, by the mere effort of Nature; in which case it is not necessary to give the infant any kind of medicine. But if it should be retained, or not sufficiently carried off, a little manna or magnesia alba may be given, as mentioned above; or, if these should not be at hand, a common spoonful of whey, sweetened with a little honey, or raw sugar, will answer the purpose.
The most proper medicine for expelling the meconium is the mother’s milk, which is always at first of a purgative quality. Were children allowed to suck as soon as they shew an inclination for the breast, they would seldom have occasion for medicines to discharge the meconium; but even where this is not allowed, they ought never to have daubs of syrup, oils, and other indigestible stuff, crammed down their throats.
THE APHTHÆ OR THRUSH.
The aphthæ are little whitish ulcers affecting the whole inside of the mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach of infants. Sometimes they reach through the whole intestinal canal; in which case they are very dangerous, and often put an end to the infant’s life.
If the aphthæ are of a pale colour, pellucid, few in number, soft, superficial, and fall easily off, they are not dangerous; but if opake, yellow, brown, black, thick, or running together, they ought to be dreaded.
It is generally thought that the aphthæ owe their origin to acid humours; we have reason however to believe, they are more frequently owing to too hot a regimen both of the mother and child. It is a rare thing to find a child who is not dosed with wine, punch, cinnamon-waters, or some other hot and inflaming liquors, almost as soon as it is born. It is well known that these will occasion inflammatory disorders even in adults; is it any wonder then that they should heat and inflame the tender bodies of infants, and set as it were the whole constitution on a blaze?