The most proper medicines for the aphthæ are vomits, such as have been already recommended, and gentle laxatives. Five grains of rhubarb and half a drachm of magnesia alba may be rubbed together, and divided into six doses, one of which may be given to the infant every four or five hours till they operate. These powders may either be given in the child’s food, or a little of the syrup of pale roses, and may be repeated as often as is found necessary to keep the body open. It is common in this case to administer calomel; but as that medicine sometimes occasions gripes, it ought always to be given to infants with caution.
Many things have been recommended for gargling the mouth and throat in this disease; but it is not easy to apply these in very young infants; we would therefore recommend it to the nurse to rub the child’s mouth frequently with a little borax and honey; or with the following mixture: Take fine honey an ounce, borax a drachm, burnt alum half a drachm, rose-water two drachms; mix them together. A very proper application in this case, is a solution of ten or twelve grains of white vitriol in eight ounces of barley-water. These may be applied with the finger, or by means of a bit of soft rag tied to the end of a probe.
OF ACIDITIES.
The food of children being for the most part of an acescent nature, it readily turns sour upon the stomach, especially if the body be any way disordered. Hence most diseases of children are accompanied with evident signs of acidity, as green stools, gripes, &c. These appearances have induced many to believe, that all the diseases of children were owing to an acid abounding in the stomach and bowels; but whoever considers the matter attentively, will find that these symptoms of acidity are oftner the effect than the cause of their diseases.
Nature evidently intended, that the food of children should be acescent; and unless the body be disordered, or the digestion hurt, from some other cause, we will venture to say, that the acescent quality of their food is seldom injurious to them. Acidity, however, is often a symptom of disorders in children, and, as it is sometimes a troublesome one, we shall point out the method of relieving it.
When green stools, gripes, purgings, sour smells, &c. shew that the bowels abound with an acid, the child should have a little small broth, with light white bread in it; and should have sufficient exercise in order to promote the digestion. It has been customary in this case to give the pearl-julep, chalk, crabs eyes, and other testaceous powders. These, indeed, by their absorbent quality, may correct the acidity; but they are attended with this inconvenience, that they are apt to lodge in the bowels, and occasion costiveness, which may prove very hurtful to the infant. For this reason they should never be given unless mixed with purgative medicines; as rhubarb, manna, or such like.
The best medicine which we know, in all cases of acidity, is that fine insipid powder called magnesia alba. It purges, and at the same time corrects the acidity: by which means it not only removes the disease, but carries off its cause. It may be given in any kind of food, or in a mixture, as recommended in the Appendix[[188]].
When an infant is troubled with gripes, it ought not at first to be dosed with brandy, spiceries, and other hot things, but should have its body opened with an emollient clyster, or the medicine mentioned above; and at the same time a little brandy may be rubbed on its belly with a warm hand before the fire. I have seldom seen this fail to ease the gripes of infants. If it should happen, however, not to succeed, a little brandy or other spirits may be mixed with thrice the quantity of warm water, and a tea-spoonful of it given frequently till the infant be easier. Sometimes a little peppermint-water will answer this purpose very well.
GALLING AND EXCORIATION.
These are very troublesome to children. They happen chiefly about the groin and wrinkles of the neck, under the arms, behind the ears, and in other parts that are moistened by the sweat or urine.