In obstinate vomitings the operation of internal medicines may be assisted by aromatic fomentations made with wine, applied warm to the pit of the stomach; or the use of the stomach plaster, with the addition of a little Theriaca.
OF A LOOSENESS.
A looseness may generally be reckoned salutary when the stools are sour, slimy, green, or curdled. It is not the discharge, but the production of such stools, which ought to be remedied. Even where the purging is thin and watery, it ought not to be checked too suddenly, as it often proves critical, especially when the child has caught cold, or an eruption on the skin has disappeared. Sometimes an evacuation of this kind succeeds a humid state of the atmosphere, in which case it may also prove of advantage, by carrying off a quantity of watery humours, which would otherwise tend to relax the habit.
As the principal intention of the cure of a looseness is to evacuate the offending matter, it is customary to give the patient a gentle vomit of ipecacuanha, and afterwards to exhibit small and frequent doses of rhubarb; interposing absorbent medicines, to mitigate the acrimony of the humours. The best purge, however, in this case, is magnesia alba. It is at the same time absorbent and laxative, and operates without exciting gripes.
The antimonial wine, which acts both as an emetic and purge, is also an excellent medicine in this case. By being diluted with water, it may be proportioned to the weakest constitution; and, not being disagreeable to the palate, it may be repeated as often as occasion requires. Even one dose will frequently mitigate the disease, and pave the way for the use of absorbents. If, however, the patient’s strength will permit, the medicine ought to be repeated every six or eight hours, till the stools begin to assume a more natural appearance; afterwards a longer space may be allowed to intervene between the doses. When it is necessary to repeat the medicine frequently, the dose ought always to be a little increased, as its efficacy is generally diminished by use.
Some, upon the first appearance of a looseness, fly immediately to the use of absorbent medicines and astringents. If these be administered before the offending humours are discharged, though the disease may appear to be mitigated for a little time, it soon afterwards breaks forth with greater violence, and often proves fatal. After proper evacuations, however, these medicines may be administered with considerable advantage.
Should any gripings or restlessness remain after the stomach and bowels have been cleansed, a tea-spoonful of the syrup of poppies may be given in a little simple cinnamon-water, three or four times a-day till these symptoms have ceased.
OF ERUPTIONS.
Children, while on the breast, are seldom free from eruptions of one kind or other. These, however, are not often dangerous, and ought never to be dried up but with the greatest caution. They tend to free the bodies of infants from hurtful humours, which, if retained, might produce fatal disorders.
The eruptions of children are chiefly owing to improper food and neglect of cleanliness. If a child be stuffed at all hours with food that its stomach is not able to digest, such food, not being properly assimilated, instead of nourishing the body, fills it with gross humours. These must either break out in form of eruptions upon the skin, or remain in the body, and occasion fevers and other internal disorders. That neglect of cleanliness is a very general cause of eruptive disorders, must be obvious to every one. The children of the poor, and of all who despise cleanliness, are almost constantly found to swarm with vermin, and are generally covered with the scab, itch, and other eruptions.