History of four cases of eclampsia nutans, or the 'salaam' convulsions of infancy, with suggestions as to its origin and future treatment / [William Newnham].

  • William Newnham
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: History of four cases of eclampsia nutans, or the 'salaam' convulsions of infancy, with suggestions as to its origin and future treatment / [William Newnham]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    intelligent, firm, kind, and thoroughly self-denying nurse; and particularly for this reason, that although the infant mind is not to be stimulated to action, yet its natural phenomena should be most carefully watched, its development fostered, its lost power noticed ] and recorded, and its morbid tendencies chronicled ; such a rare combination of excellencies were met with in the case No. 1, and to these greatly may be ascribed its happy termination. Before quitting the subject of cerebral management, it should be men¬ tioned that the patient should be always accustomed to lie down awake when placed in its bed, either for the night or the morning nap ; that in all such cases it should not be previously nursed off to sleep, and that anything like rocking should be most rigidly pro¬ hibited. 29. We come now to notice the stomach and digestive functions. Irritation here is of great importance, and should claim our especial attention. Care should be taken that the food should always be of a light and easily digestible character, and that its quantity should be regulated by the digestive powers. It is to be remarked that the meals are not to be too frequently nor too distantly given. The stomach is an organ which must have its period of repose as well as of activity ; it is invigorated by exercise, but exhausted by over-fatigue ; its energies are quickened by repose, but enfeebled by too long inaction or fasting, and the only way by which its powers can be retained or improved, is by regularity in the hour of administering its supplies, and proportioning those supplies to the peculiarities of the individual organ. An error is often made on this subject either by the too great frequency or the too great dis¬ tance of the meals, both of which extremes, as has been shown, occasion feebleness—the first from overtasking power, the last from its exhaustion. And since, in the subjects predisposed to eclamp¬ sia nutans, there is a prevailing preponderance of white fluids, it should be'remembered that though the quantity and quality of the food must be regulated by the age of the child, yet that it should at all times be nutritious, unstimulating, easy of digestion, and, as far as may be, of a dry character. The period of life is one of development, and therefore, diet must be nutritious. But sub- inflammatory action is going on, and therefore the capillary circula¬ tion must not be goaded by stimulants ; and the stomach is weak, | therefore the food must be easy of digestion. The great morbid ten¬ dency of the digestive organs is to the prevalence of acidity, therefore ascescent articles of food, sugar, &c., should be avoided, and when