Letters concerning the internal dropsy of the brain, to Charles William Quin / [William Patterson].

  • Patterson, William
Date:
1794
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters concerning the internal dropsy of the brain, to Charles William Quin / [William Patterson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    42/98 (page 38)
    [ 38- ] he found, that they had a cuftom of lying low m bed with their heads beneath the pillow. Upon this difcovery, he enjoined a change in their manner of lying ; they obeyed him j and they foon got rid of their maladies. The fame idea llruck Dr. Lettfom; and he has applied it to the point under confideration. With me he maintains, that hydrocephalus generally pre¬ vails in children ; owing to the great laxity of their folids, and the larger proportion of their fluids: And he afks, May not the ufual mode of nurfing likewife contribute to its frequency ? Thofe are in general reputed the befl nurfes, who fhake and tofs their little charges with the greatefl vehemence, which, confldering the delicate fubjects upon whom fuch gymnafticks are performed, may be produ6live of more hirm than good. The cuftom of permiN ting children to fleep on the lap, with the head fome- times hanging down for hours, would in grown people occafion painful affedions of it; and why not be hurtful to • infants, whofe brain is more vaf- cular ? But it is not during the period of nurfing only that children are expofed to thefe dangers ; for when older and more at liberty, regardlefs of the confe- quences, they are apt to place themfelves in very improper attitudes ; fometimes ftanding on their heads, at others ftriving who lhall hang the longeft , over rails with their heads downwards; befides the violent exertions of running, leaping, &c. to which thev