A practical treatise on the management and diseases of children / by R.T. Evanson and H. Maunsell.

  • Evanson, Richard Tonson, 1799?-
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical treatise on the management and diseases of children / by R.T. Evanson and H. Maunsell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    tlie most characteristic attribute of manlioocl. The form of the skele- ton, and its several parts, alters much; and the chemical constitution of the osseous system, also undergoes change. The relative develop- ment of the pelvis and lower extremities, comes to bear a better propor- tion to that of the thorax and the rest of the body. The form of the spine assumes more of the alternate curvatures of full groAvth. The shafts of the bones become firmer, and more closely united to their heads, and the processes shoot out; while the quantity of calcareous matter gradually increases, until the completion of bony growth, when the frame-work of the muscular system is brought to perfection. The muscles do not remain stationary while the bones advance. Their colour deepens, and the fibres become weU defined and firm, being developed so as to form the belly, or central fulness; more fibrine enters into their composition. The aponeurotic sheathes, and tendinous appendages, have become necessary, and are added. Muscular exertion now comes into busy operation, but continues to be characterised by activity rather than power. The child has a con- stant tendency to muscular movement, and loves exercise; but the power is soon expended, and rest is recjuired,—well-concerted, or long-sustained muscular exertion being beyond its capability. This is an important moral as well as ])hysical check, the corporeal power being limited, and full strength not acquired, until the controlling influence of a matured intellect has been provided. This brings us to consider the progress of growth in the cerebro- spinal portion of the nervous system; particularly the brain, the organ of thought and feeling, and that in which remarkable changes take place. As the body elongates, the spinal marrow of course becomes en- larged, until it bears to the brain a greater proportion in size than it did at birth; but having been more forward in structure from the first, its advance in this respect is less remarkable. The brain grows, and the head enlarges remarkably, within the first year after birth—particularly, during the first few months. The iinper- fect state of ossification in the bones of the skull at this period, admits readily of the rapid enlargement of the cranium and its contents; this being one of the uses of the fontanelles, in addition to the faci- lity which they can afford in delivery, by allowing the bones to over- lap each other, and so diminislnng the bulk of the head. Six of these deficiencies in ossificatioi) are found at birth, the spaces being
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