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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    and ten or twelve hours^ rest, from the fever wliicli is always, more or less attendant upon labour. Unless there lias been some secre- tion of milk, it is better not to apply the cliild, as it becomes dis- appointed by continued, ineffectual attempts at obtaining nourish- ment, and there may subsequently be some difliculty in getting it to engnge seriously in the business of sucking.^ As soon, however, as it has fairly commenced, it will require no other food; and if the mother be a good nurse, she should be able to support her infant independently of artificial nutriment, during at least two-thirds of the period of infancy,—that is to say, until the seventh or eighth month. About that time the teeth usually begin to appear, indi- cating that the digestive system is assuming a capability of doing more work than it was adequate to at first; and accordingly, we should then, taking the hint from nature, begin gradually to train and exercise its powers. The suckling of the infant, which during tlie first months should be performed at regular intervals of about four hours, should now be repeated not more than three or four times during the day and night; and twice during the same period some artificial food should be given. This at first may consist of soft bread, steeped in hot water, with the addition of a little sugar and fresh cow's milk ; subse{|ucntly some light broth, free from fat and vegetable matters, may be given once during the day. With res])ect to the mode of feeding at this period, the spoon will be the best vehicle, as it is an object to give food somewhat more solid than could be drawn through the sucking bottle. The child, however, should not be placed horizontally on its back, and gorged until it is filled to the throat, as is often done; but its head should be kept elevated, and its actions be carefully attended to, so that the supply may be stopped the moment it appears to be satisfied. During the first five or six months, the infant must be suckled during the night as well as the day, but this should be done at regular intervals of four hours; and if it sleeps with the mother or nurse, the nipple should not be allowed to remain in its mouth, as it * We have heard the propriety of the advice given above, called into question. Practical men will, however, have no difficulty in understanding the advantage of preventing the disappointment of the child, and the injury to the nipple itself, sometimes occasioned by protracted drawing at an absolateli/ empty breast: this is the utmost extent of delay which we wished to recommend, and to this recommendation we nmst still adhere. [Note to 2nd Edition.]
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