Dentition, Teething Fever, Irritation of the Brain. — The
febrile disturbance attending the cutting of the first set of teeth,
which process is not complete until the end of two years, is
often very considerable, and, inasmuch as the symptoms pro-
duced by it not seldom resemble to a certain extent those of
inflammation of the brain, they have been collectively termed
"irritation" of the brain, although it would not be easy for
those who employ the term to define it.
A febrile condition appears, the infant becomes restless and
fretful, its rest is disturbed, its head becomes hot. The gums
are swollen and hot. Sometimes there is sickness and diar-
rhoea, in other cases the bowels are found to be costive. One
point of distinction between the disturbance of teething and
that caused by inflammation of the brain, is that the soft space
on the top of the head, if it still remain open, is not full and
raised, but depressed and cupped. Another point to be noticed
is the age of the infant. Dentition commences at very varying
320 MEDICINAL.
periods — from the ages of three or four to upwards of twelve
months — and is usually completed on or about two years of
age, so that these symptoms occurring sooner or later must be
regarded as depending upon some other morbid condition of
the brain or its membranes. Before the teeth appear, their
growth is often indicated by dribbling, which may appear as
early as two months of age. Over-feeding or indiscreet dieting
will sometimes produce the symptoms of brain disturbance. It
should be borne in mind that the period of dentition is one of
febrile disturbance in the constitution, and is calculated, in the
event of the existence of any lurking taint of constitutional
disorder, to be the occasion of its being brought out into
activity. This being the case, and dentition frequently follow-
ing near to the operation of vaccination, the latter has to bear
the discredit of what probably neither the one nor the other
alone would produce.
Treatment. — In the first place, use warm baths and mild
aperients, such as magnesia or grey powder, with a light, care-
ful diet. This will generally suffice to assist in removing the
symptoms, which, however, generally quickly subside if the
gum can be lanced.
Diabetes. — Considerable misapprehension of the meaning
of this word exists in the minds of many persons. It is not
every excessive secretion of urine that constitutes diabetes. In
the sense of a disease, as here intended, it includes the voiding
of sugar therewith persistently.
Symptoms. — This condition comes on very gradually and
insidiously. The patient gets out of health, is weak, has a
general feeling of malaise, why or how he does not know This
state of things continuing for some time, he begins to notice
that he voids more urine than usual, and at last perceives that
very large quantites are voided^ Then loss of flesh to emaci-
ation becomes observable, as also thirst, with dryness of the
tongue, which exhibits great fissures in its length. The breath
acquires a smell like fresh hay. The skin becomes harsh, the
bowels constipated. There may be some pain in the loins.
Page 229
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Dentition, Teething Fever, Irritation of the Brain. — The febrile disturbance attending the cutting of the first set of teeth, which process is not complete until the end of two years, is often very considerable, and, inasmuch as the symptoms produced by it not seldom resemble to a certain extent those of inflammation of the brain, they have been collectively termed "irritation" of the brain, although it would not be easy for those who employ the term to define it.
A febrile condition appears, the infant becomes restless and fretful, its rest is disturbed, its head becomes hot. The gums are swollen and hot. Sometimes there is sickness and diarrhoea, in other cases the bowels are found to be costive. One point of distinction between the disturbance of teething and that caused by inflammation of the brain, is that the soft space on the top of the head, if it still remain open, is not full and raised, but depressed and cupped. Another point to be noticed is the age of the infant. Dentition commences at very varying
periods — from the ages of three or four to upwards of twelve months — and is usually completed on or about two years of age, so that these symptoms occurring sooner or later must be regarded as depending upon some other morbid condition of the brain or its membranes. Before the teeth appear, their growth is often indicated by dribbling, which may appear as early as two months of age. Over-feeding or indiscreet dieting will sometimes produce the symptoms of brain disturbance. It should be borne in mind that the period of dentition is one of febrile disturbance in the constitution, and is calculated, in the event of the existence of any lurking taint of constitutional disorder, to be the occasion of its being brought out into activity. This being the case, and dentition frequently following near to the operation of vaccination, the latter has to bear the discredit of what probably neither the one nor the other alone would produce.
Treatment. — In the first place, use warm baths and mild aperients, such as magnesia or grey powder, with a light, careful diet. This will generally suffice to assist in removing the symptoms, which, however, generally quickly subside if the gum can be lanced.
Diabetes. — Considerable misapprehension of the meaning of this word exists in the minds of many persons. It is not every excessive secretion of urine that constitutes diabetes. In the sense of a disease, as here intended, it includes the voiding of sugar therewith persistently.
Symptoms. — This condition comes on very gradually and insidiously. The patient gets out of health, is weak, has a general feeling of malaise, why or how he does not know This state of things continuing for some time, he begins to notice that he voids more urine than usual, and at last perceives that very large quantities are voided. Then loss of flesh to emaciation becomes observable, as also thirst, with dryness of the tongue, which exhibits great fissures in its length. The breath acquires a smell like fresh hay. The skin becomes harsh, the bowels constipated. There may be some pain in the loins.