In Children. — In infants, the first symptoms that will be
noticed will probably be simple restlessness or fretfulness. The
head will become hot, and there may be sickness, which will
soon become a predominant symptom. The bowels are for
the most part relaxed; the flow of urine notably diminished.
If old enough to express its feelings, the child will complain
of pain in the head; if too young for that, the same will be
indicated by its constantly putting its hand to its head, and
rolling its head about. An early symptom is the bending of
the thumb inwards on the palm of the hand, and downward
flexion of the toes. The eye will be bloodshot, and the brows
knitted The sleep of the child is disturbed with starts, or it
will wake up as if alarmed. In young infants, the soft part on
the top of the head will be full and throbbing. These symp-
toms are followed in fatal cases by a bending backward of the
neck, with convulsions and stupor. It will be seen also that
one side of the body is more convulsed than the other, which
may be paralyzed. This disease may last for several weeks;
during this time the child is constantly uttering a peculiar sharp
cry, or moaning, or screaming.
In Adults. — In the adult, the symptoms of inflammation
of the brain constitute what is generally called " brain fever;'*
in which there is a great mental excitement giving rise to
delirium. The senses become morbidly acute, so that the
ordinary amount of light is not bearable, and noise of any kind
is intolerable. The inflammation is attended with great pain
in the head, hot skin, and fever. The eyes are bright and
bloodshot, the pupils readily contract. The bowels are costive,
the urine scanty and high colored. If the disease do not yield
to treatment, twitching of the limbs, convulsions, collapse and
stupor precede death.
The chronic form is seen exclusively in children, and is
often born with them. Its predominant sign in that case is the
enlargement of the head, and retarded development of the
mental powers, or their premature development. The body is
badly nourished, and the digestive functions are disordered.
Treatment of Acute Inflammation of the Brain. —
In infants, difficult dentition is one of the exciting causes, the
condition of the gums therefore should be looked to in the
outset of the symptoms, and, if full and swollen, should be
freely lanced, as the pressure of the gum upon the growing teeth
and their nerves keeps up irritation of the nervous centres.
This operation is simple enough, and requires only one pre-
caution— viz., to cut parallel with the edge of the jaw, toward
350 MEDICINAL.
the front of the gums. The incision should be made down-
ward until it comes in contact with the tooth. If it be made
behind the middle lines of the gums, there is a risk of cutting
through the sac of the second set, which are being developed
behind the first. The operation is better performed with a
proper-shaped gum-lancet, but as this instrument is not often
in the hands of the non-professional, a sharp pen-knife will
serve the purpose. The child's head should be steadily held
between the operator's knees, while its hands are held by some
one else.
Cold applications, such as spirit lotions — e. g., one part of
gin to ten of water, should be kept constantly applied on a rag;
or ice-cold water may be used.
Page 253
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
In Children. — In infants, the first symptoms that will be noticed will probably be simple restlessness or fretfulness. The head will become hot, and there may be sickness, which will soon become a predominant symptom. The bowels are for the most part relaxed; the flow of urine notably diminished. If old enough to express its feelings, the child will complain of pain in the head; if too young for that, the same will be indicated by its constantly putting its hand to its head, and rolling its head about. An early symptom is the bending of the thumb inwards on the palm of the hand, and downward flexion of the toes. The eye will be bloodshot, and the brows knitted The sleep of the child is disturbed with starts, or it will wake up as if alarmed. In young infants, the soft part on the top of the head will be full and throbbing. These symptoms are followed in fatal cases by a bending backward of the neck, with convulsions and stupor. It will be seen also that one side of the body is more convulsed than the other, which may be paralyzed. This disease may last for several weeks; during this time the child is constantly uttering a peculiar sharp cry, or moaning, or screaming.
In Adults. — In the adult, the symptoms of inflammation of the brain constitute what is generally called " brain fever;'* in which there is a great mental excitement giving rise to delirium. The senses become morbidly acute, so that the ordinary amount of light is not bearable, and noise of any kind is intolerable. The inflammation is attended with great pain in the head, hot skin, and fever. The eyes are bright and bloodshot, the pupils readily contract. The bowels are costive, the urine scanty and high colored. If the disease do not yield to treatment, twitching of the limbs, convulsions, collapse and stupor precede death.
The chronic form is seen exclusively in children, and is often born with them. Its predominant sign in that case is the enlargement of the head, and retarded development of the mental powers, or their premature development. The body is badly nourished, and the digestive functions are disordered.
Treatment of Acute Inflammation of the Brain. — In infants, difficult dentition is one of the exciting causes, the condition of the gums therefore should be looked to in the outset of the symptoms, and, if full and swollen, should be freely lanced, as the pressure of the gum upon the growing teeth and their nerves keeps up irritation of the nervous centres. This operation is simple enough, and requires only one precaution— viz., to cut parallel with the edge of the jaw, toward
the front of the gums. The incision should be made downward until it comes in contact with the tooth. If it be made behind the middle lines of the gums, there is a risk of cutting through the sac of the second set, which are being developed behind the first. The operation is better performed with a proper-shaped gum-lancet, but as this instrument is not often in the hands of the non-professional, a sharp pen-knife will serve the purpose. The child's head should be steadily held between the operator's knees, while its hands are held by some one else.
Cold applications, such as spirit lotions — e. g., one part of gin to ten of water, should be kept constantly applied on a rag; or ice-cold water may be used.