thirty- two in number. The first to come
through the gums are the first molar or jaw
teeth. Next, at about seven years of age,
the middle incisors ; then the lateral incis-
ors, at or near the end of the eighth year.
After these, the first pre-molars (bicuspids)
or lesser jaw" teeth ; and in the ninth year,
the second pre-molars. Between eleven and
twelve 3^ears, the permanent canines, two
above and two below. From twelve to thir-
teen or fourteen 3^ears, the second molars ;
and from seventeen to twenty-one years, the
last molars, or icisdoni teeth. These last are
often imperfect from the start.
Dentition is a process oi growth. A great
deal of blood is needed in the tissues of the
jaws for this purpose. Moreover, for the
teeth to "come out," the gums must give
way, by absorption. Should this be slow,
a tensio7i of the gum may occur ; and ,
through the nerves, the whole system may
be brought into S3^mpathetic excitement. As
the nervous apparatus is much more irrita-
ble, more easily disturbed, in babyhood than
in adult life — we often have, from this cause,
worrying ; fretfulness ; sometimes fits, or
co7iv2tlsions . A child w^hich was " always
good" before, now may cry a great deal,
losing its reputation for goodness altogether.
Why Babies Cry.
A word here about babies' crying. A
healthy child, not teething, if well taken care
of., ivill ve7'y seldom cry. If it becomes very
hungry, and is not nourished, or is cold, or
too warm, or is left with garments soiled
and wet, of course it cries. And, the habit
once formed, cry it will, though the whole
household and neighborhood regard it as a
" crying evil."
Several sorts of crying may be observed,
which it is desirable to understand. First
there is the cry of surprise, on the child
being first ushered into the world. That is
all right and natural.
Next, comes the calling cry, of hunger,
thirst, or other want. Sharper and shriller,
sometimes a violent scream, is the cry of
pain ; as of colic or earache ; or of fright, as
when a babe rolls out of its bed or crib upon
the floor. Much like the cry of simple
want, but habitually harsher in manner, is
that of demand or com??ia?id , of a child
already spoiled ; finding that whatever it cries
for it icill get. An aggravation only of this,
is the (sometimes fairly impish) roar and
succession of screams, of tem/ycrand passion
Disease has various cries ; according to its
character. Sometimes it is only a faint
moan, attending nearly every breath. Otiier
times it is hoarse, as in croup ; along with a
short, barking congh. Or it may be the
wild scream of inflammation of the brain.
What Teething Is.
Teething is not a disease, a morbid pro-
cess, at all. But it is an important change,
which for the time renders the child more
than before or after liable to disorders,
under any disturbing causes ; and the pro-
cess of penetration of the gums by the young
teeth may sometimes itself be imperfectly
accomplished. The most common and least
alarming effect of the ' ' sympathetic irrita-
tion " of teething is diarilicea. This seems
often to give a safe vent and relief to the
disturbance of the system. Three or four,
or even five passages from the bowels daily,
at such times, are not objectionable ; are
much better than constipation. Convulsions
are frightful to behold, and attended by
danger.
Page 237
Presented as published in 1901. 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
thirty- two in number. The first to come through the gums are the first molar or jaw teeth. Next, at about seven years of age, the middle incisors ; then the lateral incisors, at or near the end of the eighth year. After these, the first pre-molars (bicuspids) or lesser jaw teeth ; and in the ninth year, the second pre-molars. Between eleven and twelve years, the permanent canines, two above and two below. From twelve to thirteen or fourteen 3^ears, the second molars ; and from seventeen to twenty-one years, the last molars, or wisdom teeth. These last are often imperfect from the start.
Dentition is a process oi growth. A great deal of blood is needed in the tissues of the jaws for this purpose. Moreover, for the teeth to "come out," the gums must give way, by absorption. Should this be slow, a tensio7i of the gum may occur ; and , through the nerves, the whole system may be brought into sympathetic excitement. As the nervous apparatus is much more irritable, more easily disturbed, in babyhood than in adult life — we often have, from this cause, worrying ; fretfulness ; sometimes fits, or convulsions . A child which was " always good" before, now may cry a great deal, losing its reputation for goodness altogether.
Why Babies Cry.
A word here about babies' crying. A healthy child, not teething, if well taken care of., will very seldom cry. If it becomes very hungry, and is not nourished, or is cold, or too warm, or is left with garments soiled and wet, of course it cries. And, the habit once formed, cry it will, though the whole household and neighborhood regard it as a " crying evil."
Several sorts of crying may be observed, which it is desirable to understand. First there is the cry of surprise, on the child being first ushered into the world. That is all right and natural.
Next, comes the calling cry, of hunger, thirst, or other want. Sharper and shriller, sometimes a violent scream, is the cry of pain ; as of colic or earache ; or of fright, as when a babe rolls out of its bed or crib upon the floor. Much like the cry of simple want, but habitually harsher in manner, is that of demand or command , of a child
already spoiled ; finding that whatever it cries for it icill get. An aggravation only of this, is the (sometimes fairly impish) roar and succession of screams, of temper and passion Disease has various cries ; according to its character. Sometimes it is only a faint moan, attending nearly every breath. Otiier times it is hoarse, as in croup ; along with a short, barking congh. Or it may be the wild scream of inflammation of the brain.
What Teething Is.
Teething is not a disease, a morbid process, at all. But it is an important change, which for the time renders the child more than before or after liable to disorders, under any disturbing causes ; and the process of penetration of the gums by the young teeth may sometimes itself be imperfectly accomplished. The most common and least alarming effect of the ' ' sympathetic irritation " of teething is diarrhea. This seems often to give a safe vent and relief to the disturbance of the system. Three or four, or even five passages from the bowels daily, at such times, are not objectionable ; are much better than constipation. Convulsions are frightful to behold, and attended by danger.