THEvery tenderNatureand infirmConstitutionofChildren, subject them to many various and grievousSymptoms, besides those to which they are expos’d by a vast variety ofProcatarctick Causes. But as I am not in this place to enter upon theDetailof these particularSymptoms, neither shall I enumerate their respectiveCauses: Which however is the less requisite, considering theRegimenandNursementof theChildalready prescribed in the foregoingChapters; since theleast step, degenerating from what is there inculcated, may prove an effectualmediate Cause; for all that indeed, according to the most Learned and Excellent Dr.Harris, the onlyimmediate Causeof allChildren’sDiseasesis, anActiveandprevailingAcid[192].
THISDoctrine, in as much as theConstitutionofInfantsis undeniably mostHumid, appears also evident fromHippocrates’s his own Words, saying,the Rise of all Diseases is one and the same, the Place only makes the Difference[193]. Hence we may justly conclude,First,That, however theSymptomsmay differ indegree, theDiseasesof theInfant-Stateare but veryfew:Secondly, That theCureoftheseis far more Safe and Easy, thanthoseof fullgrown Persons:Thirdly, That theYoungertheSickChildis, the more easy still is theCure: Because its tender Body, abounding withNaturalandacquired Moisture, is soft and flexile, and consequently apt to receive anyAlteration: AndFourthly, I observe that theInfanteasily falls intoSickness, or may be suddenly taken Ill, and as readily restored toHealth, if but carefully and ingenuouslytreated: Because anyImpressionwhatsoever, good or bad, is sooner received by aSoft, than by aHard Body; tho’, I confess, the same is moreLasting, if once strongly impressed upon theHard adult Constitution.
NOWas to theDiagnosticksofChildren’sDiseases, These depend chiefly upon theRelationof theNurses; since allSentimentstaken from their unrulyPulses, or their (naturally) thickUrines, prove mostUncertain. However, as theStomachis always affected with anAcid Distemper, (whatever the reigningDiseasemay be, or howsoever it may be intitled by ingeniousAuthors) so it most commonly producesFastidyorLoathingofVictuals,Vomitingof a thickGelly, or a viscid and coagulatedPhlegm, sourBelchings, andExcrementsof a sourishSmell, and a greenishColour, especially in the Beginning. As afterwards——
IFtheDistempercontinues, thePatientturns graduallyPale, and its discolouredFaceis tinged a littleGreenorYellowish; TheBellyswells withWind, which breaks frequentlyupwards; one or more redPustules(a certain sign ofAcidity) commonly rise in theFace, or upon some otherupper Partof the Body; and theInfantgrowing daily worse,breathes high, andsmells sourorAcid.
Again, As to thePrognosticksof theseDistempers, of what kind soever they be, which afflict theInfant; I cannot in short, but readily agree with the most IngeniousDoctorbefore-mentioned, who plainly tells us, thatThesedepend chiefly upon the Method ofCure, and theConductof theNurse; Wherefore I proceed to theCure.
ASto this point then of theCureofChildren’sDiseases, I shallFirstobserve that, howmanysoever theseDistempersare accounted, according to theRegistersofPolite Authors, by what Name soever they are denominated, and how learnedly soever defin’d, as they all proceed from one immediateefficient Cause, (which has been already hinted at) so theCureof them all is the same, and depends, in like manner, uponOne only regular Method.
SECONDLY, I observe that as thisCauseis nothing else than anAcid Humour, abounding in theStomach, and coagulating theimbib’d Nourishmentof theInfant, (as is evident from all the givenDiagnosticks) so the properMethod of Cure, depends entirely upon obtunding thatAcidity, dissolving thoseCoagulations, and eliminating thepeccant Matter. But more particularly,
HAVINGalways a great and due regard to thenatural Debility, andtender Constitutionof theYoungPatient, theAcidought first to be prepared by prudent means, and then to be carried off by properMedicines. I saypreparedby prudent Means, becausethisis no indifferent Matter; For if we should take the same Method with these tenderCreaturesin thisCase, that we do with moreadult Personswe would certainlymiscarryin our Attempts; or if we should attempt this Preparation, byAlexipharmacks,Cordials, (improperly so call’d)Causticks, orSudorificks; these Things being most prejudicial to the Nature ofyoungOnes, would rather promote theCrudity, than theConcoctionof theHumours.
THEREFOREthe ingenious Doctrine of the Excellent DoctorHarris, must certainly take place here, namely[194],thatthe most temperate Things most securely absorb the prevailing Acidity, and that themore Simple and Gentle the Remedies are, the more Safe and Certain the Cure is.
HENCEthe simpleTestaceous Medicinesmentioned by him, are not to be paralleled in the presentCase; since they effectually mitigate allEbullitions, and gradually become the most safe and powerfulAnodines: Insomuch, that they, in a word, as certainly asswage all thePains,Gripes,Disquiets,Watchings, &c. ofChildren; asNarcoticks, orOpiats, do allay those of older People.
THEBody being then alter’d by these means, and theHumoursduly prepared, they are to be forthwith ejected, or timely purged off, even from theyoungestInfants, as well as from those of riper Years: TheDosesandQuantitiesof all sorts, being discreetly adapted to theAgeandStrengthof theChild, under whatFormsoever they may be given.
UPONthis Head, I might indeed pretend to expatiate, but because, whateverI, or anyother ingenuous Person, understanding the Matter in Hand, may attempt to offer, will only terminate in, and be consentaneous to, what my last quotedAuthorhas plainly laid down, and concisely comprehended in a fewemphatick Words; I shall here also, for Brevity’s-sake, set Bounds to myProgress. And thus, in short, having at large, and in every particular Respect, faithfully discharged myDuty, both asPhysicianandMidwife, to theChildas well as to theMother; I now take leave of both theoneand theother, and in the next place, come briefly to touch upon theReverse Cases.