Advice to Young Mothers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1823 Excerpt: ... CHAP. III. ERUPTIVE FEVERS. Eruptive fevers are those to which children are most liable; and whenever they are attacked by the symptoms of fever already described, particularly if there be vomiting, accompanied with severe head-ache, stupor or delirium, pains in the back and loins, weakness of the eyes, and soreness of the throat, the approach of an eruptive disease may be suspected: and especially if any epidemic malady of that sort be in the neighbourhood. Means should be taken to relieve the violence of these symptoms; and, for this purpose, the child should be kept quiet in bed, and have such acidulated liquors as may be most agreeable to it: the feet may be bathed or fomented; and bits of linen, dipped in vinegar and water, may be applied to the forehead and temples, changing them frequently. Those who have means of obtaining the advice of a good physician, for a child in this state, would do well to seek for it without delay: and those who have not, should be very cautious not to do too much. An eruptive disease must take its course; and the chief thing necessary is to avoid every thing which may counteract the efforts of nature. In young and delicate children, convulsions are very common, but not dangerous; and all the symptoms preceding these sort of maladies are sometimes very severe, without being followed by any alarming consequences. I have more than once seen violent fever, accompanied with head-ache, stupefaction, delirium, and total loss of strength, vanish on the appearance of twenty or thirty pimples, dispersed over the surface of the body. Nothing should be done to disturb or to vex a child attacked by a fever; as fatigue of body or uneasiness of mind may change a slight into a dangerous malady. The child should be treated with the greates...