THE
MOTHER'S MANUAL
OF
CHILDREN'S DISEASES.

BY
CHARLES WEST, M.D.

FELLOW, AND LATE SENIOR CENSOR, OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS: FOUNDER OF, AND FORMERLY PHYSICIAN TO, THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN: FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE OF PARIS: ETC.

AUTHOR OF 'LECTURES ON THE DISEASES OF INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.'

NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
1885.

ADVERTISEMENT.

I have often asked myself whether it would not be possible to give in a small compass, and avoiding all technical detail, such an account of the diseases of infancy and childhood, as might be of use and comfort to the intelligent mother.

Returning now, with health perfectly restored, to practise my profession for the rest of my life exclusively in my own country, I have brought with me this little book, in which the comparative leisure of my enforced sojourn at Nice has enabled me to realise my purpose.

The book is not intended as a handbook for the nursery; many such exist, and many of them are of great merit. Neither has it the worse than idle pretence of telling people how to treat their children's illnesses, without the help of a doctor. Its object is to give a description of the diseases of early life, such as may help a mother to understand something of their nature and symptoms, to save her from needless anxiety as to their issue, and to enable her wisely to second the doctor in his endeavours for their cure.

CHARLES WEST.
55 Harley Street, Cavendish Square.
August 1, 1885.

CONTENTS.

•  PAGE

• ADVERTISEMENT v
  
• PART I.

  Introductory 1

• CHAPTER I. 1

  Mortality of children and its causes—Causes fourfold: Intermarriage—Hereditary taint—Unhealthy dwellings—Unwholesome food

• CHAPTER II. 5

  General signs of disease—Shown by the cry, the temperature, the pulse and breathing—Rules for examination as to these points—Signs of absence of disease of the brain

• CHAPTER III. 12

  General management of disease—Mothers who cannot nurse their children when ill—Importance of truth and keeping child happy—Rules for management of bed-room and bed—The bath—Poultices—Leeches—Cold applications—Medicines—Note-taking and relation to the doctor

• PART II.

  Plan proposed to be followed 31

• CHAPTER IV. 32

  On the disorders and diseases of children during the first month after birth—Still-birth—Premature birth—Imperfect expansion of lungs—Jaundice—Ophthalmia—Scalp-swellings—Ruptured navel

• CHAPTER V. 45

  Disorders and diseases of children after the first month, and until teething is finished—Infantile atrophy—Rules for artificial feeding—Management of indigestion—Thrush—Teething—Affections of the skin—Eczema

• PART III.

  Disorders and Diseases incident to all Periods of Childhood 85

  General Characteristics of Second Period of Childhood 85

• CHAPTER VI. 88

  Disorders and diseases of the brain and nervous system—Their mortality and its causes—Convulsions—Congestion of the brain—Sunstroke—Water on the brain—Inflammation from disease of the ear—Chronic water on brain—Brain disorder from exhaustion—Spasmodic croup—Epilepsy—St. Vitus's Dance—Palsy—Neuralgia and headache—Night terrors

• CHAPTER VII. 128

  Disorders and diseases of the chest—Catarrh and snuffles—Bronchitis and pneumonia—Influenza—Pleurisy—Croup—Diphtheria—Hooping-cough—Asthma—Diseases of the heart

• CHAPTER VIII.