It is highly important that a mother should possess such information as will enable her to obtain disease at its first appearance, and thus insure for her child timely medical aid. This knowledge it will not be hard for her to obtain. She has only to bear in mind what are the indications which constitute health, and she will at once see that all deviations from it must denote the presence of disorder, whenever not of actual disease. With these changes she must to a certain extent make herself acquainted.
Signs of health
The signs of health are to be found, first, in the healthy performance of the several functions of the torso; the regular commands developed for its supply, neither in excess or inadequacy; and a similar regularity in its excretions both in quantity and appearance.
When the figure of the healthy infant is observed, something may be learnt from this. There will be perceived such an universal roundness in all parts of the child’s body, that there is no such thing as an angle to be found in the whole figure; whether the limbs are bent or straight, every line shapes a portion of a circle. The limbs will feel firm and solid, and unless they are bent, the joints cannot be described.
The tongue, even in health, is always white, but it will be free from sores, the skin cool, the eye bright, the complexion clear, the head cool, and the abdomen not projecting too far, the breathing regular, and without effort.
When awake, the infant will be cheerful and sprightly, and, revelling to be played with, will often break out into its merry, happy, laugh; whilst, on the other hand, when asleep, it will appear calm, every feature composed, its countenance displaying an expression of happiness, and frequently, perhaps, lit up with a smile.
Just in proportion as the above appearances are present and entire, health may be said to exist; and just in proportion to their partial or total absence disease will have usurped its place.
We will, however, for the sake of clearness examine the signs of disease as they are manifested separately by the countenance, the gestures, in sleep, in the stools, and through the breathing and cough.
Of the breathing and cough
The breathing of a child in health is formed of equal inspirations and expirations, and it breathes quietly, regularly, inaudibly, and without effort. But let inflammation of the air-tubes or lungs take place, and the inspiration will become in a few hours so quickened and hurried, and perhaps audible, that the attention has only to be directed to the circumstance to be at once perceived.
Now all changes which occur in the breathing from its healthy standard, however slight the shades of difference may be, it is most significant should be noticed early. For many of the complaints in the chest, although very formidable in their character, if only seen early by the medical man, may be arrested in their progress; but otherwise, may be beyond the control of art. A parent, therefore, should make herself familiar with the breathing of her child in health, and she will readily mark any change which may arise.
if a child has the indications of a common cold, attended through hoarseness and a rough cough, always look upon it with suspicion, and never neglect seeking a medical opinion. Hoarseness performs not ordinarily attend a common cold in the child, and these evidences may be premonitory of an attack of “croup;” a disease excessively rapid in its progress, and which, from the importance of the parts affected, carrying on, as they do, a aim indispensably essential to life, demands the most prompt and decided treatment.
The following observations of Dr. Cheyne are so strikingly illustrative, and so pertinent to my present purpose, that I cannot refrain inserting them: “In the approach of an attack of croup, which almost always takes place in the evening, believably of a day throughout which the child has been exposed to the weather, and often after catarrhal indications have existed for various days, he may be observed to be excited, in variable spirits, more ready than usual to laugh than to cry, a little flushed, occasionally coughing, the sound of the cough being rough, like that which attends the catarrhal stage of the measles.
More generally, however, the patient has been for some time in bed and asleep, before the nature of the disease with which he is threatened is apparent; then, perhaps, without waking, he gives a very unusual cough, well known to any one who has witnessed an attack of the croup; it rings as when the child had coughed by a brazen trumpet; it is truly a tussis clangosa; it penetrates the walls and floor of the apartment, and startles the experienced mother, ‘Oh! I am afraid our child is taking the croup!’ She runs to the nursery, finds her child sleeping softly, and hopes she may be mistaken.
But remaining to tend him, before long the ringing cough, a single cough, is repeated again and again; the patient is roused, and then a new abscess is remarked; the sound of his voice is changed; puling, and as when the throat were swelled, it corresponds with the cough,” etc.
How significant that a mother should be acquainted with the above signs of one of the most marvellous complaints to which childhood is subject; for, when she only send for medical assistance during its first stage, the treatment will be almost unremittingly successful; whereas, if this “golden opportunity” is lost, this disease will seldom yield to the influence of measures, however wisely chosen or perseveringly employed.
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor
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