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gentle diarrhoea comes on, it may be encouraged by giving
the child a few grains of rhubarb or magnesia, and if exces-
sive, opiates may be given.
Blisters behind the ears are often useful, or upon the nape
of the neck.
Leeches may be applied behind the jaw, or at the chin,
or upon the temples, or on the cheeks.
The child may be allowed some soft substance, as a piece
of bread, &c. to put in the mouth and its fingers, but hard
gum-sticks it should not be allowed.
Washing the gums with a little laudanum and rose-water
will be often found useful.
A copious flow of saliva at times relieves the child.
The child should be dressed warm, and kept as quiet as
possible. If convulsions ensue, opiates, the warm bath, &c.
are of essential service, and should never be omitted.
If there is great heat about the jaws, ether and laudanum,
about equal parts, may be rubbed over them externally with
great advantage.
But the remedy upon which we are principally to rely is
the dividing the gums over the new tooth, so as to allow it
to pass out.
This operation is often unsuccessful from not being effect-
ually performed ; but if properly done, it seldom fails to re-
lieve the child. The lancet should be carried deep upon the
tooth, so as to completely divide the gum over it, and if it is
a double tooth, two incisions should be made in the form of
a cross, so as to allow the large tooth to pass out, or entirely
remove a piece of the gum. The bleeding which follows
cutting the gums is of great service in relieving the irritation
occasioned by the young tooth.
If properly performed this operation is perfectly safe, but
if the surgeon does not ascertain the identical tooth whieh
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