Page 54 - My FlipBook

34 Teething.
of the irritation of the gums. Next the uneasiness of the gums
is found to be relieved by the pressure of any substance upon
them, which obtunds their sensibility. Hence the child is fond
of having its gums rubbed with the finger. If the irritation
becomes very considerable, the gums swell, the child grows
more fretful, and starts in its sleep ; or, on awaking suddenly,
there is heat, thirst and other concomitant symptoms of fever,
with perhaps dullness and drowsiness; looseness of the bowels
is a usual symptom, and a rash appears on the skin ; and if the
irritation extends to the muscles of the chest, there is a dry and
troublesome cough. In about ten days or a fortnight, these
symptoms subside ; and though the infant may be occasionally
teased, with slight paroxysms of uneasiness, it generally pas-
ses off, without much inconvenience till the period of the second
stage or cutting of the teeth.
" At this time, the gum is often extremely sensible, and instead
of being easied by the pressure of any hard substance, cannot
endure the slightest touch. At the base, it is florid and dis-
tended, but paler at the edge or upper part, and when the
tooth is on the point of protrusion, seems covered with a flat
and whitish blister. The other symptoms are a repetition of
those just described, with a scabby eruption about the lips or
head, and sympathetic inflammation behind the ears; in bad
cases, there are occasionally spasmodic movements of the
mouth and jaws, convulsions and epilepsy.
" The grand point here is to moderate the local irritation :
a diarrhoea or a full discharge of saliva does this naturally, and
hence these are favorable symptoms: and if the former be too
violent, or accompanied with griping, it should be merely cor-
rected by magnesia or prepared chalk. If the bowels be con-
fined we must employ cooling laxatives; and the discharge of
a small quantity of blood by lancing the gum freely, will often
afford effectual relief. [The lancing of the gum is not the only
cause of relief in this case, the membrane which has secreted
the enamel often becomes dense and tendonous, and the gum
swollen and irritated and both put upon the stretch, by the pro-