Page 232 - My FlipBook
P. 232
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the same as we make fillings in adults' teeth. The tissues of
the teeth are hard enough, they are strong enough. The
differences we must make in operating do not lie in the tis-
sues of the teeth, but are differences due to childhood. We
are handling children that are not developed immature per-
;
sons, whose nervous systems, whose power of resistance, or
of self-control, is not yet developed, and we have all of the
difficulties that belong to this period of life. I have spoken
of these things so frequently in my lectures that it is not
necessary for me to go into it at any length now. But there
is this that I want to say—never break down the courage of a
child by any operation ; never break down the nervous system
of a child ; never give a child a nervous shock that it will
recover from tardily ; better delay an operation, better do
almost anything than to do this. It is true that in some cases
of extracting we must perform the operation, cost what it
will; we must relieve the patient of suffering; but children
bear a shock of this kind quite well. If the operation is per-
formed, is over in a few moments and done with, giving the
child the opportunity to recover at once, they usually do re-
cover without difficulty. It is tedious, prolonged operations,
those that come day after day, that break down a child's nerv-
ous system and that utterly destroy the child's courage. The
child forgets a severe hurt quickly, but the nervous shock
that comes from continuous and repeated operations is that
which breaks down the child most. And there is another
thought here that it is well for everyone to remember to suc-
ceed zvith a child is of the utmost importance ^ if you wish to retain
the control of the child. To fail of success is to make an
enemy of that child. Children do not forget these things
readily; they grow up with an impression of hatred toward
this or that operator who has undertaken to do operations
for them and has failed ; they grow up an enemy. Where, on
the other hand, if you succeed and gain the confidence of the
child, it will grow up your friend and will make other friends
for you in after practice. These are very important consider-
ations in the handling of children.
In the handling of children the psychic influences are of
importance. I do not know that we can teach these things
at all. Some persons control children easily ; children take
to them, while they seem to shun others ; particularly when
220
the same as we make fillings in adults' teeth. The tissues of
the teeth are hard enough, they are strong enough. The
differences we must make in operating do not lie in the tis-
sues of the teeth, but are differences due to childhood. We
are handling children that are not developed immature per-
;
sons, whose nervous systems, whose power of resistance, or
of self-control, is not yet developed, and we have all of the
difficulties that belong to this period of life. I have spoken
of these things so frequently in my lectures that it is not
necessary for me to go into it at any length now. But there
is this that I want to say—never break down the courage of a
child by any operation ; never break down the nervous system
of a child ; never give a child a nervous shock that it will
recover from tardily ; better delay an operation, better do
almost anything than to do this. It is true that in some cases
of extracting we must perform the operation, cost what it
will; we must relieve the patient of suffering; but children
bear a shock of this kind quite well. If the operation is per-
formed, is over in a few moments and done with, giving the
child the opportunity to recover at once, they usually do re-
cover without difficulty. It is tedious, prolonged operations,
those that come day after day, that break down a child's nerv-
ous system and that utterly destroy the child's courage. The
child forgets a severe hurt quickly, but the nervous shock
that comes from continuous and repeated operations is that
which breaks down the child most. And there is another
thought here that it is well for everyone to remember to suc-
ceed zvith a child is of the utmost importance ^ if you wish to retain
the control of the child. To fail of success is to make an
enemy of that child. Children do not forget these things
readily; they grow up with an impression of hatred toward
this or that operator who has undertaken to do operations
for them and has failed ; they grow up an enemy. Where, on
the other hand, if you succeed and gain the confidence of the
child, it will grow up your friend and will make other friends
for you in after practice. These are very important consider-
ations in the handling of children.
In the handling of children the psychic influences are of
importance. I do not know that we can teach these things
at all. Some persons control children easily ; children take
to them, while they seem to shun others ; particularly when
220
