servance of a particular diet. Where the infant is endued with a lively susceptible system, and the sanguineous temperament is strongly marked, this should be sparing, even approaching to abstinence, and should consist less of animal, and more abundantly of vegetable food, than where the constitution is of a cold phlegmatic disposition, and where a scrofulous tendency prevails. This remark is of still greater importance, when the predisposition has been already developed, and inflammatory maladies on the one hand, or glandular enlargements, rickets, or other symptoms of scrofula have shewn themselves.

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CHAP. VI.

ON DENTITION-MODE OF FACILITATING THAT PROCESS PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO BE OBSERVED.

AFTER considering the several varieties of food, with which the infant is to be supplied, it is necessary to make a few remarks on the organs provided by nature, for the mastication of that food, viz. the teeth. About the seventh or eighth month, the middle teeth of the lower jaw are generally first cut: these are followed, in three weeks or a month, by the corresponding ones of the upper jaw: then the two lateral teeth, both below and above; and so on in succession, until the first or temporary set is completed, about the end of the second year. This process however sometimes commences a little earlier, and is occasionally protracted a little later.

It is not now our design to enter upon the disorders incident to teething; we have only to consider the best mode of facilitating the completion of that function, and of preventing any of its attendant maladies. The teeth are immediately invested by a little fibrous membrane; and it is usually before their escape from this covering, not

when they are simply hidden by the gums, that the most violent constitutional symptoms are produced. The remedy for this source of irritation, does not consist in lancing the gums, but in liberating the tooth: the former operation will afford no relief, except that which is dependent upon the loss of blood from the neighbourhood of an inflamed part: the latter will sometimes instantaneously mitigate the symptoms. But then it will not be sufficient that the gums be scratched, or that the lancet be passed down to the tooth; it must also completely divide the investing membrane. If only a few fibres of that structure remain entire, they will prevent the escape of the tooth itself, and the morbid state will not be relieved; but if every fibre be freely separated, the symptoms depending upon this cause of irritation will vanish as if by enchantment.

Where the plain and simple fare before described, has been regularly observed, it will be found that the work of dentition usually proceeds without difficulty, requiring only attention to keep the head cool, and the bowels open by the simplest remedies. But under other circumstances, or in some highly susceptible children, the local irritation will excite considerable febrile reaction; but particularly, will manifest its effect upon the nervous system, producing convulsions, disturbed sleep, frightful dreams, and a variety of other consequent morbid actions. These symptoms are caused by the pressure of the teeth upon

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the irritable fibrous structure which invests them: remove the cause, and the effect will cease. not then prejudice operate the prevention of this salutary remedy: let it not interfere with the completeness of the curative plan, for upon this will entirely depend its success.

Parents are not to expect the immediate appearance of the teeth, although they may have been set at liberty. It has been stated, that the period of greatest irritation is long before they are ready to ulcerate the gum, and therefore it may be long before they make their appearance; but the morbid effects will be removed. One caution is here necessary: it is not every disorder of infancy which is dependent upon the irritation of teething; other sources of local mischief may exist in some one organ or function of the body: and although about the known period, when different teeth must be preparing for their exit from their imprisoned state, no harm will ever result from dividing their investing coverings; yet much evil may arise from carelessly concluding that this is the source of irritation, and assuming it as the sole cause, without sufficiently considering whether there may not exist in the system some other disordered action, which may perchance form the first link in the chain of morbid sympathies.

When no surgical treatment is required, and only a slight degree of pain, and local heat and fulness are present, the little creature will derive

much comfort from having the gums frequently rubbed with the finger; and it may be permitted to masticate any tough but not very hard substance, since the latter might occasion pain from pressure with it upon an inflamed surface. When the gums are highly irritable, and much swollen, the application of a leech to them would be useful; and when this cannot be accomplished, two or more leeches may be applied behind the ears: but in general, the liberation of the tooth will produce that calm of the system, which will be the harbinger of returning health..

There are some persons, who object that we ought not to interfere with nature's processes; as if an infant placed in civilized society could ever be considered as in a state of nature! as if these very objectors themselves were not a mass of sophistications; and as if nature did not sometimes fail in her wise intentions, requiring the assistance of her powers where they are inadequate, and the repression of her well-meant actions where they are inordinate.

During the work of dentition, it is always of importance to keep the head moderately cool, and to observe a greater abstemiousness of diet, often abstracting animal food entirely. When a disordered state of the bowels exists as a complication of this process, it should not be checked, but rather encouraged by the exhibition of small doses of magnesia. Under these circumstances, a flannel bandage applied over the whole abdo