Diseases of infants and children / by Henry Dwight Chapin and Godfrey Roger Pisek.

  • Chapin, Henry Dwight, 1857-1942.
Date:
[1909], ©1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diseases of infants and children / by Henry Dwight Chapin and Godfrey Roger Pisek. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    86/658 (page 58)
    ing the child and pressing over the affected side. Crying just before or after a movement of the bowels, with a twisting of the pelvis, gives evidence of intestinal pain. Where the hand is tightly shut, with the thumbs thrust deeply into the palms, and the toes strongly bent, there is much nervous irritation, which may eventuate in a convulsion. Restless Sleep.—Much may be learned by a careful inspection of an infant during sleep. A well child always sleeps quietly, but, when ill, sleep is fitful and sometimes only possible when the infant is rocked or patted or carried about in the arms. If there is a constant kicking off of the bedclothes, so that the child will not long keep covered even in cold weather, it is a pretty sure indication of rickets. When it is impossible for a child to sleep unless the head and shoulders are raised high upon a pillow, there is usually some disturbance in the ac- tion of the heart or lungs. If a child sleeps with its mouth wide open and the head thrown back, there is enlargement of the tonsils or ade- noid tissue at the vault of the pharynx interfering with natural quiet breathing through the nose. A persistent boring of the back of the head into the pillow points to cerebral irritation. When sleeping with half-open eyes, there is apt to be moderate pain present, and, if there is a constant movement of the lips, the discomfort is located in the gastrointestinal canal. Changes in the Features.—When illness is present, it is quickly shown in the countenance of the infant, which, during health, is in a condition of easy repose. In general, it can be stated that the upper part of the face is involved in diseases of the head, the middle part in affections of the chest, and the lower part in disturbances involving the abdominal organs. Thus in disease of the brain, the forehead and eye- brows will be sharply contracted, and the eyes sensitive to light with various changes in the pupils. Puffiness and swelling about the eye-lids point to dropsy, which is usually caused by diseases of the kidneys following scarlet fever or other infectious process, but occasionally by severe anemia. In pneumonia and pleurisy the nostrils are sharply defined, and dilate and contract with the movements of respiration which will appear more or less labored. The mouth is the feature most affected in abdominal disease, shown by a drawing of the upper lip and other movements indicating pain. State of the Discharges.—A careful examination of all the organs opening upon the surface of the body must be made to detect any abnormal discharges. The ears, eyes, nose, mouth, urinary and rectal regions must thus be carefully inspected. The upright position of the stomach during infancy renders vomit-