Pediatrics : the hygienic and medical treatment of children / by Thomas Morgan Rotch.

  • Rotch, T. M. (Thomas Morgan), 1849-1914.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pediatrics : the hygienic and medical treatment of children / by Thomas Morgan Rotch. 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.

    63/1220 (page 51)
    Where flat foot really exists, the internal border of the impression shows an undulating appearance, and there is evidence of equal pressure over the whole of the tracing, as seen in the tracing taken from the foot of this infant also four days old. (Case 6.) It is interesting and instructive to compare the different appearances which are presented in Fig. 13, showing the well-developed arch, and those in Fig. 14, representing the true flat foot. You should also examine carefully these babies' feet which have pro- duced these appearances. BONE MARROW.—At birth, and in the early months of life, the marrow of the bones is red, as you see in a section of this bone taken from an infant seven months old. (Plate II., facing page 107.) You will notice that the red color caused by the numerous injected blood- vessels is more intense at the central portion of the section of this bone than at the periphery or towards the ends. I merely show it to you as a normal and characteristic condition of early life, and one which may appear again at a later period in certain diseased conditions. FUNCTIONS.—It is important for you to have a general idea of which of the functions are absent, partially developed, or developed at birth. The endeavor to call into use an undeveloped function, to tax a partly- developed function, or to overtax a developed one, is productive of great harm, and it has in my experience been the source of many conditions which, looked upon as diseases, are in reality but proofs that our anatomical and physiological knowledge has been deficient. Voice.—The normal infant at birth should present a developed voice, and should cry vigorously, thus assisting the lungs to expand and the new circulatory mechanism to be well started. Sight.—Although the eye is, as I have already stated, anatomically de- veloped and is sensitive to light, and although the visual perception is also possibly developed, yet there is still a lack of power to interpret the images perceived. Hearing.—The auditory sensations appear to be rather dull during the first few days of life. This is possibly due to the absence of air from the tympanum and a tumid condition of the tympanic mucous membrane. Touch.—The sense of touch is well developed. Taste.—The sense of taste is well developed. Smell.—The sense of smell is probably well developed; but this is still a matter of dispute. Sebaceous Glands.—The function of the sebaceous glands is fully de- veloped at birth, as I have already described to you (page 23, Case 1). Lachrymal Glands.—The secretion of the lachrymal glands is not developed at birth. The new-born infant does not shed tears, a fact of some clinical consequence in connection with the prognosis as to the convalescence of disease in the early days of life. Sweat-Glands.—The function of the sweat-glands is not developed at