Domestic medicine ... To which are added, such useful discoveries in medicine and surgery, as have transpired since the demise of the author / [William Buchan].

  • Buchan, William, 1729-1805
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic medicine ... To which are added, such useful discoveries in medicine and surgery, as have transpired since the demise of the author / [William Buchan]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ohliiic her to give it eoarse clothes; but if she does not keep them ciean, it must be her own fault. OF THE FOOD OF CHILDREN. Nature not only points out the food proper for an infant, but actually prepares it. This, however, is not sufficient to prevent some, who think themselves wiser than Nature, from attempting to bring up their children without her provision. Nothing can shew the disposition which mankind have to depart from Nature more than their endeavouring to bring up children without the breast. The mother’s milk, or that of a healthy nurse, is unquestionably the best food for an infant. Neither Art nor Nature can afford a proper substitute for it. Children may seem to thrive for a few months without the breast; but when teething, the small-pox, and other diseases incident to childhood, come on, they generally perish. A child, soon after the birth, shews an inclination to suck; and there is no reason why it should not be gratified. It is true, the mother’s milk does not always come immediately after the birth; but chis is the way to bring It: besides, the first milk that the child can squeeze out of the breast answers the purpose of cleansing better than all the drugs in the apothecary’s shop, and at the same time prevents inflammations of the breasts, fevers, and other diseases inci- dent to mothers. It is strange how people came to think that the first thing given to a child should be drugs. This is beginning with medicine by times, and no wonder if they generally end with it. It sometimes happens, indeed, that a child does not discharge the meconium so soon as could be wished ; this has induced physicians, in such cases, to give something of an opening nature to cleanse the first passages. Mid- wives have improved upon this hint, and never fail to give syrups, oils, &c. whether they be necessary or not. Cramming an infant with such indigestible stuff as soon as it is born, can hardly fail to make it sick, and is more likely to occasion diseases than to prevent them. Children are seldom long after the birth without having pas- sage both by stool and urine ; though these evacuations may be wanting for some time without any danger. But if children must have something before they be allowed the breast, let it be a little thin water pap, to which may be added an equal quantity of new milk ; or rather water alone, with the addition of a little raw sugar. If this be given without any wines or spiceries, it will neither heat the blood, load the stomach, nor occasion gripes. Upon the first sight ofan infant, almost every person is struck with the idea of its being weak, feeble, and wanting support. This na- turally suggests the need of cordials. Accordingly wines are uni- versally mixed with the first food of children. Nothing can be more allacious than this wav of reasoning, or more hurtful to infants than lie conduct founded upon it. Children require very little food for »ome time after the birth, and what they feceivc should be thin, weak, light, and ot a cooling quality. A very small quantity of wine is sufficient to heat and inflame the blood of an infant; but everr