Detection of Disease in the Child: Signs of Health

It is highly important that a mother should possess such information as will enable her to detect disease at its first appearance,and thus insure for her child timely medical assistance. This knowledge it will not be difficult for her to obtain. She has only to bear in mind what are the indications which constitute health,and she will at once see that all deviations from it must denote the presence of disorder,if not of actual disease. With these changes she must to a certain extent make herself acquainted.

Signs of health
The signs of health are to be found,first,in the healthy performance of the various functions of the body;the regular demands made for its supply,neither in excess or deficiency;and a similar regularity in its excretions both in quantity and appearance.

If the figure of the healthy infant is observed,something may be learnt from this. There will be perceived such an universal roundness in all parts of the child’s body,that there is no such thing as an angle to be found in the whole figure;whether the limbs are bent or straight,every line forms a portion of a circle. The limbs will feel firm and solid,and unless they are bent,the joints cannot be discovered.

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Detection of Disease in the Child: Of the Gestures

The gestures of a healthy child are all easy and natural;  but in sickness those deviations occur,  which alone will often denote the nature of the disease.

Suppose an infant to have acquired the power to support itself,  to hold its head erect;let sickness come,  its head will droop immediately,and this power will be lost,  only to be regained with the return of health;  and during the interval every posture and movement will be that of languor.

The little one that has just taught itself to run alone from chair to chair,  having two or three teeth pressing upon and irritating the gums,  will for a time be completely taken off its feet,  and perhaps lie languidly in its cot,  or on its nurse’s arm.

The legs being drawn up to the belly,  and accompanied by crying,  are proofs of disorder and pain in the bowels. Press upon this part,  and your pressure will increase the pain. Look to the secretions from the bowels themselves,  and by their unhealthy character your suspicions,  in reference to the seat of the disorder,  are at once confirmed.

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Detection of Disease in the Child: Of the countenance

In health the countenance of a child is expressive of serenity in mind and body;  but if the child be unwell,this expression will be changed,and in a manner which,to a certain extent,will indicate what part of the system is at fault.

The brows will be contracted,  if there is pain,  and its seat is in the head. This is frequently the very first outward sign of any thing being wrong,and will occur at the very onset of disease;  if therefore remarked at an early period,  and proper remedies used,  its notice may prevent one of the most fearful of infantile complaints “Water in the Head.”

If this sign is passed by unheeded,  and the above disease be threatened,  soon the eyes will become fixed and staring,  the head hot,  and moved uneasily from side to side upon the pillow,  or lie heavily upon the nurse’s arm,  the child will start in its sleep,  grinding its teeth,and awake alarmed and screaming,  its face will be flushed,  particularly the cheeks (as if rouged),  its hands hot,  but feet cold,  its bowels obstinately costive,  or its motions scanty,  dark-coloured,and foul.

If the lips are drawn apart,  so as to show the teeth or gums,  the seat of the pain is in the belly.  This sign,  however,  will only be present during the actual existence of suffering;  if,  therefore,  there be any doubt whether it exist,press upon the stomach,  and watch the effect on the expression of the countenance.

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