NIGHT TERRORS.
This condition occurs in children and resembles the nightmare of adults, with this essential difference, that in night terrors the neurotic child sees some whilst the nightmare is the result of a vivid dream. The exciting causes should always be sought for. Sometimes they are associated with delayed dentition, worms, adenoids, constipation and indigestion. but alien in neurotic children an exciting factor cannot he found. The moral surroundings of children so affected should be closely studied. The ghost and witch stories and appalling tales of the nursery, often combined with threats of boding evil and future punishment, should be discountenanced. Overwork at school and cramming must be strictly forbidden.
Neurotic children who dread the darkness are sometimes injured for life by being shut up in dark rooms as a punishment for some trivial offence. A night-light in the bedroom often acts like magic in preventing attacks, especially in those cases caused by punishment in the dark lock-up.
The removal of adenoids is often followed by a complete disappearance of the affection.
Obstinate constipation and dyspepsia should be met by a powder after each meal containing a few grains of Bicarbonate of Soda and a small dose of powdered Rhubarb, with gr. Papain.
As in the prevention of nightmare, supper should be prohibited; the last meal a few hours before bed-time should consist of some easily digested food of a liquid or semi-liquid nature.
Drugs are of value, especially in the so-called idiopathic cases where an exciting cause cannot be found; they are useful in all cases after the removal of such causes in order to prevent future attacks.
Bromides of Potassium, Sodium and Ammonium afford the best means of accomplishing this. One good dose, according to the age of the child, may be given at bed-time. Sulphonal or Chloral may be also given. The latter drug is, however, not so suitable, as patients often dream un pleasantly under its influence. For this reason Opium is also unsuitable. Paraldehyde is very efficacious, and Claus claims that Trional is curative. Generally it will be found only necessary to administer these drugs for one or two weeks at a time. The attacks tend to disappear naturally about the tenth or twelfth year.
During the attack, little can be done save by lighting up the room and soothing the patient's excitement and calming his fears by assuring him of his present safety, though often this will be of little use, as there appear to he delusions and hallucinations which cannot be dissipated until sleep occurs. Punishment, cold douches, or any treatment which could possibly add to the little patient's distress is to be strongly condemned.
The following mixture may be administered at bed-time every night to a child of two years old: It. Sodil Broinidi 3ij.
Chloral hydral. gr. xx.
Phenazoni gr. xx.
Syrupi Sim/ilicis j.
Aunce Afenthce Pip. ad ij. Alisce.
Sum al cochlearium minimum omni node hora somni.