The condition known as " thrush " is an infectious disease in which the mucous membranes of the tongue, cheeks, palate, and gums show firmly attached, flat, white spots. These spots eventually spread ; and, by becoming transmitted to the pharynx and gullet, and obstructing the same, they may cause the death of the infant. Thrush always causes inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth, which becomes very sensitive, rendering sucking painful. In this way the nourishing of the infant is often rendered difficult. Insufficient cleansing of the mouth is very liable to permit the development of the affection. The mouth should be carefully washed once or twice a day (if possible, in the evening) with a pledget of absorbent cotton, which is wrapped around the finger. If the thrush spots be few, they may be removed in this manner ; but if they be numerous a physician had best be consulted. Under no circumstances should they be left untreated, on the erroneous assumption that they are harmless. Cloths dipped in sugared water or in honey should never be used for rubbing the tongue and gums of infants affected with thrush, as the use of sweets merely furthers the development and spread of the disease.
The nails of fingers and toes should be cut at regular intervals with curved nail-scissors. A nail-brush, which must not be too stiff, should be used to remove the dirt accumulating under the nails, as this dirt often con tains the most dangerous generators of disease. The nail-brush should be frequently boiled. Many people harbour the foolish belief that the nails of little children should not be cut, but bitten off with the teeth, as otherwise the children " may develop into thieves." This belief, needless to say, is absolutely nonsensical.
During the first few weeks of life the hair seen on the baby's head at birth usually falls out, a new growth gradually taking its place. The new hair is generally light in colour, but becomes darker by degrees. The hair should be brushed daily with a soft camel's-hair brush.
The baby's crying may be said to be its only means of exercising its lungs and of stimulating the blood-circulation ; and a certain amount of this exercise is, therefore, conducive to health. An observant mother will soon know how to distinguish between the healthy cry, which is loud and strong, and the cry indicative of pain or discomfort, which is generally sharp, spasmodic, whining, moaning, or weak, according to the degree of its trouble. When the baby cries one should always endeavour to determine the cause. It may be that it is hungry, but unless the regular interval has elapsed since its last meal it is wiser not to feed it until the proper time comes. Very frequently the opposite reason prevails—namely, that the baby cries from being overfed. Constipation, flatulence, colic, irritation of sore spots by
urine or faeces, and various other factors may be causes of the crying.
When the baby cries without any apparent cause, it is sometimes wisest to let it keep on crying, especially if temper be at the back of it. The cry of temper is strong and enduring, and is accompanied by violent kicking. When the baby gets what it is crying for it stops immediately. A prudent mother will not give in to this cry, or she will regret it later. Training cannot begin too early. Babies who cry much and often had better be examined by a physician, as it is possible that affections of the foreskin, umbilical rupture, indigestion, or other affections may be the cause, in which case prompt treatment is necessary.
Teething (dentition) usually begins during the latter half of the first year of life ; in rare cases before the sixth month. The first dentition, so-called milk-dentition, consists of 20 teeth : 2 incisors, i canine, r bicuspid, and milk-molar in each half of each jaw. In the healthy child these teeth appear with a certain regularity, and usually in pairs. Babies suffering from rickets generally get their teeth singly. The usual order of eruption of teeth is as follows : (1) two lower middle incisors ; (2) four upper incisors ; (3) two lower lateral incisors ; (4) four biscuspids ; (5) four canines ; and (6) four milk-molars. The last teeth (the molars) usually appear between the twentieth and thirtieth months.
It is natural that a variety of affections may set in during the period of teething, and in many cases such disorders are erroneously ascribed to dentition. This belief often occasions delay in calling medical assistance, in consequence of which delay the lives of many infants are lost. Diarrhcea is not a " beneficial complication " in teething, as is frequently maintained by old gossips ; and equally absurd is the idea that shortness of breath, laryn geal catarrh, or bronchitis is due to the fact that the baby " cuts its teeth over its little chest." It is true that there are babies who become restless upon cutting the teeth, and who cry and refuse food ; but these cases are generally rare, and the disquieting symptoms readily disappear. The rest lessness and feverishness often ascribed to teething are very often due to faulty feeding. If the baby's gums swell and become hard, and if it mani fest painfulness on pressure of the sore parts, it may be assumed with great probability that a tooth is about to come through. This cutting of a tooth, however, usually takes place very quietly ; and, on looking in the morning, the mother will generally find the anxiously-expected tooth projecting beyond the gums.