Treatment.—­The management of the infant in this case is very simple, and seldom calls for the interference of the medical attendant.  The child ought to be much in the open air, and well exercised:  the bowels should be kept freely open with castor oil; and be always gently relaxed at this time.  Cold sponging employed daily, and the surface of the body rubbed dry with as rough a flannel as the delicate skin of the child will bear; friction being very useful.  The breast should be given often, but not for long at a time; the thirst will thus be allayed, the gums kept moist and relaxed, and their irritation soothed, without the stomach being overloaded.  The mother must also carefully attend, at this time, to her own health and diet, and avoid all stimulant food or drinks.

From the moment dentition begins, pressure on the gums will be found to be agreeable to the child, by numbing the sensibility and dulling the pain.  For this purpose coral is usually employed, or a piece of orris-root, or scraped liquorice root; a flat ivory ring, however, is far safer and better, for there is no danger of its being thrust into the eyes or nose.  Gentle friction of the gums, also, by the finger of the nurse, is pleasing to the infant; and, as it seems to have some effect in allaying irritation, may be frequently resorted to.  In France, and in this country also, it is very much the practice to dip the liquorice-root, and other substances, into honey, or powdered sugar-candy; and in Germany, a small bag, containing a mixture of sugar and spices, is given to the infant to suck, whenever it is fretful and uneasy during teething.  The constant use, however, of sweet and stimulating ingredients must do injury to the stomach, and renders their employment very objectionable.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INFANT IN DIFFICULT TEETHING.

In the child which has been partly or altogether brought up by hand, or who is of a feeble and delicate constitution, or imbued with any hereditary taint, the process of dentition will be attended with more or less difficulty, and not unfrequendy with danger.

Symptoms.—­The symptoms of difficult dentition are of a much more aggravated description than those which attend the former case; and it is right that a mother should, to a certain extent, be acquainted with their character, that she may early request that medical aid, which, if judiciously applied, will mitigate, and generally quickly remove them.

Difficult dentition will be attended with painful inflammation and swelling of the gum, which is hotter, of a deeper red, than natural, and intolerant of the slightest pressure.  There is often great determination of blood to the head, which a mother may recognise by the cheeks being red, hot, and swollen; the eyes red, irritable, and watery; and the saliva running from the mouth profusely.  The fever is great, and the thirst extreme.  The child is at one time restless and irritable, and at another heavy and oppressed:  the sleep will be broken, and the infant frequently awake suddenly and in alarm from its short slumbers.  Such are the chief symptoms of difficult teething, and which will be present to a greater or less degree.