From these few hints, it must have been seen how much the sufferings from teething may be mitigated by judicious management.  That, if the parent is able to support her infant upon the breast alone, teething will be found comparatively an easy process, and unattended with danger; the mother thus reaping a delightful reward for all the anxieties and privations nursing necessarily involves.  That the child brought up partially, or entirely, by hand will always pass through dentition with more or less of pain and difficulty; but that even here, if the diet has been properly regulated, much less suffering and inconvenience will arise than when less attention has been paid to it.  And, lastly, that, when teething is difficult, how highly important it is to call in proper aid at an early period, and to carry out fully the directions of the medical attendant, allowing no foolish prejudices to interfere with his prescriptions and management.

If I stood in need of any argument to impress upon the mind of a parent the importance of attending to the last injunction, I would simply state, that its neglect is but too frequently the cause of disease of the brain, terminating in death, or a state of idiotcy far worse than death, of which I know more than one living instance.

It may be as well to add, that eruptions about the ears, head, face, and various parts of the body, very frequently appear during the process of the first teething.[FN#23] If they are slight, they should be left alone, being rather useful than otherwise; if they are troublesome, they must receive that kind of attention from the parent which will be pointed out under the chapter on diseases.  The same remark applies to enlargements of the glands of the neck, which frequently appear at this time.

[FN#23] In some infants a rash always precedes the cutting a tooth.  Sometimes it appears in the form of hard elevated pimples as large as peas; in other instances in the form of red patches, of the size of a shilling, upon the arms, shoulders, and back of the neck.  They are always harmless, require no particular attention, and prevent, I doubt not, more serious complaints.

SECT.  II.  HINTS UPON THE PERMANENT OR ADULT TEETH.

Parents are not sufficiently alive to the importance of attending to the condition of the mouth of their children at the period of changing the first for the second set of teeth; they do not seem to be aware how much the comfort, appearance, and future health of the child depends upon it.  Nor do they subsequently impress upon the minds of their children how necessary, on their part, is the observance of certain rules for the preservation of the teeth, and how distressing are the effects which result from their neglect.  It is proposed, here, to say a few words for the information and guidance of the parent upon this subject.

THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY APPEAR.