The condition of the digestive organs must be the mother's especial
care. Costiveness must be guarded against; and if at any time the
secretions from the bowels indicate the presence of derangement, the
medical attendant must be applied to, that appropriate remedies may
without delay be exhibited. Their disordered condition is frequently
productive of head-disease. Again and again have I clearly traced the
origin of the complaint, of which I am now writing, as more
immediately resulting from disorder of the digestive apparatus. To a
child thus predisposed to water in the head, the healthy state of these
organs is not only of first consequence, but any deviation from health
to be dreaded, to be immediately attended to, and guarded against in
future; and, as there is a great liability to these attacks at the time
of weaning, the above remarks especially apply to that period, when due
attention must be particularly paid to the plan of diet adopted.
During teething the mother must be especially watchful, for it is at
this time that the disease so commonly appears; the irritation produced
by this process being a frequent exciting cause. Every thing,
therefore, that will tend to allay excitement of the system, must be
strictly enforced, as well as all causes avoided, which would produce
derangement of the stomach and bowels.
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