The maternal management of children, in health and diseaseBull, Thomas
Science
The maternal management of children, in health and disease
Bull, Thomas
Child care
The condition itself may exist in a greater or less degree: the infant
may be completely stillborn, with no indication of life, except,
perhaps, the pulsation of the cord, or a feeble action of the heart;--or
it may make ineffectual efforts at breathing, or even cry faintly, and
yet subsequently perish for want of strength to establish perfectly the
process of respiration. Under all these circumstances, a good deal can
often be effected by art. In every instance, therefore, in which we
have not positive evidence of the child being dead, in the existence of
putrefaction, or of such malformation as is incompatible with life, it
is our duty to give a fair trial to the means for restoring suspended
animation; and as long as the slightest attempt at motion of the
respiratory organs is evinced, or the least pulsation of the heart
continues, we have good grounds for persevering and hoping for ultimate
success.
The measures to be employed to restore a still-born child will be a
little modified by the circumstances present.
IF THERE IS NO PULSATION--NO BEATING IN THE CORD, when the child comes
into the world, it may at once be separated from the mother. This is
to be effected by first tying the navel-string with common sewing
thread (three or four times doubled), about two inches from the body of
the child, and again two inches from the former ligature, and then
dividing the cord with a pair of scissors between the two. And now the
means for its restoration are to be made use of, which are detailed
below, viz. inflation of the lungs, and perhaps the warm bath. If, with
the above circumstances, the child's face be livid and swollen, some
drops of blood should previously be allowed to escape before the
ligature is applied to that part of the navel-string which is now only
attached to the child.
IF THERE IS PULSATION IN THE CORD, BUT RESPIRATION IS NOT FULLY
ESTABLISHED, it must not be divided; and as long as pulsation
continues, and the child does not breathe perfectly and regularly, no
ligature should be applied. The first thing to be done here, is to pass
the finger, covered with the fold of a handkerchief or soft napkin, to
the back of the child's mouth, to remove any mucus which might obstruct
the passage of air into the lungs, and at the same time to tickle
those parts, and thereby excite respiratory movements. The chest
should then be rubbed by the hand, and a gentle shock given to the body
by slapping the back. If these means fail, the chest and soles of the
feet must next be rubbed with spirits, the nostrils and back of the
throat irritated with a feather previously dipped in spirits of wine,
and ammonia or hartshorn may be held to the nose.
INFLATION OF THE LUNGS.--These means not having been successful, and
the pulsation in the cord having ceased, the infant must be separated,
and inflation of the lungs resorted to. This is to be effected gently
and cautiously as follows:--
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