Southern Medical and Surgical Journal - Georgia Regents University

1867] Editorial 509ear), these remedies are very apt to fail, and we have toresort to a little Laudanum taken internally, or droppedinto the ear in combination with a few drops of oil.Closely connected with the treatment of the so-calledcolic is the common practice ofJoltingInfants.If the childbe really suffering with colic, it would beas absurd to expect to relieve it by such violent shakingand jolting, as it is to suppose that there is any efficacyin the veterinary practiceof making a colicky horse trotup and down the road, until almost exhausted. But ifthe poor child happens to have pain in the ear or headache,both of which are very common, the cruelty ofviolent rocking, shaking in the arms, and jostling uponthe knees, with the loud singing and jargon of the nurse,must be apparent. The treatment of Sancho Panza bythe maid of the enchanted castle was triflingin comparisonwith this.The affectionate and tender-hearted mother can notbear to remain quiet while her babe is screaming, andshe freely exerts her lungs and limbs to the uttermost inthe hope of giving relief. It is a natural and a laudablefeeling which prompts her, and the exertionrelieves hernervous system by working off 1 the nerve force whichwould have been otherwise concentrated in the brain.therefore requires some philosophy, that which emanatesfrom enlightened reason, to examine quietlyItfor the truecause of the child's cries, and to administer the properremedy.If no medicine be necessary, the child will, iflaid comfortably on his bed or held quietly in the mother'slap, very generally go to sleepafter crying a little while.It can certainly not go to sleep so long as it is not allowedto be at rest.