same cause.] by allowing him, weather permitting, to be out of doors a
great part of every day; by lancing the gums when they get red, hot,
and swollen; by attention to the bowels, and if he suffer more than
usual, by keeping them rather in a relaxed state by any simple
aperient, such as either castor oil, or magnesia and rhubarb, &c.;
and, let me add, by attention to his temper: many children are made
feverish and ill by petting and spoiling them. On this subject I
cannot do better than refer you to an excellent little work entitled
Abbot's _Mother of Home_, wherein the author proves the great
importance of _early_ training.

70. _Have the goodness to describe the symptoms and the treatment of
Painful Dentition_?

Painful dentition may be divided into two forms--(1) the Mild; and (2)
the Severe. In the _mild_ form the child is peevish and fretful, and
puts his fingers, and everything within reach, to his mouth, he likes
to have his gums rubbed, and takes the breast with avidity, indeed it
seems a greater comfort to him than ever. There is generally a
considerable flow of saliva, and he has frequently a more loose state
of bowels than is his wont.

Now, with regard to the more _severe_ form of painful dentition--The
gums are red, swollen, and hot, and he cannot without expressing pain
bear to have them touched, hence, if he be at the breast, he is
constantly loosing the nipple. There is dryness of the mouth, although
before there had been a great flow of saliva. He is feverish,
restless, and starts in his sleep. His face is flashed. His head is
heavy and hot. He is sometimes convulsed. [Footnote: See answer to
Question 63.] He is frequently violently griped and purged, and