The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-02
Never Raise Child by the Hand or
Wrist.


FROM THE NOTEBOOK OF AN EMINENT
PHYSICIAN.
1t is common practice of nurses and pa
rents to grasp children by single hand or
wrist, and lift them bodily, as in stepping
over cutters, streams, etc. Occasionally n
child is seized by the hands and swung
around with great force, the body being
held nearly at right angles. This feat is
not always followed by immediate ill effects
but it is liable to result in most serious in
jury. At this period of life, the ends of the
long bones are united to the shafts by car
tllage, which renders them weak and very
liable to be distorted by force. There are
three of these bones in the ARM one be-
tween the shoulder and elbow, and two be-
tween the elbow and wrist. The arm of
the child is, therefore, very weak When
extension is made at the hand, the force is
not expended upon long, firm bones, but
rather upon bones broken at several points.
and very loosely united. A small force,
far less than is required to fracture q fully
formed bone, will separate the cartilaginous
portions, or permanently bend Them There
! is also another form of injury which NAV
occur at the instant. Of this have seen
several examples. 1t consists in a slight
displacement of the cartridges in one of the
joints, either the wrist or elbow, attended
by pain, swelling, and tenderness. The
joint is fixed in semi-fexed position, and
, the little sufferer will not allow it to be
moved or even handled. 1t can be easily
rectified by a surgeon, by forcible tlexion
and extension. Finally, by lifting child
in this manner the ligaments about the
joints may be extended, and this will weak
en- the JOINTS and this weakness may re-
main as IA permanent disability.
HOW CONSUMPTION MAY BE CURED.
The first announcement to a patient that
he or she has consumption, is often like a
death-knell. The vacant stare, the pale
cheek, and the convulsive sigh indicate a
shock of the most profound character. In
deed, have known persons toswoon away,
and require the most active exertions to
restore them. And yet it is not true that
consumption is necessarily fatal disease.
In point of fact it is not as fatal as many
diseases which prevail in every community,
and yet excite no remark. Consumption re-
suits from prevented nutrition. Instead
of that perfect assimilation essential to
sound health, there is an imperfect elabor-
alton of the nutritive fluids, which leads,
by inftammatory action or other processes,
to the deposition in the lungs and other
tissues of crude material known as tubercle,
Persons predisposed to consumption, or
living under circumstances which lower
the vital energies, and prevent the nutra-
tive processes, are those in whom this af-
lection most frequently appears. 1t fol-
lows that there is no specific for consump-
ton. 1t is not durable by medicines; on
the contrary, its fatal issue is more often
hastened by medication.
For the encouragement of patients, and
to illustrate the course of life most likely
to restore vigorous health, condition in
compatible with consumption, usually re-
late cases that have como under my obser-
Walton. The following is one example
among many:
GA young medical friend, having an
hereditary tendency to consumption, began
to realize its first well-marked symptoms
1t progressed rapidly toward fatal termi-
nation. The cough, emaciation, and hectic
betrayed his condition to the most superb
cal observer. Alarmed at his condition,
but dreading to yield to the conviction of
his friends that he was victim of this dis
ease, he refused to be examined, or even to
talk on the subject. At length he became
50 weak and Frustrated that he consented
to have his lungs examined, and on the an
nouncement of the physician that they con-
tanned large cavities, he tainted and was
rallied with great difficulty. Aroused to
pitch of desperation, he determined that he
would not lie down and die, but would be-
take himself to door life. He accord
ingly spent his entire day in horseback ex-
SiSi'e' oa"Iiis, "oou, DodI-IoNlnS, cue. Az
night he slept on a hard bed in an out
house, through which tho winds had full
play. His diet was plain and but little
cooked; his clothing coarse and scant.-
That physician is to-day practising his pro-
fession in a New England town; he is up
ward of forty-tive years of age, and weighs
about two hundred pounds. A finer speci-
men of health is not seen in New-Eng-
land
Recovery from the latest stage of con-
sumption is therefore possible. The fol-
lowing outline of tic course of life pursue
is given:
Live in the open air and sunshine; avoid
dampness and darkness in your dwelling;
if possible, choose a dry mountain region;
develop by vigorous exercise every muscle
in the body to its fullest capacity; select
nourishing and easily dgested food, and be
sure that it is not overlooked; dress in
coarse WOODEN clothing; battle for cleanli-
ness and comfort; never forcbly distend
the lungs, but increase their capacity by
exercise; and, finally, take no medicines
except as aids or additions to the course of
life recommended.-Hear and Home.
eS A subscriber who is tormented by
that pest, the newspaper borrower, sends
us the following note enslosing the article