The Wilmingtonian., 1885-05-02
HEALTH HINTS.
- -
Thumb Sucking.
BY
D. IL. GooDwILLIE, NJ. D., d. d. s.,
New York.
Thumb Sucking.

The following case will serve to illustrate
this bad habit and its treatment
FloIina j., of Augusta, Ga, aged four and
a half years, was brought to me by her par
ents in April, 1871, for treatment of nasal
catarrh and deformity of the nose.
On making isquiry of the mother as to
the habits and care of her child, She ack-
nowlcdged her ignorance and referred me to
the colored nurse.
This child was pale and anemic tissues
soft, eyes listless, running at the nose, con
stpatcd, cross and inpatient. Arms and
legs bare, and no flannel on the body, while
the weather was quite cold.
A good portion of time, during sleeping
hours and often during the day, its left
thumb was in its mouth.
1t went to sleep sucking its thumb, and
often in the night would wake up and con-
Glllue IulS Ddu lldolu,
When the thumb was in the mouth the
index anger was brought over the bridge of
the nose, pressing it over to the right, while
the middle finger bore down upon the car.
tilaginous portion Of the nose.
When the process Of sucking was going OIL
pressure was brought to bear on the superior
incisor teeth by the thumb and, at the same
time, the fingers OIL the nose pressed it down
and to certain extent prevented respiration
through the nose.
The iucisor teeth We're foresd outward
and malformed the anterior part Of the
mouth. The upper lip was not SO v ell
developed in proportion as the under one,
and had pouting appearance. Left thumb
reduced in size as compared with the right
Under an auesthetic the nasal cavity was
thoroughly examined.
There was found considerable stenosis
from general thckening of the tissues and
a deviation Of the nasal septum into the
right nostril. While under the anesthetic
took cast of the parts which distinctly
shows that the bridge is pushed over to the
right side, the cartilaginous portion tlattcncd
the nostrils deformed and nearly filed with
dried mucus. THERE'S therefore, very little
room fol respiration through the nose,
This story only serves to show what is too
frequently the case, that, through bad man
agemcnu and defective alimentation, children
are brought up in state Of physical starya-
tion, though they may be living in the midst
of affluencc
1rea'me1lL=$So prevent thumb sucking,
lsss4sc @sssss%'c use ofthe a@s>%sans employed in
cases of hylorrhaphy to prevent ae tsa.
hands comning tothe mouth. This consists
in bidng around the elbows pads Of thick
.edther to be held in lace by two leather
straps, one above aud the other below the
elbow.
The pads were. adjusted after the .gaild
had fallen asleep, as follows: fasten the
] upper strap SO that it will not pass down
I over the elbow, but keep its place. Let til,
lower strap be loose enough TO allow som,
, motion at the elbow joint, but not sufiicien
to permit the hand to reach the mouth.
, The nurse was objected to sponge til,
) child's body night and morning with sinai
! quantity Of salt and water to which wa
= added little bay rum, rub dry, and dres
as soon as possible
Flauuels to be worn next the skin.
3 Food consisted largely Of milk, with wei
S cooked oatmca OF crushed wheat and
], small quantity Of meat Food, rest, anl
exercise to be taken regularly every day
q Local treatment for the catarrhal troubl
IT consisted in cleansing the nasal cavity b,
u means OF the d 'nehe and blowing in pow
. ders afterwards, to coat the whole intern,
i surface of the nose.
The muse was instructed to see that ii
child closed its mouth and nrrathed thruug
tho nose, AT night she wore IA bandage +,
G that purpose.
lc Respiration through the Hoso bccan
al normal, her body firm, and her checks ros
a She was nj home 10 her parents the pic
af ure Of health.
~, Thumb sucking is more disastrous 10 ii
20 health Of the child than sucking the 9th
'is fingers, for the hnmb once in the mouth
1t; more readily remains during sleep.
~ ltnterleres with the chd's proper res
~ which should be continuous and uudisturl
al ed, and so becomes Il source OF nervou
IL irritation and exhaustion.
"a Thcthumb in the IN mth int .llures wi
natural respiration through the nose, al
causes pressure upon that and oontiguo,
~ parts whereby abnormal conditions arise.
=, 1t malforms the anterior part Of the mout
- and often utertereS with proper mastic