Remarks on the Subject of Lactation | Page 6

that of her child, neither of which, I assured her, in my
opinion, would be re-established till the latter had been weaned. I
expressed also my complete incredulity as to the non-recurrence of
pregnancy in consequence of her infant remaining at the breast; and I
added--'It is my firm conviction that if you be pregnant, or should
happen shortly to become so, you will miscarry.' About a week after
this conversation she was suddenly seized with flooding, and what I
had predicted took place. She now left off suckling, and in about a
month, under suitable treatment, completely got rid of all her former
complaints: the child also immediately began to improve.
The present case clearly proves that the process of lactation will not
invariably prevent the occurrence of pregnancy, since Mrs. A----
became in this state, notwithstanding she continued to suckle her child:
and I think few will be so hardy as to doubt that it was the cause of her
miscarrying: more particularly when I mention that, at a future period,
the same lady, during my absence abroad, being once more persuaded
to try whether she could not avoid becoming pregnant (which was very
much to be desired, on account of her delicate state of health) by
continuing to perform the duties of a nurse, again suffered all the
distressing symptoms before described, and again miscarried.
This case, finally, affords evidence of the evil consequences often
produced in children by impoverished and unhealthy milk; and of their
speedy disappearance when the exciting cause--namely, deteriorated
milk--is no longer afforded.
CHAPTER III.
On the various Diseases which frequently arise in Children from
Lactation, especially when protracted.
Having thus briefly considered some of the disorders to which women
are subjected by performing the first duty imposed upon them as
mothers, I shall next advert to those which are very frequently observed
in their children from being suckled during too long a period; or in
consequence of the nurse's milk becoming either simply impoverished,

or of a positively injurious quality.
These diseases are numerous, and some of them serious, among which
may be enumerated the following; namely, vomiting, diarrh[oe]a,
general debility, scrofula, tabes mesenterica,--rickets, convulsions,
epilepsy,--and lastly meningitis, or that peculiar inflammation of the
investing membranes of the brain which gives rise to the effusion of
serum, constituting the well known and very fatal disease termed by
medical practitioners Hydrocephalus, or Hydrencephalus, and
popularly Water on the Brain.
The disease last mentioned being by far the most important, and that
chiefly referred to in the following observations, I shall commence with
a brief statement of the conclusions which my experience has led me to
form respecting it; they are the same I made public four years ago[E],
having since that time seen no reason to make any alteration in them. I
believe,
1st,--That if children be suckled for an undue length of time[F], they
will be liable in consequence to be affected with meningitis[G], or
inflammation of the investing membranes of the brain.
2dly,--That should they not become affected with the disorder in
question during or soon after the time they are thus improperly suckled,
they will nevertheless acquire therefrom a predisposition to cephalic
disease at some future period of their lives.
3dly,--That children who are suckled for an undue length of time, when
labouring under other diseases, will be much more liable to have the
head secondarily affected, than children brought up in a different
manner.
4thly,--And lastly, that the same effects will take place in infants if
suckled by women who have been delivered an undue[H] length of
time; although the infants themselves may not have been at the breast
for too long a period.
* * * * *

CASES IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE FOREGOING VIEWS.
I.
Cases of Meningitis[I] supervening upon protracted suckling.
CASE I.
---- Wilshire, aged two years seven months, died of 'Water on the
brain,'--suckled twelve months.
CASE II.
---- Park, aged one year ten months, died of 'Water in the
head,'--suckled fourteen months.
CASE III.
Prince V----, aged two years and a few months, died of
Hydrencephalus,--suckled until his death. In this case I was consulted a
short time previously, and recommended the breast-milk to be
withheld--my advice was not followed.
CASE IV.
Emma Lane, aged two years, admitted at the Infirmary for Children for
Meningitis,--suckled one year and eleven months.
CASE V.
The mother of the preceding suckled another child 'a very long period,'
and it died of 'Water on the Brain.'
CASE VI.
Edmund Power, aged two years, still at the breast, admitted for
Chronic Hydrocephalus: the head is of great magnitude; fontanelles
open: superficial veins large and prominent.

CASE VII.
Sophia Hamley, aged one year two months, still at the breast, admitted
for Meningitis.
CASE VIII.
William How, aged one year six months, admitted