Remarks on the Subject of Lactation | Page 8

she recovered under my care.
CASE XXXIV.
Robert Selkirk, aged three years six months; admitted for
Meningitis--suckled thirteen months.
CASE XXXV.
The mother of the preceding child lost another of 'inflammation of the
brain.'--This was suckled more than one year.
CASE XXXVI.
Eliza Ferreira, aged five years; admitted for Meningitis--suckled one
year seven months.
III.
Cases of Meningitis in Children who had been suckled an undue length
of time, supervening upon other complaints.
CASE XXXVII.
Arthur Lane, aged one year four months; admitted for Pneumonia, with
an affection of the head--suckled fourteen months.
CASE XXXVIII.
Sarah Ward, aged three years; admitted for Hooping-cough--head much
affected--suckled one year and ten months.

CASE XXXIX.
Thomas Donovan, aged two years two months; admitted for
Hooping-cough, with an affection of the head--suckled twelve months.
CASE XL.
Count ---- ----, aged about two years, came under my care, being then
at the breast. The head was large, fontanelle open--superficial veins
more apparent than natural. By my advice he was directly weaned, and
rapidly improved in health and appearance (the only medicine given
being occasional doses of castor oil). About twelve months afterwards,
in consequence of an imprudent exposure to cold, he was attacked with
Bronchitis, and Meningitis supervened. Leeches were applied to the
head, and other depletory measures actively employed, which were
followed by recovery.
CASE XLI.
---- Sloggat, aged thirteen months, died of Meningitis supervening upon
Pneumonia--suckled until the time of its death.
CASE XLII.
John Scott, aged eleven months; admitted for Hooping-cough, with a
well-marked affection of the head--still at the breast.
CASE XLIII.
---- Scott, aged fifteen months,--died of 'Hooping-cough, with
convulsions,' being then at the breast.
CASE XLIV.
Isaac Berwick, aged one year two months, admitted for Hooping-cough,
with an affection of the head--still at the breast.
CASE XLV.

Frederick Cousins, aged three years four months, brought to me
labouring under Hooping-cough, with Meningitis, which latter
terminated in effusion. Calomel was then given every two hours, the
stronger mercurial ointment rubbed upon the temples, and blisters
applied to the head. The mercurial influence being established, a
profuse discharge of urine occurred; the pupils which had previously
been permanently dilated, became once more obedient to light;
sensibility was restored, and great weakness appeared to be the only
urgent symptom. The cough, however, now returned, the head became
again affected, and the child sunk. Upon opening the head, about four
ounces of fluid was found in the ventricles[K]. This child was suckled
sixteen months.
CASE XLVI.
Sarah Swann, aged four years six months, admitted for Hooping-cough
with convulsions,--suckled one year.
CASE XLVII.
Henry Harris, aged two years three months, admitted for
Hooping-cough, with an affection of the head,--suckled one year four
months.
CASE XLVIII.
Maria Hughes, aged two years, admitted for Convulsions supervening
upon Hooping-cough--suckled one year three months.
CASE XLIX.
Thomas Benson, aged one year six months, admitted for Pneumonia,
with well-marked affection of the head--suckled one year four months.
CASE L.
Mary Kenner, aged six years, admitted for Hooping-cough, with
well-marked affection of the head--suckled one year six months.

CASE LI.
John Ennis, aged one year seven months, admitted for Bronchitis, to
which a decided affection of the head succeeded--suckled one year.
IV.
Case of Meningitis produced in consequence of the Child being suckled
from its birth by a Woman who had at that time been delivered one
Year.
CASE LII.
Ellen Willoughby, aged nine months, admitted for Meningitis; at
present suckled by a woman who has been delivered one year and nine
months.
* * * * *
With respect to the manner in which protracted lactation causes the
complaint that forms the subject of these remarks, I formerly was
undecided; but have now no doubt whatever of its arising secondarily
from derangement in the functions of the abdominal viscera,
occasioned by the depraved condition of the breast-milk.
It is universally allowed among medical men that irritations in the
stomach and bowels will, through the agency of particular nerves,
produce sympathetic irritation in the brain,--that peculiar action being
thus elicited which terminates in the effusion of serum, constituting the
disease named Hydrocephalus.--'The continued irritation of important
or very sensible nerves is, perhaps,' says Mr. Burns, 'one of the most
common causes' (of Hydrocephalus); 'hence it may follow dentition,
and very often arises from a bad state of the chylopoietic viscera.'
It is also no less generally known that food of a bad quality or improper
description will produce derangements in the digestive organs. Now,
having already shewn that the milk when lactation is protracted
becomes deteriorated, it plainly appears that such milk is capable of

occasioning derangement of the chylopoietic viscera; and it being
allowed that derangement of these viscera, from any source, may give
rise to inflammation of the brain, I conceive it follows that protracted
lactation must be admitted as one cause