Remarks on the Subject of Lactation | Page 7

with the public than any additional evidence I could adduce from my own practice.
In the letter inclosing these cases, Mr. Griffith writes thus--'from the observations I have been enabled to make, I am led to believe that disease almost invariably follows protracted suckling. I may add in conclusion, that I perfectly concur with the views which you entertain on the subject.'
CASES XIV. XV.
'---- Jackson, residing at ----, aged two years six months, who had been kept at the breast twenty-two months, was in a dying state when I was requested to see her. The pulse was preternaturally slow--great stupor--dilatation of the pupils, and diastasis of the bones of the head. In six hours from the time I first saw her she died, and the mother was desirous that the head should be examined, having lost a child previously, in what she considered a similar manner. On removing the scalp I found the cranium very much enlarged and altered in shape. Between the tunica arachnoides and pia mater, there was a quantity of water effused;--the sides and upper surface of the brain were exceedingly soft. In the lateral ventricles there were from six to eight ounces of water. In answer to a few questions I asked the mother, she stated that her former child was, during the first ten months of its life, a plump, healthy infant,--after that period he altered,--the stomach, bowels, and head became affected, and, in the course of a few months, he manifested similar symptoms to those which proved fatal in the case of his sister. He was suckled for twenty-one months, and died at the age of twenty-seven months. The mother of these children has one other child alive, and at my urgent request it was weaned at nine months,--it is now seventeen months old, and in excellent health.'
CASE XVI.
'Mrs. A----, of ----, had a little boy who at ten months old had nine teeth, which were cut with little or no difficulty:--at this time he was in good health,--he was allowed the breast until nineteen months, and at the expiration of three months more, died of Hydrocephalus.'
CASE XVII.
'Mrs. T---- lost a child of Hydrocephalus, and has an infant now at the breast seventeen months old;--the little patient is frequently suffering from cerebral disturbance. I have repeatedly advised the mother to wean it--she objects, and gives the usual reason for allowing it to remain at the breast--viz., that she does it to prevent becoming again enceinte.'
CASE XVIII.
'This day, (August 13, 1831,) a little child labouring under cerebral disease was brought to me for advice, and he appeared certainly in a most pitiable state; he is two years four months old and is now at the breast,--I do not think it possible for him to survive many days.'
II.
Cases of Meningitis, arising at an after period, in consequence of protracted suckling.
CASE XIX.
Francis Page, aged six years, admitted for Meningitis,--suckled one year.
CASE XX.
Henry Taylor, aged six years, admitted for Meningitis,--suckled fourteen months.
CASE XXI.
Julia Brown, aged three years, admitted for Meningitis,--suckled thirteen months.
CASE XXII.
James Neil, aged seven years six months, admitted for Meningitis,--suckled fourteen months.
CASE XXIII.
Eliza Park, aged six years, laboured under Meningitis,--suckled fourteen months.
CASE XXIV.
Charles Dale, aged five years; admitted for Meningitis--suckled thirteen months.
CASE XXV.
Sarah Strickling, aged four years; admitted for Meningitis--suckled one year and six months.
CASES XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII.
The mother of the last mentioned child lost three previously, with 'water in the head:'--all these were suckled more than eighteen months.
CASE XXIX.
George Speering, aged four years; admitted for Meningitis--suckled one year and six months.
CASE XXX.
Ann Archer, aged seven years; admitted for Hydrocephalus--died--suckled three years.
CASE XXXI.
Cornelius Leary, aged six years; admitted for Meningitis--died--suckled eighteen months.
CASE XXXII.
Sophia Peverel, aged three years; admitted for Meningitis--suckled two years.
CASE XXXIII.
Maria Turley, aged four years; admitted for Meningitis--died--suckled one year three months. This child had laboured under a previous attack, from which 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