Remarks on the Subject of Lactation Part 2

---- Hughes, died of '_Water in the head_,'--_suckled fourteen months_.

CASE XIII.

---- Ferreira, aged seventeen months, died of '_Water in the head_,'--_suckled until its death_.

For the five following cases I am indebted to the kindness of Mr.

William Griffith, an intelligent surgeon of Eaton-street, who, having some time ago been apprised of my peculiar views, has since directed his attention particularly to the subject. They completely confirm my opinions, and will have more weight 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 quant.i.ty 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 x.x.x.

Ann Archer, aged seven years; admitted for _Hydrocephalus_--died--_suckled three years_.

CASE x.x.xI.

Cornelius Leary, aged six years; admitted for _Meningitis_--died--_suckled eighteen months_.

CASE x.x.xII.

Sophia Peverel, aged three years; admitted for _Meningitis_--_suckled two years_.

CASE x.x.xIII.