On the disorders of infantile development, and rickets : preceded by observations on the nature, peculiar influence, and modifying agencies of temperaments / by A. Schoepf Merei.

  • Schoepf Merei, Agost, 1804-1858.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the disorders of infantile development, and rickets : preceded by observations on the nature, peculiar influence, and modifying agencies of temperaments / by A. Schoepf Merei. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    23/228 (page 13)
    cuIhi- power of the limbs imparts to the individual a feeling of strength and independence. This temperament occurs somtimes in children of small dimensions ; hut more frequently in those of mediocre size, or above it. Then- complexion and skin have a vigorous appearance. We gene- rally observe, that a child of such temperament, at about the third or foiu-th month, if it take hold of one's finger, will grasp it veiy firmly ; we obsen-e its chest to be ample, and wide between the armpits; and about the sixth month, when the abdomen of other children is still veiy pro- minent, in the robust muscular it is frequently already flattened. The thi'ee processes of development, to which I j)ay particular attention in judging of a constitution, go on easUy and regularly; dentition about the sixth or seventh month; seldom sooner and seldom later. The skull is com- pletely ossified about the eleventh, and about the twelfth month most of them walk freely and fast, with an easy and firm step. I have seen even a case (but this must be of rare occurrence), where the child walked quite freely before the age of ten months. They do not inchne to fatness, but their musculai actions ai'e very strong; nor do they present a high degree of sensi- bility. About the fourth or fifth month, they take a good deal of milk, digest it quickly and are so soon hmagry again, that they almost exhaust theii* nm'se. At this period it will be proper to commence with the addition of some semola, biscuit, or boiled white bread, mixed with a little milk or cream, once daily; about the seventh month, they may be given chicken broth, or light beef tea, mth sago, rice, or similar articles boiled in it. Weaning causes no particular derangement to them. About the eleventh or twelfth month that diet may again be improved, with a small f)i'oportiou of the tender flesh of young animals, or fowl. Nature has assigned flesh to these temperaments. Should they get no animal food till about the eighteenth month, for instance: they will perhaps not be unhealthy on that account, but they will be less vigorous in point of strength, than they might be. They have no particular morbid disposition. When they arrive at mature age, all goes easily and well with them, and they are able to make way for themselves in the world. The musculai' temjDera- ment is frequent everywhere m temperate latitudes ; it intermixes with other types; but not much ydth. the nen'ous. In fact, individuals, whom we may call eminently nervous, seldom present a strong muscular sti-ucture. This temperament, therefore, is rarely seen in the female sex. The haii- of muscular individuals is seldom very fair or of fi'nie texture; • The sanfjuine also may be considered as a normal and healthy type. We know not its organic ground, and it would be impossible for me to present even an exact physical feature of it. They may be of small stature or the contrary. They enjoy, for the most part, a good harmony of functions, and most probably their cheerful disposition is a result of tills