The clinical study and treatment of sick children / by John Thomson.

  • Thomson, John, 1856-1926.
Date:
1921
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The clinical study and treatment of sick children / by John Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tion easier and shorter, and saves us from many mistakes. Such a history is generally far more easily obtained in the case of children than in that of adults. Of course, as is so constantly pointed out, the child cannot tell us much about his own troubles. On the other hand, we can usually get our facts from his mother, who has watched him hourly, and to whom his least symptom is a matter of absorbing interest. Her story, if often rambling, is at least more trustworthy than much that adult patients tell us about themselves. The theories of the mother and nurse as to the cause of the child’s illness are usually of no value, but their opinions as to whether he is getting better or worse are never to be made light of. While, however, we may often rely on the mother’s description of past symptoms, we must never trust to her account of the urine or faeces, or of any fact of the case which we can investigate for ourselves. A “method of caes-taking” is certainly helpful in clinical work. The form in use at the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital will be found in Appendix A. A few remarks may be made on some of the questions to be asked. Mother’s Complaints.—It is always important, to begin with, to ascertain why the mother has brought the child for advice—which of his ailments, that is to say, bulks most largely in her estimation. Family History.—The family history is also important in some cases, especially in connection with the diagnosis of tuberculous, rheumatic, and nervous cases. We must also inquire about the mother’s health, particularly whether she was well during her pregnancy. The number of other children should also be ascertained and where the patient comes in the family; and it is well to find out whether any of the other children have suffered from tuberculosis, congenital syphilis, or any other special disease. Previous Health and Treatment.—In investigating the former medical history of a case, you should begin by asking about the nature of the labour and the state of the child at birth. His growth and development of body and mind must then be inquired into; when his teeth appeared, when he first began to walk and to talk> and so on. It is of great importance also in young children to know about the previous feeding. Whether the child was on the breast, and if so, for how long ;