ural earnestness; the child sits for moments gazing upward on
vacancy, as though it saw, or sought something beyond.

By degrees these vague premonitions, which may continue for weeks,
become more and more marked till they pass into what may be called the
first stage of the affection, in which there are signs of congestion of
the brain, such as I have already described, coupled with general
irregular attacks of feverishness. The child becomes more gloomy, more
pettish, and slower in its movements, and is little pleased by its usual
amusements. Or, at other times, its spirits are very variable; it will
sometimes cease suddenly in the midst of its play, and run to hide its
head in its mother's lap, putting its hands to its head, and complaining
of headache, or saying merely that it is tired and sleepy, and wants to
go to bed. Sometimes, too, it will turn dizzy, as you will know, not so
much from its complaint of dizziness as from its suddenly standing
still, gazing around for a moment as if lost, and then either beginning
to cry at the strange sensation, or seeming to awake from a reverie, and
at once returning to its play. The infant in its nurse's arms betrays
the same sensation by a sudden look of alarm, a momentary cry, and a
hasty clinging to its nurse. If the child can walk it may be observed to
drag one leg, halting in its gait, though but slightly, and seldom as
much at one time as at another, so that both the parents and the medical
attendant may be disposed to attribute it to an ungainly habit which the
child has contracted. The appetite is usually bad, though sometimes very
variable; and the child, when apparently busy at play, may all at once
throw down its toys and beg for food, then refuse what is offered; or
taking a hasty bite may seem to nauseate the half-tasted morsel, may
open its mouth, stretch out its tongue, and heave as if about to vomit.
The thirst is seldom considerable, and sometimes there is an actual
aversion to drink as well as to food, apparently from its exciting or
increasing the sickness. The stomach, however, seldom rejects
everything; but the same food as occasions sickness at one time is
retained at another. Sometimes the child vomits only after taking food,
at other times, even when the stomach is empty, it brings up some
greenish phlegm without much effort, and with no relief. These attacks
of vomiting seldom occur oftener than two or three times a day, but they
may return for several