ing, the opening
reunites, and the operation has to be repeated. That this operation is
very little or not at all painful, is evidenced by the suddenness with
which the infant falls asleep after the lancing, and awakes in
apparently perfect health, though immediately before the use of the
gum-lancet, the child may have been shrieking or in convulsions.

Convulsions, or Infantine Fits.

2519. From their birth till after teething, infants are more or less
subject or liable to sudden fits, which often, without any assignable
cause, will attack the child in a moment, and while in the mother's
arms; and which, according to their frequency, and the age and strength
of the infant, are either slight or dangerous.

2520. Whatever may have been the remote cause, the immediate one is some
irritation of the nervous system, causing convulsions, or an effusion to
the head, inducing coma. In the first instance, the infant cries out
with a quick, short scream, rolls up its eyes, arches its body
backwards, its arms become bent and fixed, and the fingers parted; the
lips and eyelids assume a dusky leaden colour, while the face remains
pale, and the eyes open, glassy, or staring. This condition may or may
not be attended with muscular twitchings of the mouth, and convulsive
plunges of the arms. The fit generally lasts from one to three minutes,
when the child recovers with a sigh, and the relaxation of the body. In
the other case, the infant is attacked at once with total insensibility
and relaxation of the limbs, coldness of the body and suppressed
breathing; the eyes, when open, being dilated, and presenting a dim
glistening appearance; the infant appearing, for the moment, to be dead.

2521. _Treatment._-The first step in either case is, to immerse the
child in a hot bath up to the chin; or if sufficient hot water cannot be
procured to cover the body, make a hip-bath of what can be obtained;
and, while the left hand supports the child in a sitting or recumbent
position, with the right scoop up the water, and run it over the chest
of the patient. When sufficient water can be obtained, the spine should
be briskly rubbed while in the bath; when this cannot be done, lay the
child on the knees, and with the fingers dipped in brandy, rub the whole
length of the spine vigorously for two or three minutes, and when
restored to consciousness, give occasionally a teaspoonful of weak
brandy and water or wine and water.

2522. An hour after