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39
Rickets is a disease of early infancy, and generally begins
during the baby's first year of life-at the time that the teeth
are appearing. A mother or nurse should always think of
rickets when:—
(i.) The baby begins to sweat much, especially on the
forehead when he is sleeping.
(ii.) The baby becomes very restless and begins to
toss about when sleeping and to throw off the bedclothes.
(iii.) The baby dislikes to be moved, and the body
and limbs are so tender that the child now cries more
readily on being washed and dressed. When placed in a
chair, in bed, or on the floor, he tries to keep quite still,
like an old man, instead of being always on the move like
a healthy child. If he has previously been walking he has
now no desire to do so, and at once "goes off his feet."
(iv.) The baby is suffering from digestive troubles.
At one time it may have diarrhcea with slimy offensive
motions, at another time constipation, and the abdomen
often appears larger than in the case of a healthy child.
When any or all of these conditions are present, the child
is most likely suffering in the early stage of rickets. It is then
the plain duty of the parents to immediately consult a medical
man ; because, at this early stage, the disease, if promptly
treated, is readily curable, and may pass off in a few weeks
in most cases.
But if the child is not properly treated, and is not prevented
from standing or walking, and is not kept lying flat so as to
reduce the pressure on the soft bones and muscles, then the
condition becomes rapidly worse. Then:—