Thrush

Thrush, known also as Infantile Sore Mouth, is commonly a disease of early infancy, although it may occur at any age. Its characteristic symptom is the presence of small roundish white specks or patches (Aphthæ, q.v.) on the lining membrane of the cavity of the mouth and throat, on the surface of the tongue, the angles of the lips, &c. In thrush crops of these little patches commonly succeed one another. They render the mouth hot and tender, in consequence of which the act of sucking is accompanied by difficulty and pain. In association with these local symptoms are indications of general constitutional disturbance, such as feverishness, drowsiness, sickness, flatulence, colicky pains, diarrhoea, &c. The complaint sometimes seems to be the result of improper diet, or of imperfect attention to cleanliness of the bottle, &c., if the child is being brought up by hand, or of unwholesome milk from a diseased or intemperate nurse; of bad ventilation, &c.; but in some cases the cause of the disease is not evident. The disorder usually lasts eight or ten days, and is only attended with danger when the local affection runs into a low form of gangrenous ulceration. As a local application to the patches glycerine or honey of borax may be applied with a camel-hair pencil; or a pinch of a mixture of powdered borax and loaf-sugar (1 to 8 or 10) may be placed occasionally on the tongue, and the infant allowed to spread it over the mouth. An occasional dose of gray powder may be required; and in some cases a little brandy, or small doses of quinine and iron.