Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Horse-shoe-head

HORSE-SHOE-HEAD, an affection of the heads of infants, in which the sutures of the skull are too open, or too great a space occurs between them; so that the aperture is frequently not closed, or the cranium in that part does not become hard and firm, till the age of puberty. This opening increases as often as the child takes cold; and, if it continue for a long series of years, it is generally regarded as a sign of weakness, or short life. In this case, the usual practice is to rub the head occasionally with warm rum or brandy, mixed with the white of an egg, or a little palm-oil: it will also be advisable to wear a small cushion over such aperture, by which it will not only be protected from the cold air, but likewise from receiving sudden injury; and consequently the closing of it will be promoted. Such infants ought to be watched with additional care, to prevent any accidental falls, or blows, on the head, which to them would be fatal.—See also Food.