ioe 
midwives, become one of the most fruitful sources of the disorders 
< of infants. : “ > . : oe ; 
_ Tt must be obvious to every attentive person, that the first disease 
_of infants arise chiefly from their bowels. Nor is this in the least to 
be wondered at, as they are.in a.manner poisoned with indigestible 
_ drugs, and improper diet, as soon as they come into the world. Eve- 
_ ry thing that the stomach cannot digest may be considered as a poi- 
son; and unless it can be thrown up, or voided by stool, it must 
— oceasion sickness, gripes, spasmodic affections of the bowels, or 
what the good women call inward fits, and at last, convulsions and 
BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. 
__. As these symptonis evidently arise from somewhat that irritates 
the intestines, doubtless the proper method.of cure must be to re- - 
‘Move it.as soon as possible. . The most safe and effectual. method of 
this is by. gentle vomits, as the tincture of blood root, a little 
& half tea-spoonful may be given at a dose, and. re- 
d every ten minutes till it operates. This is. perfectly safe, 
my age. Gentle emetics will not only cleanse the stomach 
generally likewise open the body. Should this, however, 
not happen, and if the. child be costive, some gentle purge, will be 
necessary: for this purpose a little rhubarb, or manna, or such like, 
may be dissolved, or steeped in boiling water, and given. in small 
quantities till it operates ; or what will answer rather better, a few 
grains of magnesia may be mixed in any kind of food that. is given 
tothechild,and continued tillit has the desired effect... If these me- 
dicines be properly administered, and the child’s belly and limbs fre- 
quently rubbed with a warm hand before the fire, they will seldom 
fail to relieve those affections of the stomach and bowels, from which 
mbildren,suffer somugh> icc Fh his mae . | 
minatives and aromatics, as caraway, pepp 
nes anti-spasmodics, and anodynes, mag 
in these gripes, spasms.and fits of infants. The * chil- 
ren’s : wntioned among the recipes, will be found to an-_ 
-swer almost every purpose in these affections. ee 
_ These general digeetions will be found to include most of what 
_ can be done for relieving the internal disorders of infants. They 
will likewise go a considerable way in alleviating those which ap-_ 
_@ pearexternally, as the rash, zum, &c... These are principally ow- 
ing to too hota regimen, and consequently will be most effectually 
_ lieved by gentl 
evacuations. 
ul 
OF THE MECONIUM. 
—— 
ae The stomach and bowels of a new-born infant are filled with @ 
blackish colored mattér | 
called meconium. 
gnesia, or what is better than all, a 
a nand will answer the purpose. 
exp meconiam is the 
The most preper medicine ellit 
mother’s milk, which is always at first of a 
