n-2 



and administration of purgative medicines, made its appear- 

 ance. This author has illustrated in a masterly manner, the 

 eflfects of torpor in the bowels in St. Vitus's dance, and 

 several other diseases hitherto deemed nervous, and has 

 proved the necessity and propriety of such unusual (pum- 

 tities of purgative medicine, that what I have to propose 

 must appear the less marvellous. 



The bowel complaints of infants, previous to dentition, 

 have been described in medical works, vmder the various 

 appellations of " inward fits," costiveness and wind, gripes 

 and green stools. To this catalogue, I am disposed to add 

 in gradation. Bilious Cholic and Convulsions. All these 

 appear to me stages of the same disease, and to be more or 

 less connected with the free or restrained discharges of the 

 bowels. 



Infants, whose bowels discharge copiojislji four, five or six 

 times in twenty-four hours, in general sleep a great deal, and 

 appear perfectly at ease, provided they are well sup|)lied 

 with suck. With evacuations much under what 1 have stated, 

 and especially if not copious, a variety of uneasines will shew 

 itself, which, if neglected, will sooner or later terminate in a 

 smart attack of Cholic, and this again, if not speedily alle- 

 viated, in Convulsions. 



It is not a little singular that infants, subsisting on food 

 which yields but httle solid contents, compared with the 

 food of adults, should require such large and frequent alvine 

 discharges to keep them in healtli. 



I have 



