123 



I have on a former occasion * expressed an opinion, that 

 a large proportion of these discharges is biUous, and 1 have 

 now to add, after sixteen yearsclose attention to the subject, 

 that in Chohc and Convulsions, nothing but a brisk expul- 

 sion of the contents of the bowels is likely to afford perma- 

 nent relief. To effect such expulsion is frequently a task of 

 the utmost difficulty, and requires remedies of the most 

 powerful nature. 



When an infant is seized "wit-h violent screaraings, and re- 

 fuses to suck, drawing its lower extremities occasionally to- 

 wards the abdomen, the existence of Cholic may be safely 

 inferred. On enquiry the infant may be reported to have 

 had frequent stools, but on inspection they will generally be 

 found scanty, often green. 



A dose or two of Castor Oil, or a common purgative 

 Enema, will often remove slight attacks of this nature. It 

 is in general after the failure of such measures, that a Phy- 

 sician's advice is required. My practice of late, in urgent 

 cases, is to order twelve grains of Calomel to be rubbed 

 with an equal quantity of refined sugar, and divided into 

 twelve parts. One to be given immediately in a little of the 

 nurse's suck, and in an hour after, a tea spoonful of Castor 

 Oil. And alternately Calomel and Castor Oil are directed 

 to be repeated every hour until the bowels are freely purged 



and the infant obtains relief. I have frequently found that 



before 



• See Transactions of Royal Irish Academy, Vol. vi. p. 3. 



