GANGRENOUS ULCKRAT1ON. 23 



a tea-spoonful of cinnamon water every three or tour hours, acts very often like a 

 charm. If there be much pain, or if the discharge from the bowels be very copious, 

 it may be necessary to give a small quantity of laudanum ; but the administration of 

 laudanum to young children requires so much judgment, and is a matter which, in un- 

 professional hands, is fraught with so much danger, that we forbear to name the dose 

 which is requisite. We rather feel it our duty to repeat that neither laudanum or 

 opium in any form, nor indeed any narcotic drug, whether in the form of a patent 

 medicine or otherwise, ought ever to be administered to a young child unless by 

 the advice and with the consent of a medical man. 



Bad water is also a cause of dysentery, and the source of the water supply 

 should be looked to in every case, so as to find whether or not the water has been 

 contaminated by sewage, or by any other decomposing matter, whether animal or 

 tble. 



Falling Down of tJie Bowel or prolapsus ani is an accident which is liable 

 to happen occasionally to weakly, and especially rickety, children. When the child 

 goes to stool the bowel protrudes, and does not go back again. This condition of 

 things is brought about first, by the state of the child's health, which occasions a 

 relaxed condition of the bowel ; secondly, by any undue irritation of the bowel, as by 

 worms ; and thirdly, by constipation, which by causing the child to strain excessively 

 at stool, produces the mischief. The condition need cause no alarm, for, although 

 it is a strong indication of impaired health, it is not in itself dangerous. 



The treatment consists, first, in the careful regulation of the child's health, and 

 the administration of astringent tonics ; cod liver oil and steel wine (a tea-spoonful of 

 each) twice a day, after meals, is productive of great benefit, and is often sufficient in 

 itself to effect a cure. The bowel should be carefully replaced after every motion, 

 and, if necessary, it may be retained in its place by a conical pad fastened on by a 

 bandage. The parts in the neighbourhood of the bowel must be kept carefully 

 cleaned, and should there be any indication of the presence of worms, suitable 

 measures must be instituted for the removal of them. The diet must be regulated with 

 great care, and all indigestible food be most rigidly avoided, and constipation must 

 be carefully guarded against ; at the same time, care must be taken not to administer 

 purgatives of too violent a kind. If we can ensure a perfectly free action once a day, 

 that is all that is necessary. It is often easy to effect this by adding something to the 

 diet that has a slightly laxative effect, as fresh fruit, tamarinds, stewed prunes, or 

 figs. A tea-spoonful of phosphate of soda, dissolved in beef tea or milk, is a very 

 agreeable purgative for children, and if administered hot it is usually very effectual. 



Fake Croup. (See article Croup.) 

 Fifft. (See Convulsions.) 



Gangrenous Ukeration of the Cheek. This is a very serious condition indeed, and 

 is one that occasionally attacks children when they are recovering from the infantile 

 fevers, and especially after measles. It is most common between the ages of two and 

 thirteen, but happily it is a rare condition. The first symptom consists in a swelling 

 of the cheek, which often has a tense shining appearance, and on touching it we find a 



