INFANCY. 
viscid matter obstructing the gall-ducts ; in 
Order to remove which, a gentle emetic is 
required. That generally preferred, is the 
tartarised wine of antimony, in the dose of 
a single drop or two ; and it has the advan- 
tage of also passing downwards. In giving 
vomits, however, at this period, there is 
often much danger, and instead of the tar- 
tarised antimony, which is rather uncertain 
in its operation, three or four grains of ipe- 
cacuanha will be safer, which should be fol- 
lowed the next day with the same quantity 
of rhubarb. Where the symptoms do not 
seem to yield, the same plan should be con- 
tinued every other day, till the yellowness 
begin to disappear, which it generally does 
in about a week. In this complaint, the 
mere opening the bowels does not seem en- 
tirely sufficient to remove the colour of the 
skin. Even at times, along with the former 
treatment, some addition of saponaceous or 
soapy medicines becomes necessary, as two 
or three drops of prepared kali ; while, to 
assist its operation, both the warm bath, 
and friction of the stomach may be con- 
joined. 
On this subject it may be farther observ- 
ed, that no tinge is communicated to the 
child from the mother, though she have 
been afflicted with the disease during preg- 
naricy ; but, at the same time, if it continue 
with her after delivery, and she suckle her 
child, the true jaundice will be communi- 
cated to the infant, and the disease remain 
till it be either weaned or the mother reco- 
ver. 
There are few infants, even under the 
most favourable circumstances of manage- 
ment, that will reach the termination of the 
first- six, or even the first three months, 
without some morbid affection of the bowels. 
The diseases of this tribe are chiefly cos- 
tiveness, looseness, acidity, and flatulence. 
Of these the first is not very frequent : it 
exists nevertheless occasionally, in a very 
great and even alarming degree ; sometimes 
derived from the constitution of the mother, 
and sometimes as an idiopathic affection. 
In the former case we may be always under 
less apprehension; in the latter case the 
constipation is occasionally so severe, and 
accompanied with so much pain, and even 
spasm, as to threaten an inflammation of the 
bowels, if not speedily removed. As in- 
stantaneous applications, the best remedies 
are fomentations of hot water, or chamo- 
mile decoction, to the belly; doses of calo- 
mel, from one to three grains, according to 
the age of the patient, given by the mouth, 
and injections of the common enematiC de- 
coction, with a little sweet oil, and a solu- 
tion of neutral salt. This complaint, usual- 
ly proceeds from too rapid an absorption of 
the more fluid parts of the chyle, by the bi- 
bulous mouths of the lacteals,in consequence 
of which the part that remains is too com- 
pact and solid to be forced away by the 
common peristaltic action. This morbid 
activity of absorption should be next at- 
tended to, to prevent a recurrence of the 
disease; and occasional doses of rhubarb, 
alternating with castor oil, is perhaps the 
best method that can be pursued to obtain 
this object. 
Looseness, or diarrhoea, is, however, a 
much more common complaint among in- 
fants than costiveness. It is often connect- 
ed with vomiting ; and both arise most fre- 
quently from one of these three causes ; un- 
wholesome food, moist cold air, or the sud- 
den disappearance of some cutaneous erup- 
tion. From whichever of these it pro- 
ceeds, it ought not to be hastily stopped ; 
certainly not till tho offensive matter, on 
which it depends, be totally removed. 
Where joined with a vomiting, an emetic 
ought to be the firs) step, after that -the use 
of rhubarb and absorbents may be ventured 
on, and continued, with an occasional emetic 
till the first passages be completely cleared 
of any irritation which may keep up the- dis- 
ease. If it continue after a sufficient per- 
severance in this plan, light cordials and 
opiates should be interposed. If the purg- 
ing be connected with toothing, or attended 
with fever, though it continue obstinate, it 
requires much caution. For, in this case, 
so far from being a disease, it may, perhaps, 
be considered itself as a remedy, in prevent- 
ing the occurrence of more dangerous symp- 
toms. Keeping the discharge merely within 
bounds is the proper mode of proceeding, 
and the chalk julep will be the best reme- 
dy ; when the bowels being once cleared, 
and the irritation removed, the treatment 
will be much regulated by the appearance 
of the stools. These have been distinguish- 
ed into sour, clayey, watery, bloody, and 
fetid. 
The last kind, when it occurs, requires 
the use of a powerful purgative, such as 
senna-tea, if the child be old enough to bear 
it. Blood is seldom mixed with the stools, 
but towards the end of the disease, and an 
occasional streak of it is of little conse- 
quence. Watery stools, where combined 
with greenness, or an appearance of curdled 
matter, are best removed by a gentle emetic , 
Pp 8 
