These are known by continual crying, restlessness, and drawing up
of the legs. When attended by diarrhœa and green stools, they are
to be relieved, in general, by the administration of a few grains
of rhubarb and magnesia. If sour belchings, &c. still continue,
a tea-spoonful of very weak solution of tartar emetic should be
given every quarter of an hour, until the child vomits. After this,
particularly if there be any purging, it may be proper to give a
little rhubarb and magnesia again, and now and then a little chalk
mixture.
_Absorbent Mixture._
If the pains are very great, so as to make the child scream
violently, two tea-spoonfuls of the following mixture, with
five or six drops of laudanum, may be given directly:—
Mix together, prepared chalk, 1 scruple,
tincture of caraway seeds, 3 drams,
compound spirit of lavender, 1 do.
and of peppermint water, 2 oz.
As soon as there is diminution of pain, a purgative should
be given, particularly if the bowels happen to be in a
costive state. The best will be castor oil. The above mixture
may afterwards be occasionally continued, but without the
laudanum.
_Anodyne Plaster._
The late Dr. Clarke, of Burlington Street, frequently ordered
the following plaster to be applied over the bowels of
infants, in case of griping and inflammatory excitement of
the intestines:—
Take of compound plaster of laudanum, 1½ oz.
diachylon plaster, 2 drams,
purified opium, 1 do.
oil of peppermint, 1 do.
camphor, 1 do.
Mix for a plaster, and spread on soft leather.