_COLIC._
1. Babies often suffer severely with colic. It is not considered dangerous,
but causes considerable suffering.
2. Severe colic is usually the result of derangement of the liver in the
mother, or of her insufficient or improper nourishment, and it occurs more
frequently when the child is from two to five months old. {328}
3. Let the mother eat chiefly barley, wheat and bread, rolled wheat, graham
bread, fish, milk, eggs and fruit. The latter may be freely eaten, avoiding
that which is very sour.
4. A rubber bag or bottle filled with hot water put into a crib, will keep
the child, once quieted, asleep for hours. If a child is suffering from
colic, it should be thoroughly warmed and kept warm.
5. Avoid giving opiates of any kind, such as cordials, Mrs. Winslow's
Soothing Syrup, "Mother's Friend," and various other patent medicines. They
injure the stomach and health of the child, instead of benefiting it.
6. REMEDIES.--A few tablespoonfuls of hot water will often allay a severe
attack of the colic. Catnip tea is also a good remedy.
A drop of essence of peppermint in 6 or 7 teaspoonfuls of hot water will
give relief.
If the stools are green and the child is very restless, give chamomilla.
If the child is suffering from constipation, and undigested curds of milk
appear in its faeces, and the child starts suddenly in its sleep, give nux
vomica.
An injection of a few spoonfuls of hot water into the rectum with a little
asafoetida is an effective remedy, and will be good for an adult.
_CONSTIPATION._
1. This is a very frequent ailment of infants. The first thing necessary is
for the mother to regulate her diet.
2. If the child is nursed regularly and held out at the same time of each
day, it will seldom be troubled with this complaint. Give plenty of
_water_. Regularity of habit is the remedy. If this method fails, use a
soap suppository. Make it by paring a piece of white castile soap round. It
should be made about the size of a lead pencil, pointed at the end.
3. Avoid giving a baby drugs. Let the physician administer them if
necessary. {329}
_DIARRHOEA._
Great care should be exercised by parents in checking the diarrhoea of
children. Many times serious diseases are brought on by parents being too
hasty in checking this disorder of the bowels. It is an infant's first
method of removing obstructions and overcoming derangements of the system.
_SUMMER COMPLAINT._
1. Summer complaint is an irritation and inflammation of the lining
membranes of the intestines. This may often be caused by teething, eating
indigestible food, etc.
2. If the discharges are only frequent and yellow and not accompanied with
pain, there is no cause for anxiety; but if the discharges are green, soon
becoming gray, brown and sometimes frothy, having a mixture of phlegm, and
sometimes containing food undigested, a physician had better be summoned.