with severe pain and straining, injections of
starch water and laudanum, from two to four ounces of the former to from
twenty to fifty drops of the latter should be used.

Hot fomentations applied to the abdomen are beneficial. If the
discharges contain much blood, a flannel cloth moistened with the
spirits of turpentine should be laid over the lower part of the abdomen,
and kept there until slight irritation is produced.

Lime water, bicarbonate of soda, bicarbonate of potash (saleratus),
chalk, and the subnitrate of bismuth are valuable agents to correct the
secretions, and allay irritation of the diseased mucous surface. The
above-named preparations of soda, potash, and bismuth may be taken in
doses of from five to twenty grains every few hours.

Blackberry root and cranesbill (_Geranium Maculatum_), in the form of
fluid extract or infusion, are beneficial in acute cases in which the
discharges are profuse and watery, and in the chronic forms of these
affections.

In _cholera infantum_ subnitrate of bismuth should be given in doses of
from five to ten grains at intervals of from two to four hours. If the
discharges are very profuse, the fluid extract of cranesbill may be
administered in from two to ten-drop doses alternately with the bismuth.
The camphorated tincture of opium (paregoric) is required in doses of
from two to twenty drops, depending upon the age of the child and the
severity of the case, if there is much pain, but great caution should be
exercised in administering the preparations of opium to children. A
single drop of laudanum given to a young infant has caused convulsions,
coma, and death in more than one instance. To check the vomiting of
_cholera infantum_, mild irritation over the stomach is sometimes
effectual. For this purpose a weak mustard plaster, or a cloth moistened
with turpentine, may be laid over the stomach for a few minutes at a
time. If the child is old enough to suck pellets of ice, these are
beneficial, or a piece can be wrapped in a cloth and sucked.

COLIC.

_Colic_ is a term applied to griping pains in the abdomen, which are
sometimes accompanied with nausea and vomiting. The derangement is
recognized in several forms, some of which we shall briefly describe.

BILIOUS COLIC. This may be the result of a morbid condition of the
liver.

SYMPTOMS. It is characterized by severe pain occurring in paroxysms,
which may be relieved by pressure upon the bowels. The pulse is qui