the other
extreme, for cases are met with from time to time of congestion of the
brain, or of inflammation of the chest or of the bowels, in which
leeches bring greater and more speedy relief than any other remedy. In
applying leeches it is always desirable that they should be put on where
they will be out of the child's sight if possible, and where it will be
comparatively easy to stop the bleeding. Hence, in many instances of
inflammation of the bowels, it is better to apply the leeches at the
edge of the lower bowel, the anus as it is technically termed, than on
the front of the stomach, though, of course, this will not always answer
the purpose. Leeches to the chest may usually be put on just under the
shoulder-blade; and leeches to the head on one or other side behind the
ear, where they will be out of the way of any large vein, and where the
pressure of the finger will easily stop the bleeding. Steady pressure
with the finger will, even where there is no bone to press against,
usually effect this; and then a little pad of lint put over the bite,
and one or two layers over that, and all fastened on with strips of
adhesive plaster, will prevent any renewal of the bleeding. In the few
cases where it is not arrested by these means, the application of a
little of the solution of muriate of iron will hardly fail of effect.

There is one more point to which I will refer before passing lastly to
the question of how to manage in the administration of medicine; and
this is the best way of applying cold to the head. This is often
ordered, but very seldom efficiently done. Cold is best applied by means
of a couple of bladders half-filled with pounded ice, and wrapped in two
large napkins; one of them should be placed under the child's head, the
corners of the napkin being pinned to the pillow-case to prevent its
being disturbed, while the other is allowed to rest upon the head, but
with the corners of the napkin again pinned to the pillow so as to take
off the greater part of its weight. Thus arranged, the cold application
will neither get displaced by the child's movements, nor will the child
itself be wetted, as it too commonly is when wet cloths are employed for
this purpose, nor irritated by their perpetual removal and renewal.

In London and in large towns there are various contrivances of
vulcanised rubber, which are, of course, far preferable to the bladders,
but it is not everyone who lives in London, or who can comm