ears of age; into 8
powders, if for a child between four and eight years of ago; and into 6
powders for between eight and twelve years. One powder to be given, in a
little jelly or sugar-and-water, every three or four hours, according to
the severity of the symptoms.

2554. _Saline Mixture_.--Take of mint-water, 6 ounces; powdered nitre,
20 grains; antimonial wine, 3 drachms; spirits of nitre, 2 drachms;
syrup of saffron, 2 drachms. Mix. To children under three years, give a
teaspoonful every two hours; from that age to six, a dessertspoonful at
the same times; and a tablespoonful every three or four hours to
children between six and twelve.

2555. The object of these aperient powders is to keep up a steady but
gentle action on the bowels; but, whenever it seems necessary to
administer a stronger dose, and effect a brisk action on the digestive
organs,--a course particularly imperative towards the close of the
disease,--two of these powders given at once, according to the age, will
be found to produce that effect; that is, two of the twelve for a child
under four years, and two of the eight, and two of the six, according to
the age of the patient.

2556. When the difficulty of breathing becomes oppressive, as it
generally does towards night, a hot bran poultice, laid on the chest,
will be always found highly beneficial. The diet throughout must be
light, and consist of farinaceous food, such as rice and sago puddings,
beef-tea and toast; and not till convalescence sets in should hard or
animal food be given.

2557. When measles assume the malignant form, the advice just given must
be broken through; food of a nutritious and stimulating character should
be at once substituted, and administered in conjunction with wine, and
even spirits, and the disease regarded and treated as a case of typhus.
But, as this form of measles is not frequent, and, if occurring, hardly
likely to be treated without assistance, it is unnecessary to enter on
the minutiae of its practice here. What we have prescribed, in almost
all cases, will be found sufficient to meet every emergency, without
resorting to a multiplicity of agents.

2558. The great point to remember in measles is, not to give up the
treatment with the apparent subsidence of the disease, as the
_after-consequences_ of measles are too often more serious, and to be
more dreaded, than the measles themselves. To guard against this danger,
and thoroughly purify the system, afte