he child fell into convulsions, and soon died. In less than a month
the child of another woman in the same house was found to be ill with
disordered bowels. The first woman, not at all suspecting that the
Godfrey's cordial had produced the convulsions in her infant, persuaded
her friend to give the same medicine to her child. A dose from the same
bottle was given, and this child was likewise attacked almost
immediately with convulsions, and also died."

Convulsions and epilepsy, without such fatal results as the foregoing,
are not uncommon as the effect of a single dose of an opiate given
unadvisedly; and by their continued and habitual use (and the form of
syrup of poppies is but too often administered by an indiscreet and
lazy nurse, unknown by the parent), a low, irritative, febrile state is
produced, gradually followed by loss of flesh, the countenance becoming
pallid, sallow, and sunken, the eyes red and swollen, and the
expression stupid and heavy, and the powers of the constitution at last
becoming completely undermined. Such an object is to be seen daily
among the poorer classes,--the miniature of a sickly aged person: death
soon follows here.

Sect. IV.--LEECHING.

Difficulty sometimes arises in putting a stop to the bleeding from
leech-bites; a matter of considerable importance in the case of a
delicate infant. The following measures may be resorted to for this
purpose:--

1. Expose the surface of the part to the external air, so that a
coagulum of blood may form at the orifice: this simple mode will
frequently arrest it.

2. If this fail, make compression upon the part: this is one of the
most effectual means of restraining haemorrhage. It is to be effected
by taking a piece of lint folded three or four thicknesses, and the
size of the finger-nail, to be steadily pressed upon the open orifice
with the point of the finger until the blood has ceased to flow. The
pledget of lint, however, must not be removed for some hours
afterwards, or the bleeding will break out afresh.

3. If the compression fails in stopping the bleeding, or from the
situation of the leech-bites it cannot be adopted, because there is no
firm point of resistance upon which to make pressure, the part may be
dusted with starch or gum arabic powder, or, if this is of no avail,
the wound may be touched with lunar caustic.

If none of these measures are successful, the assistance of the
medical attendant must be obtained; and if