mpress upon one of these willing but ignorant mothers the absolute
necessity for washing her hands before she prepares her baby's food,
that she must keep a covered vessel in which the soiled napkins are
placed until washed, that she should frequently sponge her baby in the
hot weather, and explain thoroughly why these are important details, is
a work of true religious charity. They should be specially taught to
immediately discontinue milk at the first sign of intestinal trouble, to
give a suitable dose of castor oil and to put the child on barley water
as a food until the danger is passed. They should be taught to know the
significance of a green, watery stool, they should know that is the one
danger signal in the summer time that no mother can ignore without
wilfully risking the life of her baby. They should be taught to prepare
special articles of diet when they are needed. If every mother were
educated to the extent as indicated in the above outline the appalling
infant mortality would fall into insignificance. It is not a difficult
task nor would it take a long time to carry it out; it is the work for
willing women who have time and who perhaps spend that time in less
desirable but more dramatic ways.

It is the knowledge that aids in catching disease in its inception that
counts. The worst infections begin as a mild condition and prompt
treatment robs them of their sting. When treatment is delayed and the
child is fed for twenty-four hours too long on milk, the condition which
in the beginning could have been stopped promptly has developed and it
becomes a fight for life.

It will be seen from the above that all we need is education.
Education of the mother primarily, but education of the missionary, the
nurse, the physician, the municipality, and the State, each
co-operating, each willing to work in the interest of a great cause, for
the benefit of the human race and for the brotherhood of man.

ACUTE INTESTINAL INDIGESTION

Causes.--Overfeeding, unsuitable and improper food, irregular and
indiscriminate feeding, sudden change from one food to another, as at
weaning time, a change from a poor quality to a rich food, or vice
versa. Conditions affecting the health of the child, especially the
nervous system, such as hot weather, extreme cold, fatigue, or at the
beginning of any of the acute diseases. Children sometimes are
predisposed to attacks of intestinal indigestion; these children are
delicate in healt