er
cannot be retained on the stomach, it often becomes necessary to
inject it under the skin (hypodermoclysis) so that it may go at once
to the wasted tissues and perhaps save the baby's life.

Give the baby ten days or two weeks to return to normal condition, and
under no circumstances hurry the feeding of milk, as a second attack
may occur much more readily than the first; may more profoundly
overcome the baby and result in death.

RUPTURE

A protrusion of a loop or portion of intestine through a weakened
abdominal muscle--which grows larger when baby cries and smaller when
he is lying down in a relaxed condition--is known as rupture or
hernia, and is of common occurrence in infancy. It is often seen at
the navel and sometimes in the groin as early as the second week.

Hernia is always dangerous and should never be neglected. The
physician will protect the navel by a special support with adhesive
plaster which is carefully renewed twice a week, and if worn for
several months usually entirely corrects the condition. A comfortable
truss made from skeins of white yarn will amply protect a groin
hernia. The condition should always be taken seriously and receive
immediate treatment.

PROLAPSE OF THE BOWEL

Occasionally, as the result of severe straining in constipation, the
rectum protrudes sometimes one-half inch, and in rare instances two or
three inches. The placing of a young child upon a toilet chair and
insisting upon severe straining sometimes results in such a protrusion
of the rectum. This may be avoided by the application of vaseline to
the rectum or by the use of the gluten or glycerine suppositories
which cause the hardened masses to make their way out easily. Someone
has suggested that if the buttocks are supported by a board placed
over the toilet seat with a two-inch opening so that severe straining
of the rectal muscles is impossible, the prolapse of the rectum will
not recur.

The moment the mother observes the slightest protrusion of the rectum
she should quickly put it back and have the child lie down and move
the bowel in the diaper. Very severe cases require a physician's
attention, but if prompt and quick measures are taken on the first
appearance it may be quickly corrected and serious consequences be
avoided.

In this connection we might mention a condition which sometimes babies
are born with--the absence of the rectal opening. If the baby's bowels
do not move for the first two days