a few seconds the baby cannot spit
the oil out--it must swallow, and if the oil sticks together as cold oil
will, it gets the whole dose. It usually takes two persons to give a
baby a dose of oil--one to open the mouth and give the medicine, the
other to hold the nose and arms.

CALOMEL.--The general indication for calomel is fever. When a child
develops a disease it immediately gets a temperature, and very
frequently the fever is quite high because the slightest ailment gives a
child fever. When fever begins, digestion practically stops, it is
therefore imperative to clean the whole gastro-intestinal canal;
otherwise the undigested material will putrefy and poison the entire
system and render the disease more serious than it need be.

Now we select in such conditions calomel for two reasons:

First, because the presence of fever indicates that infection of the
blood is taking place; this may come either from the intestinal canal
itself, or from the germs of the disease with which the child is
suffering. Since calomel acts chemically through the blood it is the
cathartic indicated.

Second, because a cathartic like castor oil does not act through the
blood and it would most likely be vomited by a fevered stomach.

Certain conditions indicate calomel; biliousness and jaundice, for
example, because it has a specific action on the liver and if the liver
is at fault calomel is the proper remedy.

Calomel is best given in small divided doses, 1-10 of a grain every half
hour, for ten doses. It is best given combined with soda; every drug
store carries tablets of calomel and soda for this reason.

Calomel should never be given in the treatment of constipation, nor
should it be used indiscriminately by mothers, as much harm may result.
It has its specific use as indicated above, but it should never be used
under any other circumstances.

CITRATE OF MAGNESIA.--This is a mild laxative. After the bowels have
been thoroughly opened with castor oil or calomel, small doses of
citrate of magnesia may be given for a few days, "to keep the bowels
open." There is no danger or harm in its use if used for this purpose.
It must not be used, however, in the treatment of constipation of
children for the simple reason that you cannot cure constipation by the
use of drugs of any kind. Laxatives of this type have become a national
curse. Adults, especially women, use them constantly. All these
advertised saline laxative waters work by w