poisoning process begins.

The above is a suggestive admission for a physician to make. It simply
means that the vast majority of the calls made by a physician on ailing
children are caused by errors in diet and can be completely cured by a
dose of castor oil or calomel, or, better still, need never occur.

A mother who neglects, who is guilty of inattention to the conditions of
her child's bowel, fails in one of the most important duties of
motherhood. I know as a father and a physician that if a child's bowel
acts regularly and thoroughly, that child is fortified to the highest
efficient degree against the multitude of little ailments common to all
children. A clean bowel means good blood, good digestion, ability to
exercise properly, to sleep soundly and to think clearly. Such a child
will resist infection and throw off the minor troubles that pave the way
for serious sickness. It is a secret worth knowing.

A DAILY MOVEMENT OF THE BOWEL NECESSARY.--In order to preserve good
health one thorough movement of the bowel is necessary daily. A baby may
have two or three and enjoy robust health. A larger daily number
suggests an abnormal condition of the bowel and an investigation should
be made. If a nursing baby's bowels do not move before bedtime it should
be given an injection of equal parts of glycerine and hot water,
one-half cupful; or an enema of soap and water, or a glycerine
suppository. When a child is six months old, in some sooner, it should
be put on the stool at a certain time every morning. This will aid in
the establishment of the habit, as a child soon understands why it is
made to assume this position and acts accordingly.

The condition referred to above and which we termed incomplete
constipation may affect the nursing infant. A child's bowels may move
daily and yet the child will suffer from constipation. If the movements
are watched it will be observed that certain children strain when at
stool, and after a time succeed in passing hard, dry lumps or balls of
fecal matter. Such a movement is a certain indication that the bowel is
not emptying itself satisfactorily and that a constant toxemia or
poisoning is going on. Very faithful efforts should be made to remedy
this condition by the use of articles of diet that are known to be
laxative, otherwise the condition is one that will "grow" with the child
and establish an obstinate chronic constipation with all its miseries
and dangers.

CONSTIPATION I