nary rectal injection should be
95 deg. F. When the child is exhausted or very weak, or when the circulation
is poor, the temperature of the water may be as high as 110 deg. F. When, on
the other hand, the fever is very high, the water may be much cooler; as
low as 70 deg. F. has been given with good results on the fever. If the
irrigation is given with the intention of reducing the fever, it is best
to begin with water around 90 deg. F., and reduce it to 70 deg. F., gradually.

Indications for Irrigation of the Colon.--When it is desired to
cleanse the bowel of any collection of matter a colon irrigation is
indicated. This matter may be mucus, fecal substance, undigested food,
or the decomposing waste products which may remain there as a result of
disease or other conditions.

When it is desired to medicate by putting fluids into the bowel we adopt
the colon infusion.

Every diseased condition of the bowel does not, however, indicate
irrigation. If a child is having frequent loose movements every
half-hour it is safe to assume that the bowel is being cleaned out
sufficiently without any artificial aid. To irrigate in these cases
would only irritate and would not accomplish anything. The cases which
are benefited are those in which we have a fever with four or five green
stools in the twenty-four hours, or where we have a high fever with no
movement at all. To irrigate in these cases we not only get rid of the
products of decomposition, but we prevent further decomposition and we
reduce the fever, thereby contributing to the general welfare of the
child.

When the child is convalescing and when there is only mucus in the
stools, with no fever--as in cases of chronic ileo-colitis--the colon
irrigations should be stopped, as they tend to keep up the discharge of
mucus in these cases. If, however, there is a relapse with fever, which
would indicate a fresh infection with more discharging mucus and
possibly green stools, the irrigation must be used until the fever
subsides.

Colon irrigations should always be given in every case of convulsions in
infancy, first to clean out the bowel to prevent putrefaction, and
second to empty the bowel on general principles because an overloaded
bowel is very frequently the cause of convulsions in children.

When irrigation of the bowel is given at all it must be given
thoroughly. Enough water must pass into the bowel to wash it all out.
For this reason it is essential that the cat