thoroughly, the bowel. The best means for this purpose, if it is
immediately procurable, is calomel. If calomel is not procurable at once
give castor oil, two teaspoonfuls to an infant, one tablespoonful to an
older child. Calomel should be given in one-eighth-grain doses, repeated
every three-quarters of an hour for eight or twelve doses, until the
bowel is thoroughly cleaned out. Don't be afraid of a few extra
movements at the beginning. Better clean out thoroughly at the start
than to be compelled to do it all over again after the child is weak and
suffering from the poison of the disease. The next important thing to do
is to stop milk at once. The thirst is usually intense and if vomiting
is not present it can be moderately relieved by giving small quantities
frequently of cool boiled water or mineral water or strained albumen or
barley water. We quite often have to stop all food and liquids by the
mouth for twenty-four hours.

If the prostration is very great and the child looks as though it
might collapse, it can be given brandy in cracked ice from time to time.

After the bowels have been thoroughly cleaned out, never before, some
medicinal agent may be given to stop the unnecessary diarrhea. In a very
large number of promptly and properly treated cases this is not needed.
If it is thought best to use it the physician will select the agent
according to the conditions present and prescribe it.

Breast-fed infants rarely have intestinal diseases of a severe type. If
they should develop diarrhea they must be taken off the mother's milk
for twenty-four hours. They should be given a dose of castor oil or
calomel and fed on barley water in the interval. The feedings should be
reduced in quantity and the interval doubled. The two-hour interval will
become a four-hour feeding: the three or four ounces at each feeding can
be reduced to two ounces. The intention is to simply give as little as
possible while the diarrhea is under way.

The mother's breasts must be pumped at the regular feeding time in order
to preserve the flow, release the pressure, and keep the milk fresh.

It is sometimes a problem to renew feedings of milk without exciting a
relapse of the diarrhea. It should not be tried until the stools are
normal in color and consistency. This may not be for three or four days.
In resuming the milk it should be given in smaller amounts and diluted
with lime water or barley water for the first day. Gruels may be