Sect.  II.  Disorders of the stomach and bowels of the infant.

INDIGESTION, FLATULENCE, VOMITING, GRIPING, AND LOOSENESS.

Disorder of the stomach and bowels is one of the most fruitful sources of the diseases of infancy.  Only prevent their derangement, and, all things being equal, the infant will be healthy and flourish, and need not the aid of physic or physicians.  Experience daily proves, that a large proportion of the children who die in infancy are lost from derangement of these organs, as the primary cause.

There are many causes which may give rise to these affections; many of them appertain to the mother’s system, some to that of the infant.  All are capable, to a great extent, of being prevented or remedied.  It is, therefore, most important that a mother should not be ignorant or misinformed upon this subject.  It is the prevention of these affections, however, that will be principally dwelt upon in this chapter; for let the mother ever bear in mind, and act upon the principle, that the prevention of disease alone belongs to her; the cure to the physician.

For the sake of clearness and reference, these disorders will be spoken of as they occur:—­

To the infant at the breast. 
At the period of weaning. 
And to the infant brought up by hand.

1.  To the infant at the breast.

Unhealthy milk.—­The infant’s stomach and bowels may become deranged from the breast-milk becoming unwholesome.

This may arise from the parent getting out of health, a circumstance which will be so manifest to herself, and to those more immediately interested in her welfare, that it is only necessary just to allude to it here.  Suffice it to say, that there are many causes of a general kind to which it may owe its origin; but that the most frequent is undue lactation, a subject to which reference has already been made, and the effects both upon mother and child fully dwelt upon.[FN#31] To cure derangement of the bowels from this cause, a wet-nurse is the only remedy.

[FN#31] See page 15.

Anxiety of mind in the mother will cause her milk to be unhealthy in its character, and deficient in quantity, giving rise to flatulence, griping, and sometimes even convulsions in the infant.[FN#32] A fit of passion in the nurse will frequently be followed by a fit of bowel complain in the child.[FN#33] These causes of course are temporary, and when removed the milk becomes a healthy and sufficient for the child as before.

[FN#32] See page 25.

[FN#33] See page 33.