From cold and damp, etc.—­Of course there are other causes besides these already alluded to, giving rise to bowel complaints, during this epoch,—­causes not cognisable by the mother, however, and not mentioned therefore here.  It is right, however, that she should be aware that these affections are sometimes the result simply of impressions of cold or damp, particularly at certain seasons of the year; in the autumn, for instance, when, as is well known, bowel complaints are very frequent.  When thus produced, it is important early to seek medical aid, as inflammation is generally the result.

2.  At the period of weaning.

There is great susceptibility to derangements of the stomach and bowels of the child at the period when weaning ordinarily takes place, so that great care and judgment must be exercised in effecting this object.  Usually, however, the bowels are deranged during this process from one of these causes; from weaning too early, from effecting it too suddenly and abruptly, or from over-feeding and the use of improper and unsuitable food.  There is another cause which also may give rise to diarrhoea at this time, independently of weaning, viz. the irritation of difficult teething.

Weaning too early.—­The substitution of artificial food for the breast-milk of the mother, at a period when the digestive organs of the infant are too delicate for this change, is a frequent source of the affections now under consideration.

The attempt to wean a delicate child, for instance, when only six months old, will inevitably be followed by disorder of the stomach and bowels.  Unless, therefore, a mother is obliged to resort to this measure, from becoming pregnant, or any other unavoidable cause, if she consult the welfare of her child, she will not give up nursing at this early period.  But if she should be no longer competent to suckle, and her infant be delicate, a wet-nurse must be obtained; for, the infant’s bowels becoming disordered, medicine or remedies will avail little without healthy breast milk.

The age at which weaning ought to take place must ever depend upon circumstances; the ninth month would not be too early for some, the twelfth would be for others.[FN#35]

[FN#35] See page 51.

For sudden and abrupt alteration of diet.—­Depriving the child at once of the breast, and substituting artificial food, however proper under due regulations such food may be, will invariably cause bowel complaints.  Certain rules and regulations must be adopted to effect weaning safely, the details of which are given elsewhere.[FN#36]

[FN#36] See page 52.

OVERFEEDING, and the use of improper and unwholesome food.—­These causes are more productive of disorder of the stomach and bowels at the time of weaning than any yet referred to.