Rupture in a Baby. (Navel).—­Take a strip of oxide of zinc adhesive plaster about one and one-half inches wide and long enough to reach three-fourths around the baby’s body.  Fasten one end of this to one side of the abdomen and with the other hand gently push the rupture back; bring the skin on either side of the navel together so that it will meet and hold the rupture.  Bring the plaster tightly across the abdomen, across the navel and attach it firmly to the other side; change this dressing every few days and continue treatment until healed.

Colds in Babies.—­Many babies seem to take cold without any cause.  It is often due to the fact that the room is too warm, or they are clothed too warmly; they get easily overheated and feel the slightest draught of air.  If it is in his nose and it is stopped up, twist a piece of cotton on a small wooden piece like a tooth-pick and dip it into olive oil and put it into the nostrils a short distance.  If necessary, buy a nose syringe with a soft rubber tip, and use it twice daily.  The following solution is good:  one-half teaspoonful of boric acid powder, one ounce of glycerin, and eight ounces of warm water.  Mix.  Place the child on your lap, head against your chest, bend his head well forward and syringe one nostril and then the other.  Camphor cream is a good remedy.  For a cough and much wheezing use a mustard plaster.  Take one part mustard, six parts flour and mix it into a smooth paste with a little cold water, spread it between two layers of muslin, warm it and moisten with a little water if necessary, and put it on the upper part of the breastbone.  Leave it on only long enough to redden the skin (five to six minutes).  Put it on just before baby goes to bed.  A drop of camphor every three hours is often good for a cold at the beginning.  Aconite in small doses is also very good.

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Mothers’ remedies.  Colds, Catnip Tea for.—­“Give a little sweetened catnip tea, then grease well with camphor and lard.”  This is a very simple and effective remedy, especially for small babies.

(See “Colds” under General Department for more Mothers’ Remedies,)

Early signs of sickness.—­When a baby who persistently refuses his food is drowsy at unusual times, fretful, feverish, and is uncomfortable, the mother should look in baby’s mouth, for sore throat or tonsils, or on his body for rashes.  Undress the baby and put him to bed in a quiet room away from the rest of the family, and if he is hot and restless give him a sponge bath with one teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda to a basin of luke-warm water.  Give him also an enema to move his bowels, especially if they are not regular.  Dilute his usual food with water or barley water to one-half the usual strength.  If he is old enough to eat solid food, stop it.  A dose of a teaspoonful of castor oil is safe to give until the doctor comes.  Give him water to drink for he is thirsty.  Take his temperature.