Diseases > Domestic medicine

341 Buchan’s
permit, tlie medicine ought to be repeated every six
or eight hours, till the stools begin to assume a more
natural appearance; afterwards a longer space may
be allowed to intervene between the doses. When it
is necessary to repeat the medicine frequently, the
dose ought always to be a little increased, as its
efficacy is generally diminished by use.
Some upon the first appearance of a looseness, fly
immediately to the use of absorbent medicines and
astringents. If these be administered before the
offending humours are discharged, though the disease
may appear to be mitigated for a little time, it soon
afterwards breaks forth with greater violence, and
often proves fatal. After proper evacuations, how¬
ever, these medicines may be administered with
considerable advantage.
Should any gripings or restlessness remain after
the stomach and bowels have been cleansed, a tea¬
spoonful of the syrup of poppies may be given in a
little simple cinnamon-water, three or four times a
day, till these symptoms have ceased.
OF ERUPTIONS.
Children, while on the breast, are seldom free from
eruptions of one kind or other. These, however, are
not often dangerous, and ought never to be dried up
but with the greatest caution. They tend to free the
bodies of infants from hurtful humours, which, if
retained, might produce fatal disorders.
The eruptions of children are chiefly owing to
improper food and neglect of cleanliness. If a child
be stuffed at all hours with food that its stomach is
not able to digest, such food, not being properly
assimilated, instead of nourishing the body, fills it
with gross humours. These must either break out
in form of eruntions upon the skin, or remain :n