Although broth and beef-tea, when taken by the mouth, will seldom
agree with an infant at the breast, yet, when used as an enema, and in
small quantities, so that they may be retained, I have frequently
found them to be of great benefit, they have in some instances
appeared to have snatched delicate children from the brink of the
grave.

112. _My baby's ankles are very weak: what do you advise to strengthen
them_?

If his ankles be weak, let them every morning be bathed, after the
completion of his morning's ablution, for fire minutes each time, with
bay-salt and water, a small handful of bay-salt dissolved in a quart
of rain water (with the chill of the water off in the winter, and of
its proper temperature in the summer time); then let them be dried;
after the drying, let the ankles he well rubbed with the following
liniment:--

Take of--Oil of Rosemary, three drachms;
Liniment of Camphor, thirteen drachms:

To make a Liniment

Do not let him be put on his feet early; but allow him to crawl, and
sprawl, and kick about the floor, until his body and his ankles become
strong.

Do not, on any account, without having competent advice on the
subject, use iron instruments, or mechanical supports of any kind: the