air to the country will often do, in relieving a child who is
painfully cutting his teeth. The number of deaths in London, from
teething, is frightful; it is in the country comparatively trifling.

71. _Should an infant be purged during teething or indeed, during any
other time, do you approve of either absorbent or astringent medicines
to restrain it_?

Certainly not. I should look upon, the relaxation as an effort of
nature to relieve itself. A child is never purged without a cause;
that cause, in the generality of instances, is the presence of either
some undigested food, or acidity, or depraved motions, that want a
vent.

The better plan is, in such a case, to give a dose of aperient
medicine, such as either castor oil, or magnesia and rhubarb; and thus
work it off. IF WE LOCK UP THE BOWELS, WE CONFINE THE ENEMY, AND THUS
PRODUCE MISCHIEF. [Footnote: I should put this in capitals, it is so
important and is often mistaken.--C. Locock.] If he be purged more
than usual, attention should be paid to the diet--if it be absolutely
necessary to give him artificial food while suckling--and care must be
taken not to overload the stomach.

72. _A child is subject to a slight cough during dentition--called by
nurses "tooth-cough"--which a parent would not consider of sufficient
importance to consult a doctor about: pray tell me, is there any
objection to a mother giving her child a small quantity either of
syrup of white poppies, or of paregoric, to ease it_?

A cough is an effort of nature to bring up any secretion from the