No, not if it occur _immediately_ after birth; as soon as the bowels
have been opened, it generally leaves him, or even before, if he give
a good cry, which as soon as he is born he usually does. If there be
any mucus either within or about the mouth, impeding breathing, it
must with a soft handkerchief be removed.

90. _Is it advisable, as soon as an infant is born, to give him
medicine_?

It is now proved that the giving of medicine to a babe _immediately_
after birth is unnecessary, nay, that it is hurtful--that is, provided
he be early put to the breast, as the mother's _first_ milk is
generally sufficient to open the bowels. Sir Charles Locock [Footnote:
In a _Letter_ to the Author.] makes the following sensible remarks on
this subject:--"I used to limit any aperient to a new-born infant to
those which had not the first milk, and who had wet nurses, whose milk
was, of course, some weeks old, but for many years I have never
allowed any aperient at all to any new born infant, and I am satisfied
it is the safest and the wisest plan."

The advice of Sir Charles Locock--_to give no aperient to a new-born
infant_--is most valuable, and ought to be strictly followed. By
adopting his recommendation, much after misery might be averted. If a
new born babe's bowels be costive, rather than give him an aperient,
try the effect of a little moist sugar, dissolved in a little water,
that is to say, dissolve half a tea-spoonful of pure unadulterated
_raw_ sugar in a tea-spoonful of warm water and administer it to him,
if in four hours it should not operate, repeat the dose. Butter and
raw sugar is a popular remedy, and is sometimes used by a nurse to
open the bowels of a new born babe, and where there is costiveness,