answers the purpose exceedingly well, and is far superior to castor
oil. Try by all means to do, if possible, without a particle of
opening medicine. If you once begin to give aperients, you will have
frequently to repeat them. Opening physic leads to opening physic,
until at length his stomach and bowels will become a physic shop! Let
me, then, emphatically say, avoid, if possible, giving a new born babe
a drop or a gram of opening medicine. If from the first you refrain
from giving an aperient, he seldom requires one afterwards. It is the
_first_ step, in this as in all other things, that is so important to
take.

If a new-born babe have _not_ for twelve hours made water, the medical
man ought to be informed of it, in order that he may inquire into the
matter, and apply the proper remedies. Be particular in attending to
these directions, or evil consequences will inevitably ensue.

91. _Some persons say, that new-born female infants have milk in their
bosoms, and that it is necessary to squeeze them, and apply plasters
to disperse the milk_.

The idea of there being real milk in a baby's breast is doubtful, the
squeezing of the bosom is barbarous, and the application of plasters
is useless. "Without actually saying," says Sir Charles Locock, "there
is milk secreted in the breasts of infants, there is undoubtedly not
rarely considerable swelling of the breasts both in _female_ and
_male_ infants, and on squeezing them a serous fluid oozes out. I
agree with you that the nurses should never be allowed to squeeze
them, but be ordered to leave them alone." [Footnote: _Letter_ to the
Author.]