be plaguing him, let the gums be both freely and frequently
lanced. Convulsions seldom occur in hooping-cough, unless the child be
either very young or exceedingly delicate. Convulsions attending an
attack of hooping-cough make it a _serious_ complication, and requires
the assiduous and skilful attention of a judicious medical man.

_What NOT to do in such a case_--Do not apply leeches, the babe
requires additional strength, and not to be robbed of it, and do not
attempt to treat the case yourself.

95. _What are the best remedies for the Costiveness of an infant_?

I strongly object to the frequent administration of opening medicine,
as the repetition of it increases the mischief to a tenfold degree.

_What to do_.--If a babe, after the first few months, were held out,
and if, at regular intervals, he were put upon his chair, costiveness
would not so much prevail. It is wonderful how soon the bowels, in
the generality of cases, by this simple plan, may be brought into a
regular state. Besides, it inducts an infant into clean habits, I know
many careful mothers who have accustomed their children, after the
first three months, to do without diapers altogether. It causes at
first a little trouble, but that trouble is amply repaid by the good
consequences that ensue; among which must be named the dispensing with
such encumbrances as diapers. Diapers frequently chafe, irritate, and
gall the tender skin of a baby. But they cannot of course, at an early
age be dispensed with, unless a mother have great judgment, sense,
tact, and perseverance, to bring her little charge into the habit of
having his bowels relieved and his bladder emptied every time he is
either held out or put upon his chair.