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OF THE MECONIUM.

The stomach and bowels of a new-born infant are filled with aD.ackish coloured matter of the consistence of syrup, commonly calledthe meconium. This is generally passed soon after the birth, by themere effort of Nature; in which cnse it is not necessary to give the in-fant any kind of medicine. But if it should be retained, or not suffici-ently carried off, a little manna or magnesia alba may be given, as men-tioned above ; or, if these should not be at hand, a common spoonful ofwhey, sweetened with a little honey or raw sugar; or oil of sweetalmonds and syrup of roses of each six drachms, mixed, and a tea-spoon-ful given as often as occasion may require.

The most proper medicine for expelling the meconium is the mother'smilk, which is always at first of a purgative quality. Were children al-lowed to suck as soon as they shew an inclination for the breast, theywould seldom have occasion for medicines to discharge the meconium ;but even where this is not allowed, they ought never to have daubs ofsyrup, oils, and indigestible stuff, crammed down their throats, wherebytheir tender organs are injured, the circulating fluids heated and throwninto irregular commotions, that sometimes occasion obstructions, atother times, irritations in the bowels, and convulsions that cause "THOUS-ANDS to RETIRE FROM YET TJNTASTED LIFE."

OF THE APHTHA, OR THRUSH.

The aphthae are little whitish or yellow ulcers affecting the whotiiinside of the mouth, tongue, throat and stomach of infants. Sometimesthey reach through the whole intestinal canai, in which case they arevery dangerous, and often put an end to the infant's life.

If the aphthae are of a pale colour, pellucid, few in number, soft,superficial, and fall easily off, they are not dangerous; but if opake,yellow, brown, black, thick, or running together, they ought to bedreaded.

It is generally thought that the aphtha? owe their origin to acid hu-mours; we have reason however to believe they are more frequentlyowing to too hot a regimen both of the mother and child. It is a rarething to find a child who is not dosed with wine, punch, or some otherhot and inflaming liquors, almost as soon as it is born. It is well knownthat these will occasion inflammatory disorders even in adults: is it anywonder, then, that they should beat and inflame the tender bodies of in-fants, and set as it were the whole constitution on a blaze?

The most proper medicines for the aphthae are vomits, such as havebeen already recommended, and gentle laxatives. Five grains of rhu-barb and half a drachm of MAGNESIA ALBA may be rubbed togetherand divided into six doses, one of which may be given to the infant