DIARRHEA
The treatment for diarrhea, whether it is from fermentation or putrefaction of food, has already been explained. The grave danger in the putrefactive diarrhea is the absorption of the toxic substances which result from bacterial action upon the unabsorbed food material in the small and large intestine. In these cases auto-intoxication may develop and the baby may die before the condition yields to treatment. The entire intestine must be cleansed as a rule. The stomach of the baby may be reached with little trouble by using a small rubber catheter attached to a glass funnel and a solution of bicarbonate of soda. The bowels may be emptied by means of a soapsuds enema. Older children may be given oil, but this of course comes under the jurisdiction of the physician.