Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Children

by Pye Henry Chavasse

Bran-bread [Footnote: One-part of bran to three parts of flour, mixed together and made into bread.] and treacle will frequently open the bowels; and as treacle is wholesome, it may be substituted for butter when the bowels are inclined to be costive. A roasted apple, eaten with raw sugar, is another excellent mild aperient for a child. Milk gruel—that is to say, milk thickened with oatmeal—forms an excellent food for him, and often keeps his bowels regular, and thus (which is a very important consideration) supersedes the necessity of giving him an aperient. An orange (taking care he does not eat the peel or the pulp), or a fig after dinner, or a few Muscatel raisins, will frequently regulate the bowels.

Stewed prunes is another admirable remedy for the costiveness of a child. The manner of stewing them is as follows:—Put a pound of prunes in a brown jar, add two table-spoonfuls of raw sugar, then cover the prunes and the sugar with cold water; place them in the oven, and let them stew for four hours. A child should every morning eat half a dozen or a dozen of them, until the bowels be relieved, taking care that he does not swallow the stones. Stewed prunes may be given in treacle—treacle increasing the aperient properties of the prunes.

A suppository is a mild and ready way of opening the bowels of a child. When he is two or three years old and upwards, a Candle suppository is better than a Soap suppository. The way of preparing it is as follows:—Cut a piece of dip-tallow candle—the length of three inches—and insert it as you would a clyster pipe, about two inches up the fundament, allowing the remaining inch to be in sight, and there let the suppository remain until the bowels be opened.

Another excellent method of opening a child's bowels is by means of an enema of warm water,—from half a tea-cupful to a tea-cupful, or even more, according to the age of the child. I cannot speak too highly of this plan as a remedy for costiveness, as it entirely, in the generality of cases, prevents the necessity of administering a particle of aperient medicine by the mouth. The fact of its doing so stamps it as a most valuable remedy—opening physic being, as a rule, most objectionable, and injurious to a child's bowels. Bear this fact—for it is a fact—in mind and let it be always remembered.

450. What are the most frequent causes of Protrusion of the lower-bowel?

The too common and reprehensible practice of a parent administering frequent aperients, especially calomel and jalap, to her child. Another cause, is allowing him to remain for a quarter of an hour or more at a time on his chair; this induces him to strain, and to force the gut down.

251. What are the remedies?

If the protrusion of the bowel have been brought on by the abase of aperients, abstain, for the future from giving them; but if medicine be absolutely required, give the mildest—such as either Syrup of Senna or Castor Oil—and the less of those the better.

If the external application of a purgative will have the desired effects it will in such cases, be better than the internal administration of aperients. Castor Oil used as a Liniment is a good one for the purpose. Let the bowels be well rubbed, every night and morning, for five minutes at a time with the oil.

A wet compress to the bowels will frequently open them, and will thus do away with the necessity of giving an aperient—a most important consideration. Fold a napkin in six thicknesses, soak it in cold water, and apply it to the bowels; over which put either a thin covering or sheet of gutta-percha, or a piece of oiled-silk; keep it in its place with a broad flannel roller; and let it remain on the bowels for three or four hours, or until they be opened.