Calomel.—The general indication for calomel is fever. When a child develops a disease it immediately gets a temperature, and very frequently the fever is quite high because the slightest ailment gives a child fever. When fever begins, digestion practically stops, it is therefore imperative to clean the whole gastro-intestinal canal; otherwise the undigested material will putrefy and poison the entire system and render the disease more serious than it need be.
Now we select in such conditions calomel for two reasons:
First, because the presence of fever indicates that infection of the blood is taking place; this may come either from the intestinal canal itself, or from the germs of the disease with which the child is suffering. Since calomel acts chemically through the blood it is the cathartic indicated.
Second, because a cathartic like castor oil does not act through the blood and it would most likely be vomited by a fevered stomach.
Certain conditions indicate calomel; biliousness and jaundice, for example, because it has a specific action on the liver and if the liver is at fault calomel is the proper remedy.
Calomel is best given in small divided doses, 1-10 of a grain every half hour, for ten doses. It is best given combined with soda; every drug store carries tablets of calomel and soda for this reason.
Calomel should never be given in the treatment of constipation, nor should it be used indiscriminately by mothers, as much harm may result. It has its specific use as indicated above, but it should never be used under any other circumstances.
Citrate of Magnesia.—This is a mild laxative. After the bowels have been thoroughly opened with castor oil or calomel, small doses of citrate of magnesia may be given for a few days, "to keep the bowels open." There is no danger or harm in its use if used for this purpose. It must not be used, however, in the treatment of constipation of children for the simple reason that you cannot cure constipation by the use of drugs of any kind. Laxatives of this type have become a national curse. Adults, especially women, use them constantly. All these advertised saline laxative waters work by weakening the blood—when a dose is taken the chemicals in it draw through the bowel wall blood serum, and produce, because of the excess of this watery fluid, large, and frequently many, liquid movements.
If this practice is continued, as it often is every day, the quality of the blood will suffer seriously, and many individuals are the victims of neuralgic pains, headaches, nervousness, insomnia, anemia, and general broken health as a direct consequence of this pernicious habit.
Mothers will try to remember, therefore, that drugs and saline waters have no place in the treatment of constipation in children or themselves. Constipation must be treated by diet, exercise regular living and by the observance of hygienic and sanitary common-sense rules.