If it is thought advisable to resort to drugs for the immediate relief of the constipation of infants, the best ones are the aromatic fluid extract of cascara sagrada; milk of magnesia with equal parts of the aromatic syrup of rhubarb given in doses of one to three teaspoonfuls daily.
Irrigations, enemas, and suppositories should not be used continuously. The habit is a bad one. The parts become accustomed to their use and fail to act. If the child is passing dry and hard stools it is of advantage to inject two ounces of warm sweet oil at night, allowing it to remain in the bowel until the following morning. See page 312.
Constipation in Bottle-Fed Infants.—It is much easier to treat the constipation of bottle-fed babies than of those breast-fed, because the food can be changed to ensure regular bowel movements. The first change to be made in a bottle-fed baby who is habitually constipated is to add more cream to the food. The way to do this is to take out of the bottle of each feeding one tablespoonful of the food and put in its place one tablespoonful pure cream. If this change partly rectifies the bowel ailment, add more cream until the bowels are of the proper consistency. Milk given constipated babies should be raw, never boiled, as boiled milk will always aggravate the trouble.
The use of oatmeal water instead of plain water in making the baby's food may cure the bowel trouble. Taking the sugar of milk out of the baby's food and putting in its place the same quantity of Mellin's food will sometimes cure the constipation.
One or two teaspoonfuls of milk of magnesia put into one feeding daily, or fifteen drops to one tablespoonful of the aromatic fluid extract of cascara sagrada will move the bowels. Orange juice, strained, two teaspoonfuls twice daily, is an excellent remedy and should be tried in every case. Sweet oil and pure cod liver oil, in doses of thirty drops to two teaspoonfuls three times daily after feedings, if the little patient is poorly nourished. If the stools remain hard and dry, an injection of two ounces of warm sweet oil at bedtime is an excellent method of aiding the bowel. The oil should remain in the bowel all night. This lubricates the parts, softens the fecal mass and stimulates the gut to perform its own work. See page 312.
Constipation in Children Over Two Years of Age.—Most children when put upon a varied diet after the nursing days are over are relieved of any constipation which may have existed up to that time. There are a few, however, whose condition does not seem to improve. These children need attention. We should first insist on regular habits. A child should be told that its bowels must move every morning after breakfast. If this is absolutely insisted upon the child will soon recognize the uselessness of fighting the proposition and submit. If at any time a conscientious effort is made to move the bowel without result after fifteen minutes it is wise to use a glycerine suppository so that the bowel will empty itself.
It has been stated in another part of this book that there are children with whom milk does not agree. Experience has taught us that milk, especially milk that has been boiled, causes more cases of constipation in growing children than all other causes combined. Find out if it is milk that is the cause in any individual case. While these children cannot take whole milk just as it comes from the dairy without suffering in a great many ways, they can take milk and water, or milk and oatmeal water, prepared in the following way, without becoming constipated. A bottle of fresh milk is allowed to stand in a cool place for five hours, when the top ten ounces are skimmed off with a Chapin dipper and mixed with twelve ounces of oatmeal gruel or plain water. This can be used as a drink.
Parents can select from the following list of articles such combinations as may be suitable to constitute the regular meals of a constipated child:
Lamb chops.
Rare steak.
Rare roast beef.
Hashed chicken.
Soft boiled eggs.
Cracked wheat.
Hominy.
Cornmeal.
Oatmeal, Scotch.
Bran biscuits.
Oatmeal crackers.
Graham wafers.
Stewed or baked apple.
Apple sauce.
Plain vanilla ice cream.
Animal broths, purées of peas.
Beans, and lentils.
Peas.
String beans.
Spinach.
Cauliflower.
Asparagus.
Stewed tomatoes, strained.
Whole wheat bread.
Zwieback.
Custard.
Stewed prunes.
Junket.
Cornstarch.
Malted milk is agreeable and advisable as a drink.