At that early age we treat of here, digestive disorders are more frequently the results of improper diet than of a primary gastric disturbance. But when the latter is once established it furnishes its own indications. A frequent occurrence, together with a general gastric catarrh, is the presence of fat acids in the stomach, such as an improper amount of lactic, acetic, butyric, etc. acids. Before digestion can be anything like normal they must be neutralized. For that purpose calcined magnesia, carbonate and bicarbonate of sodium, prepared chalk, and lime-water have been found useful. The latter, as it contains but a trifle of lime, in order to neutralize must be given in larger doses than is usually done; a tablespoonful contains but a quarter of a grain of lime. And all of the alkalies must not be given in the food only, but also between meals. For when given in the former way alone it neutralizes the abnormal and injurious acids, together with the normal digestive secretion, the lactic and muriatic. Not infrequently, when the infants have suffered for some time, general anæmia will set in, and result in diminishing the normal secretions of the mucous membranes (and glands). In those cases which do not produce their own gastric juice in sufficient quantity or quality pepsin and muriatic acid may be given to advantage. In these cases the plan suggested by me is particularly favorable--viz. to add a fair amount of chloride of sodium (one-half to one drachm daily) to the infant's food. Also that of I. Rudisch referred to by me previously,[20] who mixes one part of dilute muriatic acid with two hundred and fifty of water and five hundred of milk, and then boils (one-half teaspoonful of dil. mur. acid, one pint of water, one quart of milk). Again, there are the cases in which wine and the bitter tinctures, which are known to increase the secretion of gastric juice, render valuable service. The addition of bismuth to any of the proposed plans is quite welcome. As a disinfectant and a mild cover on sore and eroded mucous membranes it has an equally good effect. [Footnote 20: _Am. Jour. Obstet._, July, 1879.]