A child is more liable to croup in a low and damp, than in a high and dry neighbourhood; indeed, in some situations, croup is almost an unknown disease; while in others it is only too well understood. Croup is more likely to prevail when the wind is either easterly or north-easterly. There is no disease that requires more prompt treatment than croup, and none that creeps on more insidiously. The child at first seems to be labouring under a slight cold, and is troubled with a little _dry_ cough, he is hot and fretful, and hoarse when he cries. Hoarseness is one of the earliest symptoms of croup, and it should be borne in mind that a young child, unless he be going to have croup, is seldom hoarse, if, therefore, your child be hoarse, he should be carefully watched, in order that, as soon as croup be detected, not a moment be lost in applying the proper remedies. His voice at length becomes gruff, he breathes as though it were through muslin, and the cough becomes crowing. These three symptoms prove that the disease is now fully formed. These latter symptoms sometimes come on without any previous warning, the little fellow going to bed apparently quite well, until the mother is awakened, perplexed and frightened, in the middle of the night, by finding him labouring under the characteristic cough and the other symptoms of croup. If she delay either to send for assistance, _or if proper medicines be not instantly given_, in a few hours it will probably be of no avail, and in a day or two the little sufferer will be a corpse. When once a child has had croup the after attacks are generally milder. If he has once had an attack of croup, I should advise you always to have in the house medicine--a 4 oz. bottle of Ipecacuanha Wine, to fly to at a moments notice, [Footnote: In case of a sudden attack of croup, _instantly_ give a teaspoonful of Ipecacuanha Wine, and repeat it every fire minutes natal free vomiting be excited.] but never omit, where practicable, in a case of croup, whether the case be severe or mild to send _immediately_ for medical aid. There is no disease in which time is more precious than in croup, and where the delay of an hour may decide either for life or for death. 201. _But suppose a medical man is not IMMEDIATELY to be procured, what then am I to do? more especially, as you say, that delay might be death_?