Worms generally infest _weak_ bowels; hence, the moment a child becomes strong worms cease to exist. The reason why a child is so subject to them is owing to the improper food which is usually given to him. When he be stuffed with unsound and with unripe fruits, with much sweets, with rich puddings, and with pastry, and when he is oftentimes allowed to eat his meat _without_ salt, and to _bolt_ his food without chewing it, is there any wonder that he should suffer from worms? The way to prevent them is to avoid such things, and, at the same time, to give him plenty of salt to his _fresh_ and well-cooked meat. Salt strengthens and assists digestion, and is absolutely necessary to the human economy. Salt is emphatically a worm destroyer. The truth of this statement may be readily tested by sprinkling a little salt on the common earth-worm. "What a comfort and real requisite to human life is salt! It enters into the constituents of the human blood, and to do without it is wholly impossible."--_The Grocer_. To do without it is wholly impossible! These are true words. Look well to it, therefore, ye mothers, and beware of the consequences of neglecting such advice, and see for yourselves that your children regularly eat salt with their food. If they neglect eating salt with their food, they _must of necessity have worms_, and worms that will eventually injure them, and make them miserable. All food, then, should be "flavoured with salt;" _flavoured_, that is to say, salt should be used in each and every kind of food--_not in excess, but in moderation_. 275. _You have a great objection to the frequent administration of aperient medicines to a child: can you advise any method to prevent their use_? Although we can scarcely call constipation a disease, yet it sometimes leads to disease. The frequent giving of aperients only adds to the stubbornness of the bowels. I have generally found a draught, early every morning, of _cold_ pump water, the eating either of Huntley and Palmer's loaf ginger-bread, or of oatmeal gingerbread, a variety of animal and vegetable food, ripe sound fruit, Muscatel raisins, a fig, or an orange after dinner, and, when he be old enough, _coffee_ and milk instead of _tea_ and milk, to have the desired effect, more especially if, for a time, aperients be studiously avoided. 276. _Have you any remarks to make on Rickets_?