Sec. 381. It has been a Custom to load Children with Oil of Almonds, [87] as soon as ever they are infested with Gripes: but it is a pernicious Custom, and attended with very dangerous Consequences. It it very true that this Oil sometimes immediately allays the Gripes, by involving, or sheathing up, as it were, the acid Humours, and somewhat blunting the Sensibility of the Nerves. But it proves only a palliative Remedy, or asswaging for a Time, which, far from removing, increases the Cause, since it becomes sharp and rancid itself; whence the Disorder speedily returns, and the more Oil the Infant takes, it is griped the more. I have cured some Children of such Disorders, without any other Remedy, except abstaining from Oil, which weakens their Stomachs, whence their Milk is less perfectly, and more slowly digested, and becomes more easily soured. Besides this Weakness of the Stomach, which thus commences at that very early Age, has sometimes an unhealthy Influence on the Constitution of the Child, throughout the Remainder of his Life. [87] The _Magnesia_ is an excellent Substitute in Children, for these Oils Dr. _Tissot_ so justly condemns here. _K._ A free and open Belly is beneficial to Children; now it is certain that the Oil very often binds them, in Consequence of its diminishing the Force and Action of the Bowels. There is scarcely any Person, who cannot observe this Inconvenience attending it; notwithstanding they all continue to advise and to give it, to obtain a very different Purpose: But such is the Power of Prejudice in this Case, and in so many others; People are so strongly pre-possessed with a Notion, that such a Medicine must produce such an Effect; that its never having produced it avails nothing with them, their Prejudice still prevails; they ascribe its Want of Efficacy to the Smallness of the Doses; these are doubled then, and notwithstanding its bad Effects are augmented, their obstinate Blindness continues. This Abuse of the Oil also disposes their Child to knotty hard Tumours, and at length often proves the first Cause of some Diseases of the Skin, whose Cure is extremely difficult. Hence it is evident, this Oil should be used on such Occasions but very seldom; and that it is always very injudicious to give it in Cholics, which arise from sharp and sour Humours in the Stomach, or in the Bowels. Sec. 382. Infants are commonly most subject to such Cholics during their earliest Months; after which they abate, in Proportion as their Stomachs grow stronger. They may be relieved in the Fit by Glysters of a Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, in which a Bit of Soap of the Size of a Hazel Nut is dissolved. A Piece of Flanel wrung out of a Decoction of Chamomile Flowers, with the Addition of some Venice Treacle, and applied hot over the Stomach and on the Belly, is also very beneficial, and relieving.