~Rectal Feeding.~--When the condition of the patient makes it necessary to nourish in other ways than by mouth, nutrient enemas[89] may be given. In certain cases of diphtheria, young infants can be fed more successfully through a tube inserted by way of the nose into the stomach than by feeding in the ordinary way. The formula is prepared in the same way as for bottle feeding, and is poured into a glass funnel and through the soft rubber catheter into the stomach. Care must be observed to prevent the patient struggling on account of the heart weakness which invariably complicates this disease. WHOOPING COUGH In the early months of life it is probable that whooping cough is one of, if not the most fatal of the diseases to which the infant is subjected. The period of incubation of this disease is from one to two weeks, the cough at first not appearing different from those accompanying colds of all sorts. However, in from ten days to two weeks the characteristic whoop occurs, differentiating this disease from all others. The symptoms aside from the whoop are the difficulty of taking breath and the great prostration after the paroxysm and the frequent vomiting of the food, brought on by the violent coughing. In very young infants the whoop does not always occur. But the child coughs and holds its breath until it is blue in the face. At times young babies may have convulsions. The so-called spasmodic stage, during which the child may have from a few to a great number of paroxysms of coughing a day, lasts from a month to six weeks, and in some cases even longer. As the disease declines the cough gradually disappears and the child appears to be suffering with ordinary bronchitis. The characteristic whoop may return at any time during the ensuing six months or year if the child has an attack of bronchitis and is inclined to cough. ~Complications and After-effects.~--The complications and after-effects of whooping cough give it a serious character. Hemorrhage may occur from the nose. According to Ruhraeh: "Paralysis may follow from meningeal hemorrhage, broncho-pneumonia, acute emphysema, and collapse of the lung may occur. Diarrhea, convulsions, and albuminuria are also met with. Tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis may follow."[90]