SYMPTOMS.--The inflammation commonly comes on about three days after birth, but it may take place at a later period. It may be known by its commencing thus:--When the child wakes from sleep, the eyelids will be observed to stick together a little; their edges will be redder than natural, and especially at the corners; the child experiences pain from the access of light, and therefore shuts the eye against it. A little white matter will also be observed lying on the inside of the lower lid. After a short time, the lids swell, become red on their external surface, and a large quantity of matter is secreted, and constantly poured from the eye; the quantity of discharge increasing until it becomes very great. But enough has been said to point out the importance of the disease, and the signs by which it may be recognised at its first approach. TREATMENT.--Keeping the eye free from discharge, by the constant removal of the matter secreted, is what the medical attendant will chiefly insist upon; and without this is done, any treatment he may adopt will be useless; with it, there is no doubt of a successful issue of the case, provided his attention has only been called to it at a sufficiently early period. HARE-LIP. This is a blemish too well known to require a formal description. The questions most interesting to a mother in relation to it, are,--How is her child to be nourished, that is born with it? and when ought an operation to be performed for its removal? THE MODE OF FEEDING THE INFANT.--If the defect is but trifling, the infant will be able to suck, provided the mother's nipple is large, and the milk flows freely from it. If this is not the case, the difficulty may be obviated by using the cork nipple shield.[FN#29] I have known this to answer the purpose admirably, when the mother had previously despaired of nursing her infant, the nipple being too small for it to grasp. [FN#29] See p. 41. If, however, the defect exists in a still greater degree, feeding by means of the spoon must be resorted to; the greatest care being necessary as to the quantity, quality, and preparation of the food.[FN#30] [FN#30] See "Artificial Feeding," p. 34. CAUTION IN REFERENCE TO THE OPERATION.--With regard to the operation for the removal of this deformity, I would strongly warn parents against desiring its too early performance. Various considerations contribute to make the distressed parents anxious for this. But very seldom indeed--except the deformity be very great, and implicating other parts beside the lip--will the operation be required, or ought it to be resorted to, before the second year and a half of the infant's life; and for this very cogent reasons exist. For instance, convulsions may thus be induced, which often terminate fatally. The most proper age for removing this deformity by operation, is from that of two years and a half to four years. BLEEDING FROM THE NAVEL-STRING.