This advice of Sir Charles Locock—_to give no aperient to a new-born infant_—is most valuable, and ought to be strictly followed. By adopting his recommendation much after-misery might be averted. If a new-born babe’s bowels be costive, rather than give him an aperient, try the effect of a little moist sugar dissolved in a little water; that is to say, dissolve half a teaspoonful of pure unadulterated _raw_ sugar in a teaspoonful of warm water, and administer it to him; if in four hours it should not operate, repeat the dose. Butter and raw sugar is a popular remedy, and is sometimes used by a nurse to open the bowels of a new-born babe, and where there is costiveness answers the purpose exceedingly well, and is far superior to castor oil. Try, by all means to do, if possible, without a particle of opening medicine. If you once begin to give aperients, you will have frequently to repeat them. Opening physic leads to opening physic, until at length his stomach and bowels will become a physic shop! Let me, then, emphatically say, avoid, if possible, giving a new-born babe a drop or a grain of opening medicine. If from the first you refrain from giving an aperient, he seldom requires one afterward. It is the _first_ step that is so important to take in this as in all other things. If a new-born babe has _not_ for twelve hours made water, the medical man ought to be informed of it, in order that he may inquire into the matter and apply the proper remedies. Be particular in attending to these directions, or evil consequences will inevitably ensue. 91. _Some persons say that new-born female infants have milk in their bosoms, and that it is necessary to squeeze them, and apply plasters to disperse the milk._ The idea of there being real milk in a baby’s breast is doubtful, the squeezing of the bosom is barbarous, and the application of plasters is useless. “Without actually saying,” says Sir Charles Locock, “there is milk secreted in the breasts of infants, there is undoubtedly not rarely considerable swelling of the breasts both in _female_ and _male_ infants, and on squeezing them a serous fluid oozes out. I agree with you that the nurses should never be allowed to squeeze them, but be ordered to leave them alone.” 92. _Have the goodness to mention the_ SLIGHT _ailments which are not of sufficient importance to demand the assistance of a medical man_? I deem it well to make the distinction between _serious_ and _slight_ ailments; I am addressing a mother. With regard to _serious_ ailments, I do not think myself justified, except in certain _urgent_ cases, in instructing a parent to deal with them. It might be well to make a mother acquainted with the _symptoms_, but not with the _treatment_, in order that she might lose no time in calling in medical aid. This I hope to have the pleasure of doing in future conversations.