Tenesmus is a characteristic symptom of dysentery. This is a straining sensation as if the bowels wanted to move, yet notwithstanding the violent bearing down, only a little mucus often streaked with pus or blood is discharged. The straining causes the lower folds of the rectum to protrude, and this portion of the bowel presents a livid red color; the sufferer is tormented a great deal by this fruitless bearing down, and the bowels should be anointed with pure zinc ointment and returned. The stools of the child are characteristic of this disease. Every passage contains glairy mucus formed into lumps resembling granules of boiled starch, streaked with blood and associated with a creamy looking substance which is purulent matter. If the disease has progressed to the formation of ulcers the evacuations become grayish red or assume a dirty ashen color, and the odor is putrescent. Portions of the mucous membrane slough off and large quantities of pus are discharged from the ulcerating surfaces so that the stools present sometimes nothing but purulent and bloody matter. The treatment for this disease must be prompt and directed to the point; reliance must not be placed upon one single remedy, but a combination of expedients must be resorted to. The greatest annoyance and source of pain is the straining and tenesmus, and to relieve this steps must at once be taken. There is hardly any use to give injections for this purpose for the irritable condition of the rectum makes it impossible for the child to retain them long enough to do any good. Use suppositories instead, and if need be, retain them by holding a soft compress of cloth over the anus, for ten to fifteen minutes until they are dissolved. For example, to a child one year old I employ the following suppository:— Take: Laudanum 1 drop Cocaine 1/30 grain Bismuth Subnitrate 10 grains Cocoa Butter 10 grains Make into one long suppository and roll in powdered bismuth, dip it first into oil or vaseline and insert into the rectum every three or four hours until the soreness and straining have subsided. If the child is not very sensitive nor very ill an injection of a teaspoonful of boiled liquid starch to which a few drops of laudanum have been added, may be used instead and as often as may be necessary. Cold drinks aggravate the pains, therefore give everything warm.