By T. Curtis Smith, M. D., Middleport, Ohio.

THE very great frequency of diseases of the alimentary tract. make them necessarily of very great importance, practically, to the physician, and therefore of no ordinary interest in their study and treatment. Especially is this so in reference to infants and children. Diarrhoea, acute or chronic, is of more frequent occurrence during the first three years of life than any other disorder. The latter, though less frequent, is far more difficult in its management, requiring greater care in all points of treatment than the simple acute form. Careful estimation shows, in large cities at least, that, of all the children taken sick, one in every six is the subject of diarrhoea. Allowing that it is only one-half as frequent in small town and country practice, the number of cases swell to a high computation for each year.

All doubtless know that it is more frequent during the hot than the cold months. Thus in July and August of 1871, there were respectively 92 and 111 cases, against 70 and 43 for September and October, at the Évalina Hospital for children. The same disparity is shown by all mortality tables given us on this subject.

The causes of chronic diarrhoea are numerous and mostly well recognized. First among these stand a want of proper diet, either in quantity, quality, or regularity. Next in importance is bad hygiene, high temperature and dentition. It is occasionally the