Acute coryza in infancy, with its tendency to complications, demands serious consideration. The lack of effectiveness of the various types of nose drops, especially in the treatment of infants with considerable drainage, led to a search for an effective method which might be used to clear the nasal passages mechanically.
For the past three years I have used a soft rubber ear syringe, inserted into the nostril. The bulb, compressed before introduction, is then allowed to expand, thereby withdrawing the offending material. By allowing the opposite nostril to remain open there is no danger from an excessive negative pressure. The mother or nurse is especially cautioned against exerting positive pressure.
The results from the use of the syringe have been gratifying, especially in those instances in which the infant could not take the breast or bottle because of inability to breathe as a result of the mechanical plugging of the