If the vomiting is wrongly interpreted and overfeeding is continued,
either the baby dies or the stomach establishes a toleration, passing
the trouble on to other parts of the body. One organ never suffers long
alone. The circulation passes the disease on to other parts, assisted by
the sympathetic nerves, which are present in all parts of the body.
When the stomach has established its toleration, several things may
happen, only a few of which will be discussed, for the process is
essentially the same, though the results appear so different. In infants
whose digestive power is not very strong the excessive amount of milk
curdles, as does the part that is digested. The water of the milk is
absorbed, but the curds pass into the colon without being digested and
they are discharged in the stool as curds. They are partly decomposed on
the journey through the alimentary canal, producing poisons, a part of
which is absorbed. A part remains in the colon, making the bowel
discharges very offensive.
The passage of curds in the stool is a danger signal indicating
overfeeding and should be heeded immediately. If it is not, the chances
for a ease of cholera infantum, especially in warm weather, are great.
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