COMMENTS ON THE PANEL DISCUSSION OF COLIC Summary

Dr. Glaser requested me to summarize the subject matter presented at this panel. In his opening remarks Dr. Glaser implied that the broad pediatric attitude rather than the purely allergic approach towards the subject of colic would be stressed. I do believe that this has been achieved. It should be obvious that it is not always wise to refer a colicky baby for an allergic work-up. I am certain that if the pediatric allergist did have such an infant referred to him, he would have to muster all his general pediatric knowledge to effect the proper solution. It appears to me that if the colicky baby has a basic allergic cause for his intestinal spasms the increased use of heat-denatured foods, such as certain of the proprietary modified cow9s milk formulas, and other heat denatured milks, hard boiled eggs (in those few instances in which the infant is not sensitive to ovomucoid), either precooked cereals which are marketed today or cereals that are thoroughly cooked at home, and precooked canned foods, would have had a great influence in reducing the incidence of colic in infants. Some of this audience may not believe that the incidence of colic has been reduced. Dr. Fries has shown in a very fine study of the intestinal tract through a roentgenographic technic that true spasms may occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract when food to which the child is sensitive is introduced orally. He studied only older children who were proved to be sensitive by skin test.