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A doctor (or health worker) in rural Mexico has found that in spite of all the modern health education about oral rehydration, village mothers continue to insist that treating a baby who has severe diarrhea and vomiting by sucking ot the sunken soft spot (fontanelle ) can be life saving. 

How could there possibly be any value in this strange traditional remedy? he wonders.   He does a search through LittleFish and finds a reference from a medical anthrpologist in Guatemala.   The anthpologist has discovered that the Maya Indians used acupressure and acupunture points (with cactus thorns as needles) very similar to those used in Asia.   He also found that Chinese texts describe a ring of points around the fonanelle that went stimulated by needles or pressure, help control vomiting.

If vomiting can be reduced in a baby with diarrhea, the baby's chance of survival may be substantially improved.  So the traditional treatment for "fallen fontanelle" ("caida de mollera")  may have an effective physiological funtion, and if it does reduce voliting, may make oral rehydration easier and more effective.