By convention, specific symbols represent certain sample statistics. For example, 1  x refers to a sample mean. 2  s refers to the standard deviation of a sample. 3  s 2 refers to the variance of a sample. 4  p refers to the proportion of sample elements that have a particular attribute.
As the name implies, lubricant laxatives make stools slippery. The mineral oil within these products adds a slick layer to the intestine's walls and stops the stool from drying out. Though highly effective, lubricant laxatives are best used as a short-term cure for constipation. Over a longer period, mineral oil can absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the intestine, and decrease certain prescription drugs from being fully absorbed into the body.
Mineral oil is just one of the tools used by doctors to combat constipation. It can be one minor part of a complete constipation protocol. It is very often used in the case of children constipation. In this section we take the case of children constipation to illustrate what a typical usage might look like.