Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-08-16
From The Balfim9re Amsyicuf
INFANTILE MORTALITY.

MeSsrS EditorS;--A few days since read
with much interest an Editorial in your paper
on the subject of the fearful mortality Of cdil-
dren, aud the Inquiry as to why it is 50 much
greater than that Of adults.
have often wondered that none Of the
Faculty $50 far as know, have ever given
subject Of such vast importance Their spe-
cia attention, with treatise on the subject.
Forty years of close observation and expe-
rience in the rearing Of large family salts
fes me that the cause is where you would
least expect it, and am satisfied that can
convince every parent however unpleasant tie
fscts) that the fault is with the mothers; they
being judges, will cwu the fact. They are
not aware of it know, for there is not, nor
can there be any love like that Of mother to
her child will then, you please, as brief
ly as can, call the attention to facts within
my own experience.
Pure milk is the natural diet for children.
and nature has prepared it better than art can
make it; it is too delicate to be doctorcd.
But few persons are aware Of the fact that
milk taken from COW soon after she has
been worried, and maddened by dogs, will in
short time have the appearance OF eurd and
whey, nor can butter be made from it at all
The milk of the morning will turn in two
hours after a thunder storm. Tie milk from
an unhealthy, or foverish COW is unhealthy for
children or adults Gas diet } The reason
for stating these simple facts will be seen from
what follows:
Motbers--dear mothors are not aware Of
the fearful hazard they run in nursing their
children after fits Of excitement. no matter
from what cause. Anger fear, excessive pain,
bodily or mental if done soon after such per.
tlrbid feeling, it is almost sure to produce
s9asm, or violent symptoms of cholera infan.
tim 1T is cruel to give the breast to the lit
tie helpless innocent after the storm 10 the
system has turned the milk to poison, and
yet how often will the mother take her infant
to the breast as settler Of her feelings. for
alter all, one Of the createstlu Injuries 20 fond
motber is hungry child to full breast.
\ child should not be nursed when tie
m ,ther is very warm or fatgue1. How often
d. we see mothers seated to rest and to cool
at the same time nursing the infant to save
time. The melancholy effect Of such kind
ness is daily witnessed by many mothers in
the STROUD and the gave Of their babes -
Why is the mortality Of children after weau-
ing greater than among adults? The reason
to great extent is the same impure milk
In cities. there is nothing harder to gel
than this necessary diet in its pure state,
There is a gentleman in the neighb9rhood oil
BlltimDre WHO keeps large dairy that j.
more particular than any other that had
ever known, who sends to me as pure milk
as have ever seen lie examines his COWS
daily, and if one is diseased or feverish, it /.
at once separated from the rest and the mill
given to the pigs. lie holds himself as sor
OF guardian over the children CT ais custom.
ers and will not give them that which he
wtbholds from his own. There may be ant
doubtless are others equally conscientious
but this one know
My object. Nlessrs. Editors, in the abov,
remarks. is to cali the attention Of thost
whose business it is to fnd out the cure Of
and remedies for the various ills that aflio
the human family; and if the ideas shall i'm
press themselves on mothers in any wav Il
make them more cautious ard watchful ant
thereby save them single pang. my purpos
will have been accomplished--th motive i
from the heart. ii. ID. NJ.