Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-16
WILMINGTON, DBL.
SATURDAY. Afternoon, August 10.
CJorHIEe FoR INFANTS IN sUMHER.

During the heat of last summer, the Public
Health Association Of New York issued 3 series
OF suggestions or rules for mothers and nurses,
relating to the management of infants. They
were again extensively republished, this sum-
NOR, and were printed in the COMMERCIAL, most
of them appearing to be useful and sensible
suggestions. Some OF them, however our
excellent and learned friend, DIR. Hiram Corson,
of Montgomery County, Pa, in communication
to the press, takes occasion topcintedly critcise
and he quotes the opinion OF DR.. Stephen Rog-
ers one Of the eminent men OF New York-one
who for many years has labored to arrest the
terrible mortality of young children-who thus
speaks "a more dangerous publication could
hardly be placed in the hands OF mothers-dan-
gsrous we mean to the lives and health of bot
tle-fed babies, whose parents are likely to &C
cept and be governed by it, coming as it does
from what will be regarded as high and semi-of-
fetal authority, the Public Health Association"
DR.. Corson, himself, especially disapproves
the suggestion to place on infants, at all times,
light flannel, covering the chest and stomach.
He says that long experience and careful OBJ
seryation of the diseases OF children have con-
vnced him that much OF their suffering and ill
health may be attributed to the broad flannel
rollers" which are kept on the abdomen, and
flannel Jackets" on the chest, during warm
weather. have been called by mothers scores
OF times to prescribe for the "breskiBg out
the "prickly heat" caused by the child being
kept too hot, and which was making it's life
wretched. We're it not that the nnde state does
not pass well in society, children would be hap
pier and healthier if left utterly naked during
the warm weather. This is abnndantly veri led
in all warm countries.
This may seem like radical expression. but
Doctor Corson is medical man Of high stand
ing in the regular school Of practice. while
holding progressive and advanced views And
he is agreed with, substantially by Dr. Rogers.
above referred to, who says, in reference TO the
flannel bandage proposition. that: " AZ natures
means OF preventing overheatiug of ths blood
and structures OF the body is the evaporation OF
perspiration from the surface, and as ali woollen
fabrics directly oppose the process Of cooling, it
is clear that flannel cover over the body of an
infant sweltering under a temperature of so
deg, not only opposes nature bat is unscientific
and inhuman.h On the contrary, it is advised
by the Obstetrical Society Of Philadelphia to
make the clothing light and cool and 80 loose
that the child may have free use of it's limbs at
night undress it, sponge it and put on slip"
We regret that Doctor Corson has not noie
exhaustively discussed the whole of the sanes OF
suggestions put forth by the New York Society
Nothing is more really useful and valuable to
the great body Of the people than soIps clear,
simple, and rational instruction upon matters of
Hygiene. We want it, too, not from theorists
or e1perimentalists, but from trained and expe-
rienced persons, who by observation Of the con-
ditions Of disease and health are analifed 10
speak. The mortality Of little chidren. especi-
ally in the larger cities, is terrible. Not only
does the Slaughter Of the Innocents," whose
eyes are never opened TO the light Of the world,
go on everywhere, but one-half of all the deaths
Of living persons, week by week and year BY
year, are those eff infants During the month
Of July, in Wilmington there were eiehty-four
deaths reported, of which thirty serea we've less
than year old, and ffy-Htrte were Under five
years. This is terrible ratio OF mortality for
infants, and better care might, no 5pubt, have
saved many of them.