The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-08-01
The Baby in Hot Weather.

! In July and August the baby becomes, OF
ought to become, il point OF public interest
Ii grown men and women suffer from bad
ventilation, unceanliness or indigestion they
have themselves to. blame. But when the
poor baby is the victim il is Il matter OF de
liberate cruelty Summer after summer
tcething Children fall in hecatombs. sacrificed
I to The ignorance or careleSSneSs OF their par
entS This year, however, at last instructions
have been published by the boards of health
! IN some neighborng cities by which the
most uneducatcd mother may understand
! how to protect her child from danger as far
as pOssiO ole during the season of heat and foul
/ air. The directions arc based upon plain
principles OF common sense, which we would
suppose would be patent to anybody of ordi-
nary intelligence, but which are unfortunate
ly the very facts soonest ignored and neglect.
ed Mothers, like Naaman of Old, are ustl.
ally willing to try any cure which any pro-
phet may recommend-the more miraculous
and difficult the BETTER but as for a steady
washing of'themSelves or their children in
the waters Of Jornan or Croton to make them
whole, they are apt, like the Syrian, to sniff
contemptuously at the idea, and go faithfully
on their way through the dirt to death.
Washing, however, might be called the ba.
sis of a baDy's salvation through teething; a
thorough sOusing of the little body in plenty
OF cold water every morning and when the
weather is extremely hot tepid sponge bath
at night, washing, too, constantly of all
clothes and cloths used by the infant, to af.
ford ii perfectly clean garments at all times.
Whatever milk be given should be thorough.
ly sweet and cool; infants under two years
should be restricted in their diet to milk,
oatmeal must, or cruel carefully prepared,
and beef broth or minced raw beef in small
quantities. There IS popular prejudice
among uneducated women against the mean
ness Of refusing food to their children which
they eat themselves" to which is owing one
half the deaths among that class of infants
The swarmS of sallow, puny, wiZen.taced ba
bics which we see at the doors of tenement.
houses are fed on morsels OF pork, vegetables,
unraised bread, and occasionally sips of tea
and lager.beer which may fall to their moth
er's lucky lot 1t is not heat or malaria or
teehing against which the doctors have to
contend so much rs the obstinate ignorance
Of the parents, Fresh air is of course Il tonic
and cure superior to any medicine; every
hour passed by the child under the trees in
the squares or on the rivers gives il new
chance for life, No anodynes or soothing
syrups should be given except under medical
direction.
SO far the doctors. There are other rules
as practical IN erect but winch only alteCta-
ton can suggest One is the laying aside for
the briet hot season the rigor of parental dis.
ciplinC. Many wellmeaning women feel it
to be their duty to teach their children impli-
cit obedience at the earliest age, and to pun
ish any illtemper or peevishness. Now, an
infant never cries except when hungry, hurt
or sick; the cutting OF the teeth frequently
affects the brain and produces a nervous irri.
liability, which relieves itself By peevish com
plants or crying. To whip child for such
conduct is sheer cruelty, and simply increases
what is an actual disease. Through these
perilous two months the helpless little crea-
lures require not only the skillful care of a
wise mother, but the breeding love of the
most tender one. Ifthey do not fret and cry
against the discomforts and pain of "A world
INTO which they come without choice and
which shows them just now its toughest side
what wonder ?--Neo York 2ribuae