The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-07-23
THE BABY.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIM THIS
HOT WEATHER.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIM THIS
HOT WEATHER.
From Me Nao York Tribune.
In July and August the baby be-
comes or ought to- become point Of
public interest. II grown men and
women suffer from bad ventilation,
or indigestion, they have themselves
to blame. But when the poor baby
is the victim it is a matter of deliber-
ate cruelty. Summer after summer
teething children fall in hecatombs,
sacrificed to the ignorance or careless
ness Of their parents. This year, how
ever, at last, instructions have been
published by the boards of health in
some neighboring cities by which the
most uneducated mother may under
stand how to protect her child from
danger as far as is possible during the
season of heat and foul air. The di-
rections are based upon plain princi-
Piles Of common sense, which we
would suppose would be patent to
anybody Of ordinary intelligence, but
which are unfortunately the very
facts soonest ignored and neglected.
Irish or German mothers, like Naa-
man of old, are usually willing to try
any cure which any prophet may re-
commend, the more miraculous and
difficult the better; but as for a
steady washing Of themselves or their
children in the waters Of Jordan Of
Croton to make them whole, they are
apt, like the Syrian, to sniff contemptu-
ously at the idea, and go faithfully on
their way through dirt to death.
Washing, however, might be called
the basis of baby's salvation through
teething; q thorough sousing Of the
little body in plenty of cold water
every morning, and, when the wealth
er is extremely hot, a tepid sponge
bath at night; washing, too, constant
ly Of al clothes and cloths used by
the infant, to afford it perfectly clean
garments at all times. Whatever
milk be given should be thoroughly
sweet and cool; infants under two
years should be restricted in their diet
to milk, oatmeal mush, or Cruel care
fully prepared, and beef broth or
minced raw beef in small quantities.
There is popular prejudice among
uneducated women against the
meanness Of refusing food to their
children when they eat themselves p
to which is owing one-half the deaths
among that class Of infants. The
swarms Of sallow, puny, wizened-
faced babies which we see at the
doors Of tenement houses are fed on
morsels Of pork, vegetables, unraised
bread, and occasional sips Of tea or
lager beer, which may fall to their
mothers lucky lot. 1t is not heat or
malaria or teething against which the
doctors have to contend so much as
the obstinate ignorance of the pa
rents. Fresh air is of course q tonic
and cure superior to any medicine !;
every hour passed by the child under
the trees in the squares or on the riv-
ers gives it a new chance for life. No
anodynes or soothing syrups should
be given except under medical direc-
ton.
So far the doctors. There are 9TH
or rules as practical in effect, but
which only affection can suggest.
One is the laying aside for the brief
hot season the rigor of parental dici-
pine. Many well-meaning women
feel it to be their duty to teach their
children implicit obedience at the
earliest age, and to punish all ill.,
temper or peevishness. Now, an in
FAINT never cries unless when hungry,
hurt or sick; the cutting of the teeth
frequently affects the brain, and pro-
duces nervous irritability, which re-
lieves itself by peevish complaints 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 creatures require
not only the skillful care of a wise
mother, but the brooding love of the
most tender one. If they do not fret
and cry against the discomforts and
pains Of a world into which they came
without choice, and which shows them
Just now its roughest side-what WON