New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-12
The Raby.

Ia July and August the baby becomes, or
ought to become, point Of public interest
If grown men and women suffer from bad
ventilation, unc]eanliness or indigestion
they have themselves to blame. But when
the poor baby is the victim it is a matter of
teething children fall in hectacombs, sacri-
feed to the ignorance or carelessness of
their parents: This year, however, as last,
instructions have been published by the
boards OF health in some neighb0ring cities
by which the most uneducated mother NAV
understand how to protect her child from
danger as tar as is possible during the sea-
son of heat and foul air. The directions
are based upon plain principles of common
sense, which we would suppose would be
patent to nybody of ordinary intelligence,
but which are unfortunately the very facts
soonest ignored and neglected. Irish or
German mothers. like Naaman of old, are
usually willing to try any cure which any
prophet may recommendation more miracu-
lous and difficult the better; but as for a
steady washing of themselves and their
children In the waters of Jordan 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 dirt
to death.
Washing, however, might be called the
basis OF baby's salvation through teeth
ing; thorough sousing of the little body
in plenty OF water every morning, and
when the weather is extremely hot tepid
sponge bath at night; washing, too, con.
stantiy OF all clothes and cloths used by
the infant, to afford it perfectly clean gar.
ments at all times. Whatever milk be
given should be thoroughly sweet and cool:
infants under two years should be re.
strieted in their diet to milk. oatmeal mush
or Cruel carefully prepared, and beef broth
There is a popular prejudice among unedu-
Gated women against the "meanness of re-
tusing 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, wizened-faced
babies which we see at the doors of tere.
ment houses are fed on morsels of pork
vegetables, unraised bread, and occasional
sips of tea and lager beer, which NAV 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 OBJ
stinate ignorance of the parents. Fresh air
is OF course a tonic and cure superior to
any medicine; every hour passed by the
child under the trees in the squares or on
the rivers gives it 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 effect but which only affec-
ton can suggest. One is the laying aside
for the brief hot season the rigor of parental
discipline. Many we'll meaning women feel
it to be their duty to teach their children
implicit obedience at the earliest age, aud
to punish any ill temper or peevishness.
Now an infant never cries unless when
hungry, hurt or sick; the cutting of teeth
frequently affects the brain and produces a
nervous irritability, which relieves itself by
peeyish complaints or crying. To whip a
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
and pains of a world into which thew cana
without choice. and which shows them lust
now it's toughest side, what wonder-Eev
York Tribune. ~