Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-01
Baby's Second Summer.

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summer, for rarely is it that any child
passes this period, so trying to infancy,
without having quite struggle for life.
Now it is upon the principle that pre-
vention is better than cure that we would
speak few words to those who may have
the charge of such little ones, and yet not
feel themselves so skilled in nursing as to
be unwilling to benefit by consulting with
others upon the subject.
The first hot weather in June is perhaps
the most to be dreaded for its deleterious
influence upon "a teething child The in
FAINT who is fortunate enough to have cut
its stomach and eye teeth before the very
hot weather sets in may be regarded as
| having passed the most critical stage of
infancy. But all through the summer
| months child in its second year should
be watched by its mother and nurse with
unusual assiduity and the first symptoms
Of disease met and checked as promptly
as may be. Fresh, pure air and careful
dieting are obviously the first desiderata
in well-appointed nursery. If possible
|
of country air and sweet rich milk, but it
is not possible for every mother to remove
from home, even though her home be
within the precincts of some crowded G1,y
Ii such be the case, it is even more i'm
| portant to attend to few simple direc-
tons promotive Of health that may be
followed out in any locality
Let the nurse take her charge out to
walk daily as early as possible, before the
breath Of morning has lost its dewy fresh
ness, and ere the sun shines down in full
power. Let the baby take its bath before
! being taken out to walk. Never, how
ever, battle delicate child in cold water,
to harden it, as they say, but use tepid
| salt bath, which refreshes and siren CITIZENS
In wonderful manner Prepare it thus:
Mix hot and cold water together until it
is just lukewarm, SO that the child's
feeble frame may not be subjected to the
slightest shock when put into the tub.
Add handful of salt to three gallons of
water, or add until there is the same
buoyancy felt as in the touch of sea water.
|
seemed to be at deaths door during the
night, so revived by this salt bath and
| early morning walk as to be hardly rec
ognizable for the same little, exhausted
sufferer.
Do not tease a sick child with much
dressing, but keep it as easy and COM
Portable as possible in loosely fitting gar
ments that subject it to little or no fatigue
| In their adjustment. Beware, though, of
altogether dispensing with flannel, even
in hottest weather, seeing how variable is
the American climate, and if change is
required let it be made with all due eau
ton. Gauze flannel shirts protect the
breast and other vital parts without in
commoding any child, save one with a
most exceptionally sensitive skin. Death
has been seen to ensue from no graver
cause than the untimely removal of a
flannel shirt
The thoughtless parent who INDUCES
her child with taste of every tidbit has
| often sad cause to rue her imprudence
| Witness the case Of a young mother who
helped her eighteen-months'- old baby to
a dinner of lamb and two of the tiniest lit
tie new potatoes-wee things just suited
for pretty baby's palate! That night baby
came near dying of cholera infantum, and
that mother has never forgotten so severe
a lesson in baby dietetics. Natures pro-
vision of mothers milk is of course the
best food and medicine for infancy, but.
from some cause, this supplyis often fail
ing nowadays, or pronounced by physi-
clans not to agree with the child In that
case such substitutes might be sought as
the constitution of the infant may require
as indicated by the state of the bowels.
Often the mere change from brown to
| white sugar from raw to boiled or scalded
milk, may have a decided Alternative effect,
if the constitution has not been already in
iured by the use of narcotics. In those
alarming and sudden attacks of cholera in
fantum which brighten even experienced
nurses, if no doctor is at hand, the proper
thing to do is to apply a mustard plaster
(nOt too strOng) to the stomach, and to give
mint.julep a little at time, prepared
with ice pounded up as fine as can be, no
water, dessert-spoonful of best French
brandy, and little loaf sugar.
The writer hopes she may encourage no
mother in being over anxious concerning
her child's health, but has given these few
hints with the honest desire that they may
reach some whom they may help, if ever
so little.-Harper's Bazar.
"A lover of his race has bit of in
formation for sentimental young ladies.
He says that as soon as baby's teething
begins the romance of married life
ceases. No woman can feel any senti-
ment for man who travels around in