The Van Buren press., 1876-08-01
Vol. l4.---No. II.
The Care Of Infants.


At the last regular meeting Of the
board of health, the medical men were
requested to prepare some plain and
practical directions respecting the care OF
infants, and request the daily papers 10
give them publication. The following In
structions tor the guidance Of mothers
and nurses have been prepared 10 compli-
ance with the request OF the board, and
it is believed If they are carefully obser-
we'd. will tend to diminish the sickness
and mortality among the little ones:
FoR NURSING BABIES frequent
nursing is hurtful Once in two or three
hours is sufficient for an infant under
two months old. II six months or older
give nurse ouly once in about 6oe hours.
| Ii the baby IL thirsty, In the intervals, .
little pure water, or barley water without
sugar is the best, and to be used spar
ingly.
For BOTTLE FED BABIES. One method:
Take condensed milk two teaspoonfuls;
water, twenty. four teaspoonfuls; granu-
lated white sugar, one half teaspoonfnl,
aud salt small pinch. First bring the
water to a blood heat; measure the milk
accurately, and mix and stir the several
ingredients together. This makes suf
ficient amount for one feeding. Or, take
cows milk ten terspoonfulsr sugar and
salt as above For infants more than six
months old, more milk in proportion to
age.
Another method: Boil = teaspoonful
of powdered barley and a gill Of water.
with pinch Of salt for fifteen minutes;
strain il, and mix 1t with half d much
boiled milk, and lump OF white sugar.
For babies, Eve or six months old, the
proportions of barley water and milk
may be equal, and for older babies , lsr-
ger part Of milk, and lump Of white
sugar
When there is partial supply ofbreast
milk, give alternately breast milk and
food
Whentmilk is obtained from the milk
wagons, it should be boiled Immediately
to prevent further change in It, and du !
ring the hot weather, whenever 1t can not
be given. while still warm and fresh from
the COW, it should first be boiled.
The prepared milk should alwava be
given luke. warm from a nursing bottle.
The nursing bottle should receive the
most scrupulous care as regards its clean
lness. 1t should always be scalded i'm.
mcdiately after using. The rubber tube
and mouth piece, which should be Of
black rather than white rubber, should
be washed daily in alcohol one part and
water two parts, and always when not In
use. shohld be immersed in clean cold
water. s.5sz
Infants of ten and twelve months may
have a crust of bread and . piece Of raro
| beef to suck.
No child under two years old ought 10
eat at your table; girc no candies.
ABOUT DRESS, VENTILATION. ETc.--A
flannel bandage or flannel shirt should be
constantly worn next to the skin.
A quick bath in the tub, or. II feeble.
sponge bath, with tepid water, should
be given daily or oftener over the whole
surface.
Babies should be kept out Of doors
but in the shade as much as possible du-
ring the day.
The windows and doors OF houses
should be kept freely open TO secure the
| the utmost ventilation.
ABOUT SUMNER CoMPLAINr,--T b .
comes from over feeding or bad feeding.
dirt, hot and bad air; seldom or never
from teething. Therefore the urgent
need of attention to the diet, to cleanness
and to ventilation. Keep your houses
open and your infants much out Of doors,
and wash them often. "a
II your babies vomit and purge, give
nothing to cat for four or six hours, but
all the fresh air you can.
Give no laudanum, no paregeric, no
soothing syrups, no teas, no medicines,
except under skilled advice.