The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-13


EXCITEMEET-HlNTS TO MOTIlERS-lIOW
ToCARE FOR CHILDREN DURING THE HOT
SpELLS-KEMEDY FOR SUNSTROKE-NEWS
BY TELEGRAPH.
The fatal effects OF an almost rnvarying
hirh temperature day after day for nearly
three weeks past are shown in the weekly
rcports of the Board Of Health. The num-
Der OF deaths from sunstroke, not only III
Baltimore. but in other cities, has been I'M
usually great. In New York on Monday
there were forty-two cases; in PhIladelphla,
eighteen: and in Washington city many
persons were prostrated by the heat, and
! three died In the latter city also, and, 1t is
| said, for the first time, the men were COM
pelled to quit work on the public buildings.
! During each OF the weeks under notice our
! dcath-rate has gone on increasing, and with
| the increase the proportion OF children who
have died-being two thirds OF the whole
number of deaths-has been steadily mann
| tanned.
Our State and municipal Boards OF Health
| have both published suggestions I'D regard
| to the treatment OF young children during
the heated term, and it is to be hoped that
the special rules thus laid down for their
management nave III SOlllt CdScS at iSdSt
been applied The sanitarium opened for
| sick children on Long Island, where the ben
! eft of the sea breeZeS can be had, is now
| in successful operation. At Atlantic City
also temporary structures have been erect
! ed for the reception OF infants from Phlla-
delphia, and we are told that the health OF
the little ones has been wonderfully bcne.
| fitted thereby.
| But if many mothers do not know what
to do for their young during the summer
months, or neglect to follow the inStruc-
tions issued by our boards of health, adult
persons Of both sexes, better able to bear
the heat and more inclined 10 brave the con-
sequences. can scarcely be expected to listen
to good advice when it concerns the prcScr-
y.tion Of their oNn health.
SIMPLE RULES.
And vet the observance OF n few simple
rules might save them from sharp attack
of sickness, and perhaps from adding an
other name to the dcath-list OF the week.
These rules may be briefly stated. They
are:
First. Personal cleanliness. so that the
pores OF the skin may be kept freely open
and the pcrspiration unchecked. a morn
ing bath will assist largely in giving tone to
the system throughout the day. \ bath in
the afternoon, and especially on full
stomach, is to be avoided. When 4 bath is
not to be had sponging with cold water, or
even the Use OF wet towels, is the next best
thing.
Second. Temperance in eating and drink
ing. But little meat is required in hot wea-
thcr. The food should be light and not
stimulating, the dinner being composed
mainly Of vegetables rs fresh as they can be
obtained, and well cooked. Fermented or
distilled liquors should be drank sparingly,
il at all; simple acdulated drinks, such as
lemonade, being the most cooling and re.
freshing.
Third Avoid the direct rays Of the sun
as much rs possible. Where this is unavoid.
able wet grape or cabtage-leaf, or better
still, thin slice of sponge dampened and
worn in the hat, will afferd great protection
against sunstroke.
Fourth. Avoid hurry and excitement
Move slowly in walking, and in the shade
where shade is to be lad, and cease to fre'
about trifes. In short, strive in every wa5
to keep cool. In cases of sunstroke the
best authorities tell us that @co1d applies
tions to the head, friction Of the limbs, q
mustard-Ifaster placed over the stomach,
and, when the patient can swallow, the In.
tsrnal administration of stimulants is TIE
treatment that affords the most satisfactory
results. ."-Baltimore kun.
THE CARE os' INFANTS.
The instructions for the care Of infants
| during the hot weather, as issued by the
Board of Health Of Philadelphia, direct that
the child be bathed once day i'll tepid wa
4 ter, II it is feeble, to sponge it oil over
twice day with tepid water, or with tepid
\ water and vinegar; to avoid all tight ban
aa"inc; to make the clething light and COO,
and SO loose that the child may have free
| ,aay for it's limbs; at night to undress it.,
sponge it, and put ON it 3 slip; in the morE-
ing to remove the slip, bathe the child, and
| dress it in clean clothes; the child should
sleep by itself in cot or cradle;
it should be put to bed at regular
hours, and be early taught to so to bed
without being nursed IN the arms; with
out the advice OF physicisa spirits, cor
dials, or sleeping-drops, should not be given
to children, as thousands OF children die
every year from the use OF these poisons;
the child should have plenty OF fresh air,
and the house should be kept sweet and
clean, cool, and well aired; the cooking
should be done in a yard, in a shed, in tue
garnet, or in an upper room; whltesvash the
walls every spring, and see That the cellar is
clear OF all rubbish; let DO slops collect;
breast-miik is the only proper food Tor in
fants; avoid giving the breast when over
iatigucd or oyerheated; nurse the child
| once In two or three hours during the day,
and as seldom as possible during the night.
II, unfortunately, the child must be
brought up by hand, it should be fed
on milk diet alone-that is, warm
milk out OF nnrsing-bottle. Goats milk
is the best, and next to it cows
milk. Ii the child tbrives on this diet no
other kind OF food whatever should be given
while the hot weather lasts. Each bottlefu
OF milk should be sWeetened by q small
lamp OF loaf-sugar or by half teaspoonful
Of crushed sugar. II the milk is known to
be pure 1t may have one-fourth part OF hot
water added to it, but II it Is not known to