The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-21
PORTLAND CORRESPONDENCE

DEAR READERS or THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Our attention has lately been much
attracted to the "wholesaIe slaughter of
the innocents' that, in spite Of the wis
dom Of doctOrs and the love aud vigil
lance Of parents, is going on with alarm
ing regularity. We do not open daily
newspaper without observing with a
saddened heart the unfailing record Of
iniantile death. We do not attend a
public service Of any kind where chill
dreu cODgregate without noting in the
eyes OF the inuocents, aud their general
pinched expression Of features, the un-
mistakable presence OF their worst foe,
Summer complaint. Diphtheria, too, is
fearful scourge, though by no means
so universal in its attacks as the other.
The former is generally a precursor aud
almost invariably an attendant of the
latter.
Our first thought in contemplating
the slaughter OF the iunoeents is, ''No
wonder" Start in any direction Up
town or down town, or retire at night
fall 20 your own bed d-rooms, where we
hope you leave your windows open for
the air; in either or any case, the sick
ening odors that are the effect Of bad
sewerage, or none at all, arise to offend
your senses, aud you involuntarily hold
your breath until disgusted nature COM
pels inspiration to resume its Office.
But women are not members of the
Board OF Health or Common Council, so
they are not prepared to act officially i'm
the preserving capacities Of such
dignilaries, aud, until they can so act,
must be content to observe as best they
may such other aud minor sanitary
measures for the prevention of the dis
eases of children as they may be able to
command.
One cause OF the prevalence Of sum
mer complaint is the too free use of ice
water. Our river water Is necessarily
too warm 10 properly allay thirst when
It reaches our hydrants through the
pipes that lie a very little way beneath
the surface OF the streets. This makes
the use Of ice a necessity during the
heated term aud il would be far better
If the artificial commodity were to take
the place Of the lake and river supply.
Sieam-made ice, having been reduced
to vapor before freezing, is known to be
free from the organic germs that may or
may not infest the other. The bydrant
water should in every case be boiled and
allowed to cool before using. Then,
steam-made ice, added to the boiled
river water, will make harmless drink;
but even this should be used sparfngly.
1t is a mistaken notion that fruits are
unhealthy. All kinds Of ripe fruits in
their season are healthy, nutritious and
palatable food, far better than the meats,
gravies, sauces, and other compounds
with which the little ones are usually
fed till their poor stomachs are i'm such
a bad condition that an infrequent rel
ish OF fruit, which acts as an aperient.
is mistaken as the cause Of the bilious
attack which follows. We are speaking
now Of children that have outgrown the
breast and nursing bottle. Every
mother knows how ravenously they will
devour any kind Of fruit. And almost
every mother, becoming alarmed at the F.
symptom above mentioned, redoubles
her vigilance to keep the child away
from the very cure which its natural in F.
stincts demand. Let your children .
have all the fruit they can eat, only
taking care that it is ripe aud sound, I.
and is given as food, and not as "piece
between meals" Theu, If the dreaded
Summer complaint appears, you need
not be alarmed, but give them more
fruit at the next meal, never forgetting
bread and milk, which they will always 7.
relish. Reduce fevers by frequent baths /
in tepid water, AMI apply packs Of cool .
mot cOld) water to the bowels to allay /
You will know If worms |
exist in their stomachs by their fetid .
breath and distended bodies. We have
always found a little turpentine on a .
lump Of sugar, given early in the morn 4
ing, an excellent remedy for these para
sites. \ little common guupowder on
the child's bread and butter, covered
with coating Of sugar to disguise its
presence, will also expel them.
When the attack Of Summer COM
plant is violent aud obstinate, which
will rarely or never happen If the above
are taken, do not attempt to
check the disease too Suddenly, as death
Is almost sure to ensue II you do. In
such a case il is best to administer a
Of rhubarb and jalap or Ham
burg tea. Do not give strong medicines
without consulting your physician, but
10 not be too easily frightened into
sending for Doctor We have known
children whom we did not consider
i'll to be frightened into the
belief, aud shortly after into the fact,
hat they were beyond recovery because
he doctor was called. Physicians do
lOt care to be summoned in trivial
,ases, and a sensible member Of the pro-
ession never fails to commend a judi
'ious, painstaking mother who as far as
possible does her own doetoring.
An excellent remedy for Summer
is manipulation, or the mag
letic cure. Let the mother or some
friend Of the LITTLE sufferer ,
mmerse the hands in cool water and
hen proceed, very gently at first, but
with more power as the child
AN bear il, 10 chafe the little heated .