Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-06-21
HOW INFANTS ARE DAILY
KILLED.
FamIshing for Water i'm the
Hands OF ThOughtIess Moth
ers and Nurses.

CL8 e4AA~a AZ VA oNHe
A reporter of the New York Sun,
a few days since, interviewed an emf
nent physician of Gotham on the
causes Of mortality among children
during the hot season. This is an
interesting subject everywhere,
and the view of the ply
sician are entitled to the thought
full attention of all parents and other
in charge Of young children.
do you think" asked the reporter,
that during the heated term the
death rate among children will be in
creased ?"
ut is probable; but l do not think
the difference between this and other
years will be great enough to be alarm
ing. More than half our population
die before they are six years old, and
there are many causes mitigating
against the health of children besides
dirty streets. To my mind weare now
considering our surrounding condi-
tions of air, etc , somewhat to the neg
lect Of the food question, which comes
very close to us a matter of sanitary
Importance"
"What is the chief cause of death in
children?"
Cholera infantum and analogous
troubles carry off the bulk of them"
"And what is the cause of cholera
infantum?"
ut may almost always be
TRACED TO FOOD
and drink and the manner Of giving
them. You would be surprised to
know the number of children who are
killed inadvertently by the careless
ness or ignorance ofmothers or nurses.
The majority Of infants who die in the
summer season are those who are fed
by the bottle; the milk used is often
sour or partly so. Another prolific cause
of their death, and an exceeding
ly important one, is the failure to pro-
vide them suficiency of cool water
to drink"
What percentage of deaths would
you be willing to s.y takes place from
that cause?"
ut has been said by those who have
carefully examined the statistics that
lduring hot weather the deprivation of
water has brought about larger num-
ber of cases Of death than all other
causes combined. They are always
too much wrapped up, and in any case
would perspire very freely. The water
lost by perspiration must be supplied.
As DR.. Murdoch
STATED IN HIS PAPER
on cholera infantum. The child is
thirsty, not hungry; but not getting
the water which it does want, it drinks
the milk, which it does not want.
| The consequence is that the stomach
is overloaded with food which cannot
digest, and which soon ferments and
becomes a source Of severe irritation
Then follows vomiting, purging, and
cholera infantum.
"How would you remedy the evil ?"
"Have water-ice water-always
accessible to the child, who will then
refuse sour milk and will eat only
when hungry Water is the great
indispensable article for the preventive
treatment of children in hot weather.
1t is important enough to nursing
children, but is life itself to those
reared on the bottle. The result Of
/ its judicious use is that they will then
take milk only when it is sweet and
will drink it only in such quantities
as they will be able to digest"
Are infants likely to take too
much waterW
Not without they are overheated,
and child who drinks often of water
is much less likely to get overheated
than one who is deprived of it; child
must be watched, of course. AS a
1 rule, its instinct is its best guide. 1t
is only in the grown up child that the
animal instincts become vitiated and
unreliable. You may state with en-
tire confidence that the free giving OF
water is, in a majority of cases, a
potent preventive against the terrible
scOurge of cholera infantum."