Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-05
THE COMMON DECOR MITES OF
CHILDREN.
From Harpers Bazaar.


slant attention IL the sufferer would have any
ehance OF being restored to health or the per-
lection OF bodily strength. Some of these are
congental, or date from the time of birth, others
are the result of accident or exhibit themselves
by degrees while the child is still young. Some
OF them can be cured, some are incurable, but
nearly all can be in some way amellorated
Now, as in all cases Of chronic disease In chill
dren, whether of the bones or muscles or inter-
nal organs, the greatest care should be taken
that the condition of the little patient Is kept up
TO or as neal to health mark possible.
Particular care should be taken with regard to
diet. This ought to be suitable for the age of
the child. and the meals should be given with
the greatest regularity. Children should never
be permitted to fast too long. nor should they
be allowed to eat too much at time They
ought to be taught at a very early age the bene-
fits Of eating slowly and masticating we'll The
clothing should be light but warm comfort
able aud moderately loose. Flannel. the softest
that eau be procured. and well shrunk should
be worn next the skin, and there ought to be
no tightness of the dress anywhere neither in
feet. legs. waist, arms nor neck. Carriers and
corsets are injurious to the health. An over
amount OF cOddling is most injudiciOus. PLENTY
OF exercise in the open air is Imperative if health
Is TO De maintained. MANY a poor child is posi-
lively starved for want of fresh air. Close
stuny nurseries and badly ventilated bedrooms
have to account for deal OF iDiantiie mortality
and a vast dea OF the unhealthness that rem
ders Ike to many at best but burden and a
WEAKNESS.
The value of personal cleanliness i'm children
cannot be oyerrated. know there are many
people who think ii IS quite enough IT the little
ones are ''bathed once week. This is a great
mistake; face aud hands and feet should be
kept constantly clean. and the bath, cold or
tepid. used eUery night at bed time. This if the
Lot,
sound sleep without which child can never be
well Seven O'Clock should be ted time with
yOun2 children: the bed Itself should be a mod
eratey hard mattress, never feathers or down.
and the bedc!otAes ought TO be light. for perspi-
ration Is most weakening, especially if the child
be at all delicate.
Ricsets is u disease of children. which is I'M
fortunately too we'll known to need a very mi
mute description. and one which is accountable
Tor Not few OF the non cOngentai deiOru'tleS
of childhood Ii usually attacks children of a
scro.HlOus tendency IN preference to others.
Ricketts, in children ought to be anticipated
and during the first year of its life. il infant
b. puny. pulling and weakly. the greatest care
on ut to be taken Of it, If the mother is appar-
emily not strong enough 10 nurse the child well
a healthy young nurse should be procured and
I'm aid ton to the milk little farinaceouS food
Should be. given as early as the eighth MONTH
and gradually stronger food. such as egg-yok,
broth. beef tea. very tender meat minced etc.
TIE room IN which the patient sleeps should
be warm. but at the same time most iuticiOusiy
ventilated. and the clothing he wears by day
Should hc soft and warm.
Complications should be watched for, and the
ass stance OF a medical man procured at once if
ANYTHING Ike bad cold should come. or
d arrhtea. or child-croWing. Ii aperient med-
cine should be required. it must be OF the mildest
kind. such "a little castor-oi a tea-spoonfdl
or two of SIENNA syrup. or rhubarb. Parrish's
Chemical food-dOse according to age--does a
deal of good in cases of ricketts,. especially when
taken III conjunction with cOd-iiYer oil.
The patient should not be taught the use of
his legs too soon. and il there be signs of NAL
formation Coming on. properly adjusted splints
should b. worn for few hours every day.
There are a variety of deformties of the feet,
usually clasSed under the generic name of c!tt6-
foot Some of these are the result OF maIOrma-
tionAeefore birth, but IN large number of cases
weakness in the bones muscles or ligaments
that bind the joints is the cause. All cases of
club-fOOt require surgical treatment and the
sooner this is had recourse to the better it will
be for the child himself and for all Interested in
him.
Weakness Of the anlle-joint in children Is very
common. and may ultimately lead to distress
Ing deformity. The child is observed to have a
tendency to turn the foot either out or in at the
ankle-joint. which appears somewhat swollen
and deformed. The heels of the boots are not
worn on an even keel. and the very wearing of
boots or shoes down at the heel at either side
tends to Increase the defOrmity This should
therefore be guarded against; they ought to be
protected with steel at the side where they are
most worn Meanwhile, attention to the gen
eral health is imperative. Iron tOnics should be
given with cOd-ver oil and the syrup of the
phOsphates. Further than the wearing of an
elastic bandage and boots that fit pretty tightly,
and daily saltwater douching to strengthen
the li@aments no local treatment will be needed.
Children that are in the slightest degree weak
1y. nabby in muscle. pae-faced and small i'm bone.
Should never be permitted to walk too much.
nor TO learn to walk too soon.
There IS an affection of the hip-jOint usually
called hip-CttseGSe. which takes variety of FORMS
And can only be conducted to successful ter
mination by skillful surgeon or physician. 1t
comes on slowly and insidiously; some pain
about the knee may perhaps be complained
about. a slight degree of limping is observed
and the patient while in bed prefers lying on the
opposite side When anything of the kind is
noticed. aid should be procured Immediately; all
parent can do Is to obey the orders OF the fam
lily physician. see that no undue strain is ever
put on the painful limb, and attend to the gen.
era health of the child.
Ctp'cGtsue Of the spine Is a very distressing
affection. Too much STOPPING, whether in
school or at work. may give rise to it. But
whatever be the cause, or at whatever age the
dsease-for disease it is-cOmes on, medical
aid should be resorted to. In young children
III is inp ortant that the spine should have COM
pete rest For this purpose the little patient
is placed upon cushions, or has a couch espe-
claiiy adapted for his complaint while every
thing possible must be done to strengthen his
Institution. and much can be accomplished i'm
tins way oy nutritious diet. tonics, pure air.
weil-ventilated sleeping apartments, the gent
lest carriage exercise. and sea air
Some children are very subject to s,celi1sqs
about the throat and neck. and these cases are too
often treated at home to the chids detriment
At al events. medical mans advice should be
taken; the home treatment will then consist in
strict obedience To his orders and i'm being care
full TO iced and treat the child according to the
principles OF hygiene.
What are commonly called ruptu-es are very
common among children. They must be seen
to by surgeon. and if he advises it, q properly
adjusted truss must be worn
Most cases of tareiip can now be remedied
by proper surgical treatment. They ought
however, to be seen To in time.
What is called tOHJJe-tyiHy merely mention
In order to warn the reader against allowing q
non-prOiessiOnal person to interfere in the
slightest with it.
Let me also. in conclusion warn my readers
never 10 be led away by the pretentions of I'M
qualified quacks, or mischief may result that
never can be remedied
Vienna Ways of Living.
Tfp Pav ifa oft bsa Sfria 49,