The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-19
CARE OF CHILDREN.
SOME SIMPLE RULES FOR GUIDANCE
OF MOTHERS AND NURSES.
How to Keep Children fn Health
During the Hos SeasOn-AuthOrf.
tafive recommendation.

The death-rate OF cities during hot wea.
ther Is largely made up OF mortality among
children. especially from cholera-infanttim
In view OF this fact, several years ago Dr.
Chancellor, secretary OF the Maryland
State Board Of Health, prepared the fol-
lowing rules for the treatment of children
in hot weather, which were copied cx.
tensively throughout the country at the
time they were first published, and which
have been recently published in Phiadel-
phia rs coming from the Obstetrical So
ciety Of that city, and, have been carefully
read and unqualifiedly endorsed by lead
ing physician OF Richmond:
Rule /. Battle the child once a day in
tepid water. III it is feeble, sponge 1t all
all over twice day with tepid water, or
with tepid water and vinegar. The health
OF child depends upon its cleanliness.
Rule 2. Avoid all tight bandaging. Make
the clothing light and cool and so loose that
the child may have free play for its limbs.
At night undress it, sponge ii, and put on
a slip. In the morning remove the slip,
bathe the child, and dress il in clean
clothes. II this cannot be afforded, thor
oughly air the day-clotbing by hanging it
up during the night. Use clean diapers
and change them often. Never dry soil
ed one in the nursery or in the sitting
room, and never use one for a second time
without first washing it,
Rule 3. The child should sleep by Itself
in cot or cradle. 1t should be put to bed
at regular hours, and be early taught to go
to sleep without beng nursed in the arms.
Without the advice OF q physician, never
give it any spirits, cordials, carminatIyes,
soothlng-Syrups, or sleeping-drOps. Thou
sands OF children die every year from the
use OF these poisons. II the child frets
and does not sleep 1t is either hungry or
else i'll. II i'll. it needs a physician. Never
quiet it by candy or by cake; they are the
common causes OF diarrhGa and other
troubles.
Rule 4. Give the child plenty Of fresh
air. In the cool OF the morning and eve
ming send it out to the shady sides OF broad
streets, to the public squares. or the park.
Make frequent excursions on the rivers.
Whenever it seems to suffer from the heat
let it drink freely OF ice-water. Keep it
out Of the room in which washing or cook
ing is gong on. 1t is excessive heat that
destroys the lives OF young infants.
Rule D. Keep your house sweet and
clean, cool and wcll-aired. In very hot
weather let the windows be open day and
night. Do your cooking in the yard, in a
shed, in the garrct, or in an upper room.
Whtewash the walls every spring, and
see that the cellar is clear Of all rubbish.
Let no slops collect to poison the air. Cor
rect all foul smells by pouring into the
sinks and privies carbolic acid or quick
lime. or the chloride OF lime, or a strong
solution OF copperas. These articles can
be got from the nearest druggist, who will
give the needful directions for their use.
Make every effort yourself, and urge your
neighbors to keep clean the cutters OF
your streets or Of your court.
Rule 9. Breast-milk is the only proper
food for infants. Ii the supply is ample,
and the child thriyes on it, no other kind
of food should be given while the hot
weather lasts. III the mother has not
enough, she must not wean the child, but
give it, besides the breast, goats or cows
milk, as prepared under Rule 8. Nurse
the child once in two or three hours during
the day, and as seldom as possible during
the night. Always remove the child from
the breast as soon as il has fallen asleep.
Avoid giving the breast when you are over
fatigued or ogcrheated.
Rule I. II, unfortunately, the child must
be brought up by hand, it should be fed
on milk diet alOne-that is, warm milk out
OF q nurSing-bottle, as directed under Rule
8. Goats milk is the best, and. next to il,
cows milk. If the child thriycs on this
diet no other kind OF food whatever should
be given while the hot weather lasts. At
all seasons of the year, but especially in
summer, there is no safe substitute for
milk il the infant has not cut its front
teeth. SagO, arrOwrOOt, potatoes, corn-
flour, crackers, bread every patented
food. and every article OF diet containing
starch, cannot and must not be depended
on as food for very young infants. Creep
ing and walking children must not be
allowed to pick up unwholesome food.
Rule s. II the milk is known to be pure
1t should have one-thrd part OF hot water
added toit until the child is three months
old After this age the proportion OF
water should gradually be lessened. Each
haIf-pint OF this food should be sweetened
either with a heaping desert spoonful OF
sugar OF milk or with n teaspoOnful
of crushed sugar. When the heat OF
the weather is great the milk may be given
quite cold. Be sure that the milk is I'M
udlt IL do lush ti' DDNslUlA,
and brought very early in the morn
ing. Before using the pans into which il
Is TO be poured always scald them with
boiling suds. In very hot weather boil the
milk as soon as it comes, and at once put
away the vessels holding it in the coolest
place in the house-up0n ice. II It can be
afforded, or down well. Milk carelessly
allowed to stand in warm room soon
spoilS, and becomes unfit for food.
Rule 0. II the milk should disagree ta-
blespoonful OF llme-water may be added TO
each bottleful. Whenever pure milk cam
not be got, try the condensed milk, which
often answers admirably. 1t is sold by all
the leading druggists and grocers, and may
be prepared by adding to ten tablespoon
fuls OF boiling water without sugar, one
tablespoonful or more OF the milk, accord
ing to the age OF the child. Should this
disagree teaspOonful OF arrowroOt, or
sago, or corn-starch, may be cautiously
added to a pint Of the milk, as prepared
under Rule s. II milk in any shape cannot
be digested try for few days pure cream
diluted with three fOurths or four fifths OF
water-returning TO milk as soon as posi-
BILE.
Rule 10. The nursing-bottle must be kept
perfectly clean, otherwise the milk will
turn sour, and the child will be made i'll.
After each meal it should be emptied, rinsed
out, taken apart, and the nipple and hottie
placed in clean water, or in water to which
a little soda has been added. IL is good
plan to have two nursing-bottles, and to
use them by turns. The best kind is the
plain bottle with the rubber nipple and no
tube.
Rule II. Do not wean the child Just be-
fore or during the hot weather; nor, as 4
rule, until after the second summer. II
sucking disagrees with the mother she
must not wean the child, but feed it in part
out Of nursing-bottle on such food az has
been directed. However small the supply
OF breast-milk, provided that il agrees
with the child, the mother should carefully
n I'll