St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-04-14
THE LOST CHILD.
A FATE WORSE THAN ABDUCTION.
How Parents, by a Lack of Precaution
and Care, are Responsible for
the Death of Their
Children
fCdmdera. Me-. Herald.

tCdmde7a, Me-, Herdtd.
The moral and legal responsibility of pa
rents, in the care of their children is, fortu-
nately, attracting the serious attention OF
the better portion of the entire country.
The many instances of child beating, OPP
preston, and other forms of cruelty which
have come to light, demand that something
be done; and it is gratifying to know that
the people are becoming thoroughly aroused.
Whether the cruelty be in the form of phys
ical violence or physical neglect matters
not-the principle in both cases is the same.
The man or woman who neglects his or her
own health may be pardoned, as the conse.
quences fall upon the individual alone; but
the parent or guardian who permits the in
roads of disease upon the innocent ones de-
pendent upon him for protection, is crimi-
nally liable in the sight of God, however he
may appear in the eyes of men. There are,
however, parents that intend to care for
their children, but, who through careless
ness or the urgency of other duties, permit
them to become the innocent victims of dis
ease. Such parents may be guiltless of in
territorial wrong, but the disastrous results
upon their children are just as great.
These are truths which must be manifest
to every worthy parent and especially in a
vicinity where the unknown effects of the
atmosphere, the water and the general ten
dency to malaria are SO great. There are
many families in this locality who have
been called upon to mourn untimely losses,
even when the greatest care was exercised;
but the experience of one only will be given:
It is that of the late w. O. Thomas. The
children were all most promising, but for
some unexplained reason their health and
strength seemed to gradually lessen until
of consumption. One by one, they sickened
and died until three had departed and two
of the surviving brothers were also taken
ill. Their names were Hermon and Edward.
Hermon, however, seemed the stronger of
the two: and, while his younger brother
was confined to the house constantly, and
to his bed much of the time, Hermon was
able to be about but in so weak a condition
that he had no desire to play. Eddie's
symptoms were terrible! He found diff
Guilty in retaining food upon his stomach,
was restless and irritable, and out of his
head frequently. At various times three
different physicians visited him: and each
one told his friends he could not live. He
finally got so low that death was only con-
sidered matter of few days. At that
critical time his elder brothers, aroused al
most to the pitch of desperation by the
three deaths that had SO recently occurred,
and the other one staring them in the face,
resolved to take the case into their own
hands. They accordingly did so, and Sc
cured a remedy that was then being-hni-
versally used, and began giving it to him.
It's effect at first was slight, but any inn
proyement was considered good symp-
tom. BY degrees his strength returned; he
was able to eat with relish, then walk
about the house: and finally he regained
complete health and strength. Theboy was
so rejoiced over his recovery that, accom-
panied by the editor of this paper, he went
before Justice Charles K. Miller and made
oath to the facts of his sickness as above re-
lated, and that he was restored to perfect
health by the use of Warmers Safe Kidney
and Liver Cure. Now, Edward Thomas
parents, while they lived, undoubtedly,
provided faithfully for the wants of all their
children; and yet the seeds of disease had
taken deep root. Their care in one direction
had been counteracted by unknown care
lessness in another. Their love was sincere,
but wholly misdirected. They should have
known that children are just as liable to
kidney and liver diseases as grown up PEG.
pie; and that the fatality of Bright's dis.
ease of the kidneys is just as great among
little children as with adults. This is a
serious subject. Hereditary traits: the aft
er consequences OF measles and scarlet
fever, diphtheria and the passing troubles
the greatest care and caution. No case OF
cholera infantun1, measles, scarlatlna, or
diphtheria was ever virulent while the
child's kidneys and liver were healthy. Lit
would simply be an impossibility. These
important organs of the body are just FORM
ing within the child and growing with its
growth; and they can be trained to strength
and health as readily as the little mind can
be trained to truth and uprightness.
The Importance of carefully watching the
slightest troubles of the child, and especial
ly those affecting the kidneys and liver, can
not be too strongly emphasized. Children
respond SO readily to the proper remedies
and are so sensitive to disease, that it is q
sin to deprive them of one at the risk of in
curing the other. By judicious treat
ment these essential organs can De deyel-
oped SO that a strong constitution, able to
resist the inroads of disease through COM
ing years, shall be the result.
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