The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-03
CHILD INCUBATION.

The report OF some remarkable expert
mcnts in so-called artificial child incu-
baton comes from France. The Glasgow
Mail says that the immense success which
has attended the artificial incubation of
chickens in France recently attracted the
attention of DIR. Tavcrnier, learned and |
ingenious physician. He was attached |
to hospital for foundlings, and was an
noyed at the large number of ioundlings
who died within the first six months of |
their life. The majority of those ad-
mittcd to the hospital We're weak and
sickly, and he resolved to try what "ar-
tihcial incubation would accomplish if
applied to infants. The doctor con-
structed a child incubator ON precisely
the model OF the ordinary chicken incu-
bator. 1t was box with glass slide,
furnished with II soft WOODEN bed, and
kept at temperature of eighty-siS de-
grees Fahrenheit, by the aid of hot water
He selected as the subject OF his first ex-
pertinent miscrably made infant, one
that had come into the world at an in
iudiciously early period. This infant
was placed in the incubator, and although
it had bsen q pretarnaturally sleepless
child. il sanl; into 3 deep and quiet
sleep
The qhill remained in the incubator
10, about eight weeks, during which
time it never cried. and never remained
awake except when taking nourishment.
1t grew rapidly, and when, at the ex-
pration OF sixty days, it was removed
from the incubator, it presented the ap-
pearance of a healthy infant of at least
year DID, Delighted with the success
of the experiment, DR.. Tavernier next
selected an ordinary six-months. in
FAINT addicted to the usual pains and
collie and exhibiting the usual fretfulness
of French infants. This child conducted
itself while in the incubator precisely as
its predecessor had done. 1t never cried;
it spent its whole time in sleep, and it
grew as if it had made up its mind to
embrace the career of a giant. After
six weeks stay in the incubator it was
removed and weighed: during this brief
period it had doubled its weight. 1t had
become so strong and healthy that it re-
sembled a child three years old, and it
could actually walk when holding on to
convenient piece of furniture. These
two experiments satisfied DIR. Tavernier
Of the vast advantages of artificial child
incubation. He immediately proceeded,
with the permission of the hospital au-
thorities, to construct an incubator of the
capacity of 400 infants, and in this he
placed every one Of the 360 infants who
were in the hospital on the 10th day of
February last.
With the exception of one who died OF
congenital hydrocephalus, and another
who was claimed by it's repentant par.
ents, the infants We're kept continuously
in the incubator for six months, when
they were removed in consequence of
having eutgrown their narrow bed. The
result will seem almost incredible to per.
sons who are unfamiliar with the repu.
tation of DIR. Tavernier. and have not
seen the report made to the French Gov.
ernment by select committee OF twelve.
The average age of the infants last Feb,
ruary was months and 3 days--the
youngest being less than II hours old,
and the eldest not more than IL months
Their average weight was sixteen pounds,
and only one of the entire $50 having at
tanned a weight OF thirty,two pounds
AT the end OF six months Of incubation
the average weight OF each infant wa'
twenty,four pounds, and there was MOI
one who would not have been supposed
by casual observer to be at least thre,
years ald, In other words, six months
OF artificial incubation did as much in tn,
way of developing DR., Tayernier's found
lmgs as three years OF ordinary life woulG
have done, The infants were strong AM
healthy as well as big; they walked
within week Of leaving the incubator
and most Of them have since learned Il
talk, These results surpassed DR., Tay
emier's most enthusiasts expectations
and there can be no doubt that hia sys
tenn Of artificial child incubation will b
adopted not only in France, but in ever,
private family throughout the eiyllize'
| world