The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-18
THE LOST CHILD.
AFATE WORSE THAN ABDUCTION,
How Parents, by n Lnck of Prccnution and
Cure, nrc. Responsible Tor the Death o
1hcirG hiIlrnn.

How PARENTS, by n Lnck of Prccnution .ant
Camden, Me-, Herdld.)
The moral and. legal responsibility Of pa
rents, in the care of their children is, Tor
! tunately, attracting the serious attention of
| the better portion of the entire country. The
many instances of collaborating, oppression
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 physical vio-
lence 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 consequences fall
upon the individual alone; but the parent or
guardian who permits the inroads of disease
upon the innocent ones dependent upon him
for protection, is ~criminally 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 carele ssness or the urgency of
other duties, permit them to become the in
nocent victims of disease. Such parents
may be guiltless of intentional 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 at
mosphere, the water and the general ten
dency to malaria are so great. There are
many families in this locality who nave been
called upon to mourn untimely losses, even
when the greatest care was exercised; but
the experience of one only will be given: 1t
is that of the late w. o. Thomas. The chill
dren we're all most promising, but for some
unexplained reason their health and strength
seemed to gradually lessen until their friends
feared they were the victims of consump-
ton. one by one they sickened and died,
until three had departed and two of the sur
VIV1nU brothers wara alSn taken ill. Their
names were Hermon and Edward. Hermon,
however, seemed the stronger of TIE 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 de-
sire to play. Eddie's symptoms were terri
BILE. He found difficulty 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 considered a matter
of a few days. At that critical time his
elder brothers, aroused almost 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 secured a remedy that was then
being universally used. and began giving it
to him.. Its effect at first was slight, but any
improvement was considered a good symp-
tom. By degrees his strength returned; he
was able TO eat with a relish, then walk about
the house; and finally he regained complete
health and strength. The boy was so re-
joiced over his recovery that, accompanied
by the editor of this paper, he went before
Justice Charles X. Miller and made oath 10
the facts of his sickness as above related,
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'essness in
another. There love was sincere, but wholly
misdirected. They should have known
that children are just as liable to kidney
and liver diseases as grown up peo-
pie and that the fatality of Bright's disease
of the kidneys is Just as great among little
children as with adults. This is a serious
subject. Hereditary traits the after conse-
quences of measles and scarlet fever, diph-
liberia and the passing troubles which so
easily become chronic, all demand the
greatest care and caution. No case of cholera
infantum, measles, scarletina, or diphtheria
was ever virulent while the child's kidneys
and liver were healthy. 1t would simply be
an impossibility. These important organs
of the body are just forming 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 ~uprighthess.
The importance of carefully watching the
slightest troubles of the child, and especially
those affecting the kidneys and liver. cannot
be too strongly emphasized. Children re-
spond so readily to the proper remedies and
are so sensitive TO disease, that it is a sin to
deprive them of one at the risk of mourning
the other. By a judicious treatment these
essential organs can be developed so that a
strong constitution, able to resist the inroads
of disease through coming years, shall be
the result.