The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-09-20
BAsY.s SECOND SUMMER.
fChrissian Union.l

(nTls1an OnIon-
 aOh, it's her teeth. You must expect come irregularities during the second sum- ner. IL is nothing to be uneasy about With such words does many mother quiet her fears in regard to her baby's health, and as a consequence a simple of the bowels is disreRarded until it becomes serious, or perhaps fatal. It is an error ts suppose that seething. in itself. is the cause of disturbed diges- ton. Teething is perfectly physiological process, and in a natural condition creates no serious difficulty. But during the period generally spoken of as the second summer, certain changes are taking place in the aiimentary canal which render 1t peculiarly sensitive. Until this time the infant has lived upon milk, and its digestive apparatus has been particularly adapted to the diges- ton of milk. But as the teeth make their appearance, the salivary glands be- gin to grow and become acuve. and al the same tune certain other glands of the small intesiines are developed. whose office, like that of the saiivary glands. Is to secre,e fluid which assists h digest ing amylaceous or starch substances. But these glands are yet immature, and their very unfolding causes suscePu- bility to irritation in the alimentary canal. The digestive apparatus is preparing for the introduction of solid food, but II is not in condition to dispose of any large quantity ot it. During this perod of susceptibility the change from he bland milky diet os the baby should be very gradual. Milk still continues to be the food bes, adapted to its needs and di- gestive pabilities. 4 child whose food and dress are wisely ordered will be apt to pass through the second summer, win all its bugbear of teething. with con- little disturbance. Dr. Monti, of the Poly yklinik a, Vienna, Austria, says: ' have seen many eases of so- called teeihing fever. diarrhras and con- and have never yet seen case in which could not find some error of diet as fhe disturbing cause Dr. Mdnti is particularly averse to the use of rIoe, white bread, or any other starchy food for infants: and in case where milk is not procurable. advises meat bro,hs as best adapted to the child's physical con- f1rm ation.
 70. give her taste of everything on the table, to have her get used to it, says the mother. proudly. not knowing that she Is putting into her darlings food wholesome enough for an adult. but for the baby as innutri,ious as a stone. How many times do we hear mothers say, despondingly, the baby doesn't cat anything at all; am worried about her. when, on inquiry. we find that the child has had plenty of milk. but because il refuses solid food the mother thinks It is starving. The instinc, of the babe very often IS wiser than the judgment of the mother The diet for the second summer should be principally pure milk. IL any addition be maoe 10 II. II may be n cooked sub-aoid fruits or frui; juices. ~i:hog. ;he seeds of he.nes :. a thin strained gruel of oatmeal, or 4 mush of sified Graham flour; this will furnish all tha, the child needs Tn nour- ishment ana ID variety. The meals should be givea with regularity, and al! " piecing' forbidden. Last week l saw a child. two years old. who ate far amount of milk several times a day, coaxed 10 eat cake, bo,led turnips. bee,s with vinegaf. roas, beef, boiled potatoes. raw tomatoes, fried potatoes. pop cora and pie al meals and between meals :: and then the mother was buying brandy, q poison, to give 1t because l, had a diauhea. One piece of fried potato. one mouthful of raw apple. one bite of pickled beet, may be enough to create a disturbance ot the bowels which may re- suit in death. There are other causes of disturbances of the bowels in children. They are often not properly clothed. Their dress is not varied with the varia- tions of temperature. Not only should the dress be suited to different days, but to different times of the day. There are several degrees difference between the temperature of the morning and even- ing and the middle of the day; and yet too often the little slip, that IS sufficient for the greatest heat of the day, is the only garment both in the dews of morn- ing and the cool air of evening. In this way the surface of the body is chilled, and internal convulsions result More than one fatal case of summer complaint has resulted from thinly clad child sit- ting in pleasant breeze, which too sud- denly cooled the heated surface. It takes time and thought to put on the thicker garments in the morning, take them of Tn the heat of the day, and replace them as the afternoon begins to wane; or to remember to cSange the dress if sud- den storm cools the air; bu, il pays
 During the whole day the bowels should be covered with layer of thin flannel u' der the dress ard thicker pair of stockings and a hule flannel jacket, morning and evening wil, then add all the warmth tha, the child win be apt to need. The careful mother will keep consiant watch as to the temperature of
 her httle one. not expressing i, with q superabundance of garments, nor yet allo~ing il io become chilled. The
 essentials of second summer free from
 disturbance are: food suited 10 the age
 of the child dress suited to the weather,
 and also to the health of the child reeu-
 larity of eating and sleeping; pure air
 both night and day: and absolute clean
 Illness of body and clothing. These,
 with the cloudless ski.s of mothers eyes,
 aad the cheerful warmth cf mothers