The Wilmingtonian., 1885-06-13

of all ages, such as the condition induced
by zymotic diseases; or it may result from
impure air, or as the cause of a high tenn
perature in summer.
TREATMEET. Y /
In the face of SO grave disease as We
have before us, no temporizing treatment is
urgently demanded Especially is this the
case during the hot summer months while
cholera infantum is prevailing.
However important may be our aimamen-
tarium medcorum, still more important is
an intelligent consideration of all the
hygienic conditions surrounding the case.
If defective conditions have given rise to
the disease, no amount Of medicinal treat
ment, however skilfully applied, will cure
until those conditions have been improved.
This Improvement may consist in removing
the patient from foul or damp at1,os pbere
to a better ono, III sUiuo vdses IA re.soval to
the seaside has cur d my patient when all
other means have failed. Cleanliness OF
| skin and proper clothing must be insisted
on; and most important is it that the dietet-
les should be inquired into, AMI such food
prescribed and in such quantities and fire.
quercy, as is suited to the age and case.
l am persuaded that bad methods of
nursing or feeding are responsible, more
than all other preventable causes combined,
for the prevalence of summer darrhea.
say preventable for we all know that every
rise in temperature is attended by cores
| pending rise both in the number of cases of
diarrhea, and in the rate of mortality there
from; but this is a condition beyond our
reach, though we may to some extent
modify its effects by tepid sponging of the
body.
The subject of dietetics iU children is a
great one, and might occupy our attention
for an entire evening, but we can now only
briefly consider it, five have to do with a
young infant whose mother cannot or will
not suckle it, believe it best to provide a
wet-nurse. Much has been said about the
danger of introducing disease thereby into
the system of the child, the moral considera-
tion of introducing into the family an obiec-
tionabie female, the tyrannical and exacting
habits of wet-nurses, ETC., etc; but, o the
other hand, most Of these difficulties may
be overcome by care in selecting the wei
nurse; and, to cOunterbalance them, We have
the undoubted fact that infants thus brought
up have far better chance to live thar
: those fed by hand. Furthermore, the
f mother will also be permitted to enjoy
r reasonable amount Of rest and comfort
which is seldom the case when she bring
up her infant on the bottle. The troubles
oneness Of of bottle. fed babies, especial,
8 at night, is provorbial.
: If, however, it has not been decided t,
# employ wet. nurse, how shall the baby b.
fed? My experience has taught me tina
milk is the only suitable food for young in
fants | recommend it to be diluted will
e from one-halr to onc-fifth part of water
, fifteen grains or half a teaspoonfut of sod
to each pint, which prevents the casein
from form ing in such hard coagula, AN
! neutralizes any acidity which may hav
developed. Or, a tablespoonful or two Q
limc-walcr ruay be used instead. 1t is vel
, to instruct mothers to test the milk wit
litmus paper as guide to 20 quantity @
= soda or limc-water to be added
10 In the case of children with very wea
!" digestion have from five to ten grains q
pancIeat!on added, it being first dissolve
in little water, aud give milk blood warn
If, notwithstanding this, curds are vomit
s ed, or three. quarters pass through, l hay
e the milk disgested half an hour with pei
~ sin at a temperature of about 1000, the
stain it though fine sieve, and give th
y whey with or without a portion of the finel
y divided curd prefer to sweeten the mil
Or with sugar Of milk, as 1 believe it lei
IS likely than cane sugar to, impair the dige
:. tion, and it moreover contains some nutr
"a tive clements, principally salts, derive
= from its source In have found the Will
at of an egg, diitused in pint of water, to /
lie well retained and atiold grateful and nu
u ritiOus drink.
~ In artificial foods for young Infants
20 have no great confidence; but as we NEE
Il. cases where it seems impossible for the chill
to digest milk Or where the milk supply