Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-03
Gadies' Column.
ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES
OF CHILDHOOD.

Young children are at all times ex-
posed to various accidents and in
juries, even when under the super
vision of careful mothers. "Eter-
nal vigilence" is scarcely too stroLg
a counsel to offer concerning the
rearing of children. But while the
mothers eye must be constantly
watchful, the child itself cannot be
taught too early the necessity of eau
ton. FtEFf ET EEf4
Children must be taught that
sharp and pointed implements are
dangerous playthings that they cut
and prick. A friend of the writer
teaches her little folk to bring d.
rectIy to her any pins OF needles they
may find, and they soon learn to
prize the "thank you, dear" which
rewards them for the treasure brought
to mama. To tell child that the
chair he has tumbled over is to be
whipped is, to say the least, silly
measure. That sort of teaching will
never show him how to avoid danger
Gus sports, or how to properly climb
chairs or play romping games. Com
monty parents who indulge in such
advice are persons who do not enter
into the sports and enjoyments of
children. Too often they look upon
the little ones as nuisances, to be
cared for in the easiest possible way,
which means that the youngster must
for most of the time look out for
themselves. Then it is that the wee
BARN toddling alone, with crude ideas
as to distance and the character of
objects, falls over a stool, pitches
against hot stove, overturns a pot
of boiling water, lifts oarving-knife
only to let it fall with it's edge
against the skin, or innocently puts
the metal end of button-hook into
its nose or hooks it into the eyelid.
The older child who can climb, still
naturally inquisitive, investigates a
bureau drawer, filling his mouth with
buttons, or uncorks a bottle upon a
shelf and takes q sip of some prepar-
alton containing, it may be, cor
roslve poison. ~3-~E
Of course any of the above or a
host of other accidents may happen
under the best of care, but they must
be most frequent when mothers are
remiss in their own watchfulness, OF
when little children are entrusted to
young and inexperienced nurses who
will indulge in a chat with passing
acquaintance while the baby-carriage
with its little occupant quietly but
surely rolls down the sidewalk anC
over into the gutter. There are
mothers who have reason to regret
that they ever placed baby in the
charge of hired nurse, whose stoler
visit with the child to the basement
abode of her friends was the starting
point Of some contagious diseases il
the family. Yet most physicians
can bear testimony to the faithful
ness and trustworthiness of nurse
who sometimes are better "care-tak
ers" than the mothers.
But while constant vigilance mus
be insisted on, it should not be al
lowed to degenerate into morbid un
easiness. The mother who is Away
uncomfortable through fear tina
her child may catch cold if he goe
out on cold day, or sunstroke
the day is hot, or may fall and brea
limb if there is ice in the street, @
wade in the water if puddles are t
be seen, ETC., etc., is to pitied. Fa
more so her child. A little whole
some neglect mingled with a wis
oversight would be the making c
many child. A pitiful sight is tina
of child whose natural desire fc
romping and out of door life is curl
ed to the detriment of its health
Indoor air and exercise cannot con
pensate for want of outdoor air an
sports, neither so far as health
concerned nor as touching the quie
ing of restless spirits. What bles
ing it is to the tired mother
have her fractions little one take
out for an hour or two, the calmin
of out of door life rendering hi
more amenable to control for the L
mainder of the day. A child thu
cared for is less likely to get in
mischief than one housed for most
the time.
But if he does get hurt or is in da
ger, what can the guardian do? VIII
should they do? They should thin
and that rapidly. Of course pc
son who knows nothing or next
nothing about child physical stru
ture and its workings will not thi
or act so intelligently in emergenci
as one somewhat familiar with an.
omy or physiology. 1t is therefor
amatter of prime Importance for +
rents and guardians to gain SON
thing of this knowledge if they won
be prepared for emergencies.
Presence of mind implies coolnes
or the ability to calmly collect on
thoughts but some readers will SD
''It's all very well to talk about
ing cool when your dear little ch
is bleeding or in any way bat
hurt" True; and / take it Il
many physicians and surgeons W
have large experience in emerge
cies are freOuentlv somewhat MI