The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-30
lotions ABOUT BABIES.
stitions That Are Foolish and Others
Dangerous.

- btitions That Are Foolish and Others
Dangerous.
# he way some of these old woman's
IN ms about the care of babies hang
is simply marvellous" said Dr. Tom
. n, of the health department, to a
y reporter, land not less marvel
the AFFECT Difference which the
OF the house pays to these notions,
icularly if it is his first. Take, for
hple, the superstition that saffron
must be given to the baby to clear
complexion. l suppose that every
mother who has any regard for
baby at all, instructed by a long
of illustrious maternal prede-
ors, has fed her baby enough SAT-
4 tea to paint Madison street COR
us yellow from the lake to Western
enue. She might just as well have
ed 1t with so much hot water as far
kny drug action is concerned. But,
me! the millennium will be nigh at
y nd, indeed, when this useless prac-
2 is discontinued. l think the most
leful, conservative doctors will adj
that saffron is very inert drug,
ICED. There is another supersti-
n, in which there is possibly a
ain of truth, but every stomach
he the baby has is always laid to
and that is change of milk To
ar some of those mothers talk, YOU
uld think that you might as well kill
Child outright as to change the COW.
pms people have about tending babies.
s worst is that the child must be fed
y he time it isn't asleep or it will
arVe to death. Gorging carries off
oout half the children who die. 7
on I COUNT the superstitions which
2lemnly forbid the placing of three
ghGs ina row in the same room with
'e Dapy, nor the allowing the child to
PoK'1h the mirror, for in either case
1iore the Year is out little white cot
IN VIII lie in the front parlor. But
flrely 1t Is superstition which fears to
ave cat In the room with sleepino
iaby, for fearit will jump into the crib
ghen no one is looking and suck the
lnocent.s breath. What good do YOU
iuppose it would do cat to draw into
Us lungs breath which human beino
has Just exhaled? But Just see how
nat fond delusion hangs on. The
primitive cat got into the pre-Adamite
cradle to enjoy the warmth of the con.
lemporaneous baby, and the SAVAGE
mother believed the cat TO he an on
oodiment OF an evil spirit and chased it
away. From that day to this the super
sutton has obtained, and each succeed
ng generation holds the faith with
greater tenacity.'
These people believe" continued
ne doctor, ''thatif a child looks at any
person with sore eyes the child will he
ifiilcted in the same way. They also
hlnk that piercing the ears improves
ne eyeslght. Might as well pair your
oenails for a cold. Another notion
Which is fostered by superstitious
'arentS is that if child is bitten bv a
oS the beast must be killed immedi-
tely' not so much by way of revenge
IN the belief that if the doc in the
ears to come were to 90 mad the
erson bitten would 60 mad, too. if he
ere IN China at the time.
,Ihere's good deal of talk about
pelng wrong to allow children to
With old persons, and although / |
* there's good deal of foolishness
PIT it, don't know but there NAV
Tome germ of truth in it after all.
Put there S one superstitious practice
II is positively dangerous. 1t is
. omary among uneducated people to
trm away warts. So long as it is
re with 'spunk water and such harm
thing there is no trouble, but some
he rigmarOles prescribe the prickino
he wart until the blood comes. This
pa, you know, must be smeared on
I OF rag and carefully tied up and |
where some unlucky person coming
pg may pick up the bundle and thus
all the warts, which leave the
lcted person and fasten upon the
victim. Now, pricking a wart is
fngerous thing, for very often when
Fowth like that is irritated it starts a
ger to growing, and the results are
'at all pleasant. - Chicago Mail.