The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-25
The Proper Care of Infants.


Gently made valuable contribution to
a Pittsburg journal, some of which is
well worth perusal. We copy the fol-
lowing:
There certainly would be fewer puny
children If there were fewer marriages
between persons who are physically IN
ut. But these marriages will probably
take place as usual; the wasp wasted
girl, with no muscles in her back, with
her natural functions deranged, with her
headaches and other pains, she will mar
ry, and the high rate of mortality among
infants and children will continue-and
she Will continue TO marry the man who
Is just as Ignorant Of the laws of life
and health at she Is. A nice pair, indeed,
20 improve the race.
However, the question with which we,
as physicians, have TO deal is: How
shall the lives of these little helpless
mortais be saved?
In confidence, / viii say that the
trouble begins al birth, and continues
right along The time-honored old
woman nurse is the chief mischief-mak
er. Sometimes il seems that she sets
hersvlt to see how much misery and dis
| c0mfOrE she can cause the poor thing.
With baDda2es 80 bampered, with long
clothes that II can kick, 50 tight that /,
cannot breathe without pain, aud with
| the least comfort, who can blame il for
crying? No. | The only wonder is that
| II doesn't cry more than il does.
J If the doctor allows this TO go on you
! may look for cross baby. Tell it not
IN Gath, but it is a lamentable fact, that
many doctors are afraid 10 forbid the
| bands that bind the babe TO the rack
The nurse imsgines that she knows more
than the doctor, and if he differs with
her she win tell people that he doesn't
/ know Dothin'."
The tight bandsge prevents the lungs
from expanding, the stomach cannot work
and the heart Is restricted in its move
ments. 1t may not be generally known
| digestion has movements as clearly and
distinctly marked as those Of the heart.
| Indigestion is one of the first and
most important results of this unnatu-
raj state of affairs. Wherever heard of
puppies, pigs or calves having indiges-
ton, unless perchance some one attempt
ed to improve on the natural way by
| feeding them on unnatural food
The nurse Of the period resorts to teas
Of various kinds to cure the pains that
have resulted from her mistakes. What
business has baby with hot teas, whis
key and water and sugar and water
These are not nourishing, therefore are
unnecessary, because the child has moth
ing to do but grow, and it needs nothing
but growing food.
Were you to bundle puppy up and
feed it after the style adopted for babies
1t would be almost sure to die. You will
say that babies and puppies are differ
ent. SO they are, but if any difference
| puppies ought TO be able to stand the
most hardship.
Beware of those advertised infant
foods. They are not safe. Ask your
physician what and how to feed your
children. Don't fool with their diet il
you don't want them to die or develop
imperfectly. Animals that do not nOur-
lsh well in infancy are almost invariably
run;y and scrswny. This is in accord
ance with general law of nature. No
one can afford to violate it.
The next mistake, and really the most
fatal one, Is the giving of these little
ones the deadly soothing syrup. Take
the statistics you have given, 800 deaths
among the infantile population of St.
Louis In one week. 1t would make you
shudder throughout the entire length of
your anatomy If you knew how many
little ones are laid oul by the admins
trstiOn of these soothing syrups. They
are very soothing. The baby becomes
very quiet aud does not cry as much as
formerly, and is not half so troublesome.
n IV Z hsae
Undertaken, white coffin, flowers, etc,
and the consolation: Providence TOOK
the little one :" Bah, nonsense! Prov
idence never intended that The ''little
one" should be poisoned with opium,
The chief ingredient of all these soothing
syrups.
| am old in the practice of medicine
aud more tbsn once have | seen til,
evidence OF the cause of death in the
array OF empty soothing syrup bottle.
ON the mantel. Opium, young mothers
is what you are giving them; stopping
the seeretions of the stomach and bow
els, paralyziug the brain, and finally |
killing your children. Cold fact, bul |
truth, every word of it.
All m others are hot angelic in DISPOSE |
ton. Such mothers make sad mistak. |
when they imagine they can scold all |
day, keep in bad humor generally, and |
have healthy children. Whenever YOU /
see jolly mother nursing babe you
can stake your wealth on the baby's
good health; but if the mother is a
scold, or if she IS kept in not water by
brute of q husband, you can be certain
that her baby is cross and fretful,
and will have cholera infantum when
The hot wave comes, and will, more than
likely, join the great majority Cold
facts again, but the truth.