The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-29
CHILDREN IN SUMMER.
Some Hints Of Great Value to Anxious
Pareuts-A Docsor's Advice.

sickness and the Sadness of death. true,
so long as it is necessary for some people
to live in houses where pure air is almost
unknown the rate of infant mortality will
he abnornally high, yet q little knowl-
edge and little care Oh the part OF those
who have charge of children will greatly
reduce it. What follows may claim the
attention Of rich as well as poor, for
riches DO not always bring wisdom, and
the children of well TO do parents are fire.
quently the victims of the careiessnesS
and the ignorance of mothers.
A talk with DIR. Nagle, OF the health
department. reveals the fact that during
the hot weather about one hundred in
fants-that is children under 5 years
die in New York city every day. On the
average over one third of this great NOR
tally is due to diseases resulting from
disturbances Of the digestive organs.
One hundred little ones dying every day!
And yet many Of these little lives could
be saved and many households could bc
spared the sorrow Of witnessing the pain
ful struggle Of the babes for life.
Three important things in connection
with the care of children should always
be remembered clcanliness, pure air and
proper feeding. Much injury is done
children by overlooking them. In the
first month or so of child 5 life frequent
feeding is necessary. Its stomach Is in
capable Of hard work, and that organ
must gradually become accustomed to
the dutic5 nature intended II TO perform.
For this reason small quantities OF food
are taken at a time, ana the feeding
must occur at short intervals AZ first
let the intervals he only two or three
hours long. At siX months the child
should he fed not oftener than five times
q day. A child will often seem hungry
when a little water viii satisfy IT, Give
pure water or barley water. Do not &c
custom your child to feeding during the
night This may easily he avoided by
beginning rightly. If the child awakes
and cries, give only water. 1t will soon
90 to sleep again, and if it is not gi7en
food il will certainly learn not to expect
it. This plan is better for the child, and
it saves the mother and every one else
about the house deal Of trouble.
70 insure proper cleanliness infants
should be bathed twice q day and oftencr
in hot weather. < child always feels
better after a bath in cool water. Baby
should love its bath. If it does not the
fault lies with those VINO administer 1t.
Do not splash the water about or get the
soap in baby's eyes. Nor should orc
give the bath when the Child is hungry.
The soothing effect of the bath upon the
child Is noticeable. Quiet, he5lthlui,
refreshing sleep IS often the result In
deed, a cool bath at night i better than
"a narcotic. SDeeVlcssncss in the child
means Worry and exhaustion to the
mother. ana this reacts upon the child
by affecting both the quality and guam
tit, OF hcr milk. The bath, too, has a
marked effect i'm preventing bowel com
| plant.
In this connection a hint may lie given
on the clothing Of infants. They should
he neither oyerircssed nor underdrcssed.
The clothing should not be So heavy as
| TO cause discomfort nor so light as to per
NIT their catching cold In our change
able climate, where cold nights often sue
ceed warm DAYS and sudden changes are
liable 10 occur in a few hours, it Is
difficult to have the clothing always just
right. Matters Will be much simplliied
by using a flannel band around the alb
| dOminal REGION, covering the digestive
organs. This will ward off sudden chills
and frequently be the means Of prevent
ing illness. The band should be made to
tit evenly and snusly, and should be
worn by al children under 4 years OF
age at al times. In u circular which the
health DEPARTMENT has issued the follow
Ing advice on summer complaint Is
given.
1T comes from over feeding, and hot
and foul air. Keep doors and windows
open. Wash your well children with
cool water twice a day. or oitencr in the
hot season. Never neglect loosencsS Of
the bowels in an infant. Consult the
family or Gispensary physician at once,
and he viii give YOU rules about what II
| should take and how it should be nursed.
Keep your rooms rs cool as possible, have
them well ventilated, ard 90 not allow
any bad smell to come from sinks,
privies, garbage boxes, or CUTTERS about
the house where you live. Where an
infant Is cross aIm irritable in the hot
weather, a trip on the water will do it a
great deal Of good (ferryboat or steam
boat, and may prevent cholera lnfan-
| tum."
With the first appearance Of teeth in a
child some food other than milk becomes
necessary. Give it crust of bread to
exercise upon, and let it occasionally
suck q piece Of rare beef. Toward the
close OF the first year the teeth should be
coming regularly. \ failure in this re-
gard VIII usually mean That something is
| wrong. Tic food may not be rs nutri-
tious as necessary, or there may lie some
defect o. digestion. The ch.ll's digestion
frequently shows signs Of weakness after
an attack oil cholera infmtm. and some
times when there has been no posi-
tive sickness. The child does 10. cain
Yin weight and strength as i. should,
the color IS pale and the bones show
signs 81 imperfect Development This Is
seen IN their tendency u bend I'D the
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