Wichita eagle., 1888-08-21
CHILDREN IN SUMNER,
Some Hints of Great Value to Anxious
Parents-A Doctors Adviee

TO IKE In houses where pure air is aimes
/ unknown the raIeof infant mortality vii
be abnormaly high, yet q little knowl
, edge and little care on the part of thos
who have charge of children viii great,
reduce it. What follows may claim TIL
: attention Of rich as web as poor, 70
riches do not always bring wisdom, anC
the children of well to do parents are FIRE
quently the victims of the carelessnes
and the ignorance of mothers.
A talk with DR.. Maggie, of the healtl
department, reveals the fact that during
the hot weather about one hundred in
fants-that is, children under years
die IN New York city every day. On ths
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
I AND yet many of these little lives could
be saved and many households could be
spared the sorrow of Witnessing the Iain.
ful struggle of the babes for life. -
Three important things in connection
with the care OF children should ALWAYS
be Observation-Disclosures pure air and
proper feeding. Much injury is done
children by overlooking them. In the
trst month or so of child's life frequent
I feeding Is necessary. Its stomach is IN
1 capable OF hard work, and that organ
must gradually become accustomed 10
the duties nature intended it to perform.
For this reason small quantities of food
are taken at a time, and the feeding
must occur at short intervals It first
let the intervals be only two OF three
hours long. 1t six months the child
should be fed not oftener than five times
day. a child will often seem hungry
when little water will satisfy it. Give
pure water or barley water. Do not &C.
custom your child to feeding during the
night. This may easily be avoided bv
beginning rightly. If the child awakes
and cries, give only water. 1t will soon
go to sleep again, and if it is not given
food 1t viii certainly learn not to expect
1t. This plan is better for the child. and
1t saves the mother and every one else
about the house a deal of trouble.
10 insure proper cleanliness infants
should be bathed twice day and oftener
in hot weather. A child always feels
better after bath in cool water. Baby
should love its bath. If it does not the
fault lies with those VINO administer it
DO not splash the water about or get the
soap LII baby's eyes. Nor should one
give the bath when the child is hungry.
The soothing effect of the bath upon the
child is noticeable. Quiet. ,healthful.
refreshing sleep is often the result. In
deed, cool bath at night is better than
a narcotic. Sleeplessness in the child
means worry and exhaustion to the
mother, and this reacts upoA the child
by affecting both the quality and GUAM
tlty OF her milk. The bath. too, has q
marked effect in preventing bowel COM
plant.
In this connection hint maybe given
on the clothing of infants. They should
be neither Overdressed nor undertlressed.
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
coed warm days and sudden changes are
liable to occur in few hours, it is
difficult 10 have the clothing ALWAYS lust
right. Matters will be much simplified
by using flannel band around the alb /
comlnal region, covering the digestive 1
organs. This viii ward off sudden chills
and frequently be the rceans of prevent
ing illness. The band should be made to (
TT evenly and snugIy, and should be I
worn by all children under wears Of .
age at all times. In a circular which the
health department has issued the follow
ing advice on summer complaint is
given:
1T comes from over feeding. and hc4
and foul air. Keep doors and window3
open. Wash your well children with
'ool water twice day, or oftener in the
not season. Never neglect looseness Of
he bowels In an infant Consult the
amlly or dispensary physician at once.
md he will give you rules about what it
hould take and how it should be nursed.
Aeep your rooms as cool as possible, have
hem well ventilated, and do not allow
ny bad smell to come from sinks.
,rlvles, garbage boxes, or cutters about
he house where you live. Where an
lfant Is cross and irritable in the hot
Weather, trip on the water will do il a
reat deal of good ferryboat or steam
oaD, and may prEent cholera infan-
umn
With the first appearance Of teeth in a
hid some food ether than milk becomes
ecess2ry. Give it q crust of bread to
xercise upon, and let it occasionally
lck piece Of rare beef. Toward the (
lose OF the first year the teeth should be I
ominS regularly. y failure in this re-
ard viii usually mean that something is
-rong. The food may not be as nutri- {
Gus as necessary, or there NAV be some
eject of digestion. The child's digestion I
shows signs of weakness after {
4 attack Of cholera infantuu, and some
mes when there has been no posi- a
sc sickness. The child does not gain a
weight and strength as il should, T
lie color Is pale and the bones show t
gns Of imperfect development. This is &
en- in their tendency to bend in the f
ell known "bow legs" Under these =
rcunstances the head, too, viii assume
decidedly square appearance. We'll, a
eSe symptoms are well marked. They :.
INT To the affection known as ricketts,. c
tlch Is always due to bad nutrition. n
sUltlng from improper surroundings. =
le diet must he made richer in bone c,
rming material. The child must also Il
we plenty Of exercise and pure air and L
might. Some medicine is usually %
eded, and when the condition described o.
anifests Itself the parents should CT Il
Il a physician before the ulalady has n
ne 80 far Is 70 produce naIto-ua- s.
y-s. o.
Tie ccIIte diseases which af,ir- ob1- =