The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-08-31
CHILDREN IN SUMNER.
Some Hints OF Great Value to Anxious
Parents-A Doctors 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
be abnormally high, yet little knowl-
edge and little care ON 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 carelessness
and the ignorance of mothers.
A talk with Dr.. Maggie, of the health
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 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 be
spared the sorrow of witnessing the pain
full struggle of the babes for life
Three important things in connection
with the care of children should always
be remembered-cleanl pure air and
proper feeding. Much injury is done
children by overlooking them. In the
first month or so of child's life frequent
feeding is necessary. Its stomach is in
capable of hard work, and that organ
must gradually become accustomed to
the duties nature intended it to perform.
For this reason small quantities of food
are taken at a time, and the feeding
let the intervals be only two or three
hours long. At six months the child
should be fed not oftener than five times
a day. A child will often seem hungry
when q little water will satisfy it. Give
pure water or barley water. Do not ac-
custom your child to feeding during the
night. This may easily be avoided by
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 it 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.
To 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 in 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 upon the child
by affecting both the quality and guam
tity of her milk. The bath, too, has a
marked effect in preventing bowel COM
plant.
In this connection hint may be given
on the clothing of infants. They should
be neither overdressed nor underdressed.
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 arc
liable to occur in a few hours, it is
difficult to have the clothing always Just
right. Matters will be much slmplified
by using 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
fit evenly and snugly, and should be
worn by all children under years Of
age at all times. In q circular which the
health department. has Issued the follow
ing advice on summer complaint is
given:
''It 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 oftener in the
hot season. Never neglect looseness Of
the bowels in an infant. Consult the
family or dispensary physician at once,
and he will give you rules about what it
should take and how it should be nursed.
Keep your rooms as cool as possible, have
them well ventilated, and do not allow
any bad smell to come from sinks,
privies, garbage boxes, OF cutters about
the house where you live. Where an
infant is cross and irritable in the hot
weather, trip on the water will do it a
great deal of good ferryboat or steam
boat, and may prevent cholera infan-
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 piece of rare beef. Toward the
close of the first year the teeth should be
coming regularly. A failure in this re-
gard will usually mean that something is
wrong. The food may not be as nutri-
tious as necessary, or there may be some
defect Of digestion. The child's digestion
frequently shows signs of weakness after
an attack of cholera infantum, and some
times when there has been no posi-
tive sickness. The child does not gain
in weight and strength as it should,
the color is pale and the bones show
signs Of imperfect development. This is
seen in their tendency to bend in the
well known show legs" Under these
circumstances the head, too, will assume
decidedly square appearance. We'll,
these symptoms are well marked. They
point to the affection known as ricketts,,
which is always due to bad nutrition,