, 1888-08-04
CHILDREN IN SUMNER.
Some Hints OF Great Value to AnxIouS
Parents-A Doctors Advice.

/ given WHICH, IL leeueu, may save many
Of these children from the tortures Of
sickness INC the sadness of death. True,
SO long rs 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 a little knowl-
edge and a little care on the part of those
who have charge of children will greatly
reduce it. What follows may claim tbs
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 hat during
the hot weather about one hundred in
fants-that is, children under 8 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 dayl
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 Observation-Disclosures pure air and
proper feeding. Much injury is lone
children by overlooking them. In the
first month or so of a 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 il 10 perform.
For his reason small quantities of food
are taken at a time, and the feeding
must occur at short intervals. AT first
let the intervals be only two or three
hours long. At six months the child
should be fed not oftener than five times
n day. a child will often seem hungry
when 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 avoidedby
beginning rightly. If the child awakes
and cries, give only water. 1t will o
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 a day and oftener
in hot weather. A child always feels
better after a bath in cool water. Baby
9iOulu lONt It's bdll. IL IL tOtS moi, inc
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, a o 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 a 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-
init their catching cold. In our change
able climate, where cold nights often sue
coed warm days and sudden changes are
liable to occur in a few hours, it is
difficult to have the clothing always just
right. Matters will be much simplified
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
fit evenly and snugly, and should be
WON by all children under 4 years Of
age at all times. In a circular which the
health department has issued the follow
ing advice OH summer complaint is
given:
''lt comes from over feeding, and hot
and foul air. Keep doors and windows
open. Wash our well children with
cool water twice a day, or oftener in the
hot season. Never neglect l%ooseness 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 roomsa as cool as possible, nave
them well ventilated, and do 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 and irritable in the hot
weather, n trip ON the water will do it d
great deal of good Q%erryboat or steam
boat, and may prevent cholera infan-
tum.S
With the first appearance of teeth in a
child some o other than milk becomes
necessary. Give it a crust of bread to
exercise upon, and let it occasionally
sum u PiSOS VI dlc DtSl. sGu 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 o o 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 chow legs" Under these
circumstances the head, too, will assume
n decidedly square appearance. Well,
these symptoms are well marked. They
point to the affection known as ricketts,,
which is always due To bad nutrition,
resulting from improper surroundings.
The diet must be made richer in bone
forming material. The child must also
have plenty of exercise and pure air and
sunlight. Some medicine is usually
needed, and when the condition described
manifests itself the parents should con-
suit a physician before the malady has