Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22
MORTALITY AMONG CHILDREN
What an Infants Chances Are in Its
Struggle for Existence.
Instructions rs to the Management OF the
Little Ones During Hot Weather-Rec-
concentrations OF the Sanitary League.

yeofs VI age Is Always ulHn IN large cltles. anu
especially is this SO at this season OF the year.
In fact. during the months Of June, July and
August the death rate among this class is
usually about double what it is during the winter
months, as is shown by the statistics Of the
health departments Of New York Philadelphia,
Chicago and other large places In this city
the total number OF deaths among this class
during the fiscal year ended June 80. 1891, was
900, which was about SO per cent Of the total
number Of deaths Of all ages and of these
2,O70 under five years OF age, 1,4S3 were under
one year. or about SO per cent. In other words,
for every three persons Of all ages who died
during the wear mentioned one of them was
child under five years of age, and for every four
persons who died under five years of age
nearly three of that number were infants
under twelve months. The percentage Nigh
be carried down to those under six months
or less, and it would be found that the
death rate steadily increases As we go down the
scale. it being greatest among infants one day
old 1t might be interesting, in view Of the
above facts. to know just what chance babe,
after being safely launched upon the sea of life,
stands in its struggle for existence. Its chances
will vary with the seasons Of the year, they be-
ing the greatest if brought into the world during
the milder months in which there are no ex-
tremes Of temperature, and the least during
those months of extreme heat cold. The
fatalities during the cold months, however. are
much less than during the hot months. espe-
cially in the latitude of Washington. where the
winters are unusually mild and the summers
hotter than in some OF the northern cities.
The total number of births during the year
mt na1 Of ,trhr ,haro bNr,
per cent died before reaching the age of six
months and SO per cent before reaching the age
Of one year. deduction from these figures Is
that child born at any time stands three
chances in four Of arriving ct the
age of six months and only two chances
in three Of being alive year after
BIRTH that is, one out of every three dies before
attaining the age OF twelve months. While
these figures are true an average for the en-
tire twelve months OF the year, the ratio OF
deaths to births during the months OF June.
July and August ID much higher than ut other
seasons OF the year, and a child born during
one OF these months stands about one chance in
| two. or an even chance, of reaching its second
birthday; that is, one-half Of them die before
| attaining the age Of twelve months. These
figures at first impression may stHrtle some OF
| the mothers IN Washington, as these facts are
not often brought to their attention in such q
form, but what is true of this city is true of all
the large cities Of the country, the figures vary
ing very slightly unless affected by some I'M
usual epidemic among children. The re-
| port OF the health department Of our own
city for the week just passed. although
extremely not. shows material reduction IN
the death rate AS compared with that OF the
same week last year. and in fact the infant NOR
taity among the whites in Washington for the
| entire year is less than that of many of the
other large cities Of the country; even this can
| be very materially reduced by the exercise of
I h., NJ xbau.
| il a wise observance Of the laws Of health as
| regards food and cleanliness and In guarding
against exposure Of the infant to extremes OF
temperature. The Sanitary League appointed
a COMMITTEES some time ago to draft n set of
instructions for the guidance Of mothers and
| nurses in the care of infants during the hot
weather, and il followed by them a very mate
rial reduction in the infant death rate would
doubtless be observable. These rules OF health
should appeal not only to the natural love OF
parents for their children. but to nurses and
others in whose hands their lives are so often
placed. For the benefit OF such we give below
the instructions referred to tor the manage
ment Of infants during hot weather:
Good Advice.
"Every child should be bathed at least once
day. If it is delicate or exhausted let it be
thoroughly spouged morning and night. Luke
warm water should he used for bathing OF
rponSftS tuc cnho no nuOl|lOn VI 4lCOuOl
or bay rum will often prove Of great benefit
Let the child be clothed rs cooliy AZ posi-.
BILE. Let it wear a wooden belly band. but lei
the rest OF its apparel be light and loose and
hang from the shoulders. Clothing must be
changed according to changes in the weather.
wave is breaking. Diapers must be changed
and washed after every soiliug.
THE child should sleep alone in n cot OF
cradle. 1t should be early taught to go to
sleep in bed and not in its mothers arms. Let
| 1t be put to bed mt regular hours day nnd night.
| Let no one give child sleeping drops with
out the advice of a doctor. II child frets it ID
hungry or sick or uncomfortable. If it is sick
let a doctor be sent for.
! Let the child be in the fresh air as much an
possible. Let it be taken on frequent excur.
sions down tine river and into the country. Let
Let it be kept out of the kitchen. Let it drink
freely Of cool water, but not iced water. Lei
all drinking water be boiled.
Let every house be kept clean, cool and
we'll aired Let the windows be open day and
night, but let the sunlight be excluded during
! the hottest part OF the day. Let whitewash be
freely used about the house and yard, and le,
all sinks and privies be kept clean. Let al
slops be quickly removed.
Mothers milk is the best food for infants
| II the supply is ample and the child thrives or
it, no other kind OF food should be given while
| tue not weather. IastS. Lei the cnlQ De nurseC
/ every two or three hours during tho day and as
seldom as possible during the night. Let the
/ child be removed from the breast as soon as j,
has fallen asleep. The mother should not nurse
the child when she is fatigued or overheated.
Goats milk is the best substitute fol
mothers milk. but cows milk is moro easily
! obtained. To a bottle-fed infant give nothing
but warm milk out of clean bottle with clear
nipple. An yeast powder bottle will serve Q verJ
purpose. Each bottlefui of milk should be
sweetened by a half teaspoonful of sugar. Thu
milk should be diluted according to the age o
the child. Have the milk delivered twice dali,
and let it be kept in the coolest part Of thu
honse. All utensils for milk should be scalded
with boiling water and washing soda before ant
after being used
! Never give cold milk to a child younger
than one year. At least one teaspoonful of lime
water should be added to each bottleful OF milk
In many cases it may be well to dilute the mill
with oatmeal water or barley water in quantities
varying with the age and condition of the child
Before doing SO, however, doctor should b,
consulted.
BARLEY water is made by adding table.
spoonful OF pearl barley, well washed to one
quart of clean water. This is boiled down to
pint and strained through cheese cloth which
has been previously boiled and dried Le
a little salt be added to the barley water before
giving it to the child. Oatmeal water is mad,
by adding teaspoonful OF oatmeal to a quart O
clean water. This is boiled down to pint
strained through cheese cloth and seasoned will
a little salt These waters should be kept OIL
ice or be freshly made twice a day.
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