Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-01-20
HAVE MERCY ON THE BABY.
Out of Regard for His Spinal Column
Choose His Nurse With Care.

out OF Regard Tor His Spinal Column
Choose His Nurse With Care.
Mothers would be justly indignant if
accused of any lack of care for their
little ones. Yet how many of them
watch and choose carefully the nurse
to whom they intrust their darlings?
To illustrate the. culpable carelessness
of some nurses may be given the follow
ing true story by the wife of an emf.
nent,physician: 81 have no doubt" she
said, in the course of conversation,
that many of the distressing chronic
troubles of the spine and its more OBJ
scure ramitications and manifesto tions
might, if parents but knew it, be di-
rectly traced to some act of wanton
thoughtlessness on the part of the nur-
sery maid. 1t is quite dreadful to think
of such delicate little piece of mechan-
ism being given over to the care of an
ignorant, indifferent person. The least
sudden Jar, if the weight of the body is
resting at all on the spine, might be
exceedingly injurious, and for that rea-
son | would enact law, if | had my
way, to abolish baby carriages for in
fants under year old at least. If
your nurse is too lazy or too weak to
carry her nursing get another woman,
but dc not expose your helpless little
ono to the jarring movements of even
the best springs in lifting the carriage
across a curb, etc. Besides, the actual
heat of the human body is a great pro-
lection against cold and no amount of
eider-down or woolen will take the
place of the protecting warmth Of a
kindly bosom and strong, tender arms.
81 will tell what actually saw once, y
she continued, after moments hesita-
ton. "The story is SO painful that !
hardly like to tell it, but it may do
good in showing young mothers the
actual dangers to which their babies
are exposed. l was walking in -
street one afternoon, when nurse who
was evidently belated passed me with
baby wagon at very quick pace, the
little carriage, with its sleeping baby,
swayed up and down on its easy
springs, with the rapid motion. oh,
do take carer exclaimed, as she passed
me with sudden swerve of the little
vehicle; you will hurt the child. The
girl gave an impertinent toss of the
head and muttered something that
did not catch, turning at the same time
into the basement area of a large, fine
house, and without checking her career
she bumped the carriage down the
three or four steps that led to the en-
closure. 4 will do as ! would like tc
be done by, said to myself on watch
ing the performance, although it is
small thanks that l will get, | dare
say SO ] ran up the steps, rang the
bell and told the butler, who came tc
the door, that wished to see the lady
of the house. Luckily found favor in
his sight, for without remonstrance he
showed me into little side library,
and second after pretty young
woman walked in with an inquiring
expression on her pleasant face. q
beg your pardon for intruding,' be
gan, but feel it my duty to tell yor
that your maid will do your child ser
ious injury if she jolts down the step:
in the manner | have just noticed ant
l was proceeding to give her little in
formation about the delicate structure
of the head, neck and spine of young
| infants when her manner froze me a
once. Thank you, she said, haughtily
but think / can trust to the eXper
ience of my nurse AS she spoke there
came the sound of a rush of rapid foot
steps in the hall and maid burst il
upon us. Mrs. A, come quickr sh'
painted, the baby has fitH In an in
slant the mother was out of the room
and running down the basement stairs
while !, feeling that | could be of NJ
use, left the house, pitying the poo
young thing too much to blame her
The next day passed by and notices
with start of horror the fatal insigni,
of mourning on the door-the baby wa
dead. Did the doctors know, wonder
ed, that 1t had been murdered?"-N. Y
Tribune