Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-01-17
TRIP TO THE GULF.
PHYSICAL DEFECTS.
How to Correct the Maiformation OF In
fantIle Members.

~ ts@tOF%t- 1A~f 49,
How to Correct the Maiformation OF In
fantlle Members.
Few intelligent people reflect how
many physical defects In the form and
countenance OF individuals are directly
traceable 10 negligence on the. part of
their mothers In childhood. The
coarse, heavy nostrils, the projecting
ears, the shaggy eyebrows and en-
larged joints are rs much traceable to
neglect as bow legs and knock knees,
or those unhappy cases Of curvature
Of the spine that come direct from
falls.
The newborn babe Is an exceedingly
fragile little creature--a bundle of
flesh and half-formed bone in which
the vital organs are incased. As scien-
lists tell us, the human baby is the
most helpless OF all young animals, and
is i'm continual need Of intelligent and
watchful care to save its existence.
Children that grow" ike Topsy usu-
ally have malformed limbs and various
deformities, plainly the result of neg
lect A very slight fall in childhood
may break the cartilage of the nose
and render that membrane as broad
and spreading as that of a Guinea me-
gro.
The habit that some children have CT
handling their nose makes the nostrils
coarse and large and takes away all
the delicacy from a feature that goes
far toward making the man or woman
plain or ugly Another habit that per-
manently disfgures the adult is that
of tying bonnet and cap strings tight
ly behind the ears in babyhood, as IL
causes the ears TO project. Ears that
naturally project from the head may
be fattened to desirable degree by
wearing little skeleton cap over them
in babyhood. Tying q silk handker-
chief about them is not so desirable,
because the ear is an organ intended
by nature TO be open to the air, and not
to be sweltered under close covering.
The coarse eyebrow is usually the re-
suit of an utter neglect of this feature
Of the face. They should be brushed
smoothly in place in babyhood, and
coarse, long hairs, that sometimes grow
superfuously, should be pulled out.
Where the eyebrows are wanting, n
little vaseline rubbed in place will oft
en- produce the desired growth of hair.
Every mother knows that the back
of the infant child must he support
ed for three or four months after
he is born. Failure to do this
may produce the most distress
ing malformations of the spine.
The curvature of the legs, which gem
orally comes from the child standing
too long on his feet, is a very common
trouble. This is sometimes due TO ex-
cessive flesh in the child, the weight of
the body being too heavy for the legs,
but IL moro often oSOars I'm the very
nervous child, who begins to walk be-
fore the muscles are sufficiently strong
for it to stand firmly OF its limbs. The
precocious child that would walk at
ten months is always to be discour-
aged Nothing is lost and much is
gained in strength and grace of carriage
IL the child walks several months later.
No rule can be laid down, however, as
a safe period. Many children do not
make much use of their limbs until
they are two years old, and are none
the worse for their tardiness.-N. Y.
Tribune.