The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-08-08
SUMNER COMPLAINT.
a Pape of Interest to Mothers Watching
the Health of Their Rahies.


the Health of Their Babies.
Rather more han Is per cent. of oil
who are born into this world leave it
within i year, and more than 25 per
cent. before they have reached their
third anniversary. These deaths oc-
curing with such relative frequency in
II warmer months have given rise to a
germ summer complaint, which, in its
most typical form, is a cholera; in other
words, N inflammation o. the small in
testines, whose conspicuous symptom is
~coiliquative diarrhea. Except from the
frequency and severity of this disease
or, rather, group of discases-in the
case of Young children there is nothing
to Justify the special use of the tenn
cholera imfdntum,'' since it is nothing
but cholera nostrum occurring in IN
fants.
The wise physician suspects the stom-
ach in every case of intestinal catarrh
or indigestion. Not that there is neces-
sarily or even frequent or a~ntecedent
organic lesion of the stomach, but be-
cause the most common and most tam
gible source Of intestinal disorders is
the entrance of a fermenting mass of
improperly prepared chyme.
Cholera infantum is due to bacteria,
but not to any specific bacterium. Fem
ton b. Turck, of Chicago. believes that
he has demonstrated at least half a dnz-
en- kinds that will produce Tactic acid
fermentation alone. \ dozen or more
germs are found in the mouth at all
times, while the intestine teens with
the bacillus coli cummuni and a numner
of other varieties. Except that the an
tiseptic action of hydrochloric acid rem
ders the stomach reasonably sterile
during the height OF digestion, the en-
tire alimentary cana! is a long culture
tube from the time when the newborn
baby inspires, screams and swallows
till the organic matter OF the body has
been destroyed by decay or fire. Hence,
the rapid development of saprOphytes
and other germs, the consequent irrita-
ton of the mucous membrane of the
small intestines-and very likely of that
of the stomach and colon as well-and
the poisoning of the entire system
through the absorption of ptOmaiRes
and leucomaines Indicate not a total
change from the normal condition, but
merely 4 heightened degree of bacterial
activity.
Bad sanitation. and especially crowd
ed and impertectiy ventilated and poor
ly drained apartments, have long
been recognized as prolific sources of
cholera infantum. The disease, there
fore, is essentially one of cities, and pre-
eminently of the slums. There must
be considered not so much the absolute
population of a city as the density of its
population, the absence of breathing
space in the shape of yards and parks,
the existence of n contaminated water
supply, and the lack of sufficient control
of tenement architecture, of food and
milk supplies, and of garbage collec-
tons. 1t is impossible to select any one
factor of Stun life as a sole or principal
predispcsing cause OF cholera infantum.
1t may be that the parents, debilitated
by poverty, hard work, poor food or dis
ease, or by all combined, have brought
forth children predestined to a physic-
al damnation. 1t may be that the child
is weakened, not so much by heredity rs
by confinement in the sitting atmos-
phere OF a room that is at once kitchen,
parlor and chamber, or by recent con
tact with contagious disease, or that
has directly irritated it's stomach by
delving in the swill tub or by drinking
the dregs from a beer glass. Whether
breast-fed or bottle-fed, 1t must be re-
membered that the baby's draughts of
milk are meals, and that they must be
taken regularly. Ordinary cleanliness
must be observed with regard to the
child's mouth and the source of nonr-
ishment. In the case of bottle-ted
children partial sterilization should he
insisted upon. Milk fully sterilized by
boiling, however, loses much of its
nutritive power. The long tube of tie
nursing bottle has slain its thousands,
and must give way to the simple nipple
fitting over the top of the bottle.
Much can he done to diminish infant
mortality if the obstetrician will! bear in
mind that he has not completed his duty
until he has instituted n regimen for the
child which shall include cleanliness,
proper clothing-neither too warm, too
cold nor too tight-proper exercise and
outdoor life, and, most important of ell,
regular feeding. After some experience
with babies who AVE been subjected TO
such a regimen, whether at the breast
or on the bottle, we feel justified in de-
claring that cholera infantum is largely
a prevcntable disease. Medical and
Surgical Reporter.
The Newest Gowns.
The craze for blue and white has
extended to muslin gowns. The latest
and most chic show blue figures in white