The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-11-18

tho pnyS1C1a06 t06C ~ Is Oettef 10 leave
it open little space. A trained nurse
at once takes her place by the side Of
this unique object and keeps constant
guard over temperature, conditions Of
air, ETC. Absolute quiet and a subdued
light are among the requirements. The
temperature may range from 80 to 90
degrees. In cases Of low vitality 1t is
kept at 90. and with the most robust is
never allowed to 60 below 30 degreea
Then every hour the little charge must
be fed This is sometimes accomplished
by means Of dropper. but more often
a little rubber tube is passed through
the mouth and esophagus into the stom.
ach, and into this tubo is slowly poured
dram, about teaspoonfnl, Of pre-
pared food. Thus in the ~ hours about
three ounces Of food are absorbed. This
food is made after a formula arranged
by most expert chemist and changes
from day to day according to the devel-
opment of the baby. =,
Every 80 hours the little gown Of ab-
sorbent cotton is exchanged for q per.
fectly fresh one Of the same material
The food and clothing Of this embryo
parsonage are not, therefore, great bills
Of expense but Its lodgings. its physt-
clan and nurses make up pretty sum
fer its indulgent parents
1t will easily be seen that the only
requirements for raising baby in an
incubator are perfectly even, high
temperature, pure air and food the
nearest approach possible to Its natural
food. But simple as this sounds it has
taxed every resource Of the best engi-
neering and sanitary authorities, the
finest psychologists and chemists in
tho country to arrive at tho present
state of advancement. An incubator as
it is now perfected costs about 5000. A
few firms have them to rent, and as the
demand for them is naturally small ono
may be rented at any time.
DR.. Rotch, who is responsible for
many Of the recent improvements Of the
incubator, has been very successful in
its use. He insists upon having always
two trained nurses. 80 thst no moment
may there be the risk Of change In
conditions which might turn the scale
the wrong way. This Of itself means
$50 week, and the time Of incubation
is usually from two months to ten
weeks But the baby 80 saved comes in
time to be quite the equal Of his fellows
who followed the good, old fashioned
ways
Hospitals cannot boast as great sue
cess from their experience with incu.
bators, although several include one
among their appliances In the first
place 1t is often q case where the ting
Mohammed must go to the mountain,
and it is almost impossible to accomplish
this without some little exposure. Their
in most cases the child has not only
premature birth to struggle with. bu'
The worst factor Of having come from IL
conditioned. badly nourished and otter
incorporate parents Besides. no nurs'
In q hospital, no score Of nurses. can n
arrange that one shall always have q,
eye on the thermometer; and the 30 O
more full blown babies will not upo,
demand refrain their voices from weep
ing out Of consideration for the sensi
tiveness Of their delicate little oomrade
The hospital people are sometime
asked why they make 50 great an effos
to save the lives Of these poor littl
creatures who, at the best, must ente
the race Of life feagfully handicapped
Their argument, Of course, Is that til
tiniest life In embryo has a right to il
chance; but their interest 10 doubles
largely scientific. Physicians fror
Maine to California, from the ST. Law
renee to the gulf, are constantly lookin
to these hospitals for the latest and be.
results Of their researches and exper
ments, and by Studying the treatmer
and watching the development Of cast
here, the incubating process included
they may be able to save many q III
nearer home. Besides. who can forete
whether the tiny atom may not turn o,
q Mnooln or q Wagner as we'll as con
monplaoe Smith or Joness-M. D.
Chicago Record.