The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-08-01
SUMNER COMPLAINT.
A Paper of Interest to Mothers Watching
the Health of Their babies.

a Paper of Interest to Mothers Watching
the Health OF Their babies.
Rather more than Is per cent of all
who are born into this world leave ii
within Il year, and more than rs per
cent before they have reached their
third anniversary. These deaths oc-
curing with such relative frequency in
the warmer months have given rise to a
germ summer complaint, which, in Its
most typical form, is a cholera; in other
words, en- inflammation OF the small In
testines, whose conspicuous symptom is
colliquative 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 term
"cholera infahtum," 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 antecedent
cause the most common and most tam
gible source of intestinal disorders is
the entrance of fermenting mass of
improperly prepared chyme.
Cholera infantum is due to bacteria,
but not to any specific bacterium. Fen
ton B. Turck, of Chicago believes that
he has demonstrated at least half doz-
en- kinds that will produce Tactic acid
fermentation alone. A dozen or more
germs are found in the mouth at all
times, while the intestine teens with
the bacillus coli communi and number
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 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--andv very likely of that
of the stomach and colon as well--and
the poisoning of the entire system
the absorption of ptomaines
and leucomaines indicate not q total
change from the normal condition, but
merely heightened degree of bacterial
activity.
Bad sanitation, and especially crowd
ed and imperfectly 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
the absence of breathing
space in the shape of yards and parks,
the existence of a 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 sole or principal
cause OF cholera infnntum.
It 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 physic-
Al damnhtion. II may be that the child |
is weakened, not so much by heredity rs |
by confinement in the sitting atmos- |
phere OF n room that is at once kitchen, |
parlor and chamber, or by recent con- |
tact with contagious disease, or that |
mas directly irritated its stomach BY |
lelving in the swill tub or by drinking
he dregs from beer glass. Whether |
)reast-fed or bottle-fed, il must be re-
that the baby's draughts of |
milk are meals, and that they must be |
aiken regularly. Ordinary cleanliness
must be observed with regard to the
In the case of bottle-ied |
children partial sterilization should he
insisted upon. Milk fully sterilized by |
polling, however, loses much of its |
power. The long tube of the
lursing bottle has slain its thousands, |
md must give way to the simple nipple
lifting 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 |
hid which shall include cleanliness,
proper clothing-neither toowarm, TOO
old nor too tight-proper exercise and /
outdoor life. and, most important of Ell,
ocular feeding. After some experience
With babies who have been subjected 10
uch a regimen, whether at the breast |
n on the bottle. we feel justified in de-
laring that cholera infantum is largely
! preventable disease. Medical and |
Surgical Reporter.
The Newest Gowns.
The craze for blue and white has
attended to muslin gowns. The latest
nd most chic show blue figures in white