The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-02-13
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.


Regularity In the Habit OF Sleeping and
Eating should he Cultivated
The popular notion that the second
summer is the most precarious time Of
child's existence is absolutely dis
proved by all statistics. Four times as
many children die in the first year OF
life as In the second, and with each
months existence normal child's hold
on life is strengthened. III baby Is
steadily deteriorating in physical con-
dition the second summer Is OF course
more dangerous than the first; but IL,
as the result of proper care, the child
Is following in all its powers and pro-
portions the more natural rule OF accel-
Grated growth manifested throughout
the whole animal kingdom, the second
summer finds it's chances of life and OF
freedom from disease very much more
favorable than they were during the
first year. During the second half OF
the first year mother should I'm no wise
relax her vigilance in the care OF her
baby; although il the first half has
been judiciously used, the increased vi
tality, the greater powers of endurance.
habit OF sleep will permit her to main
tain an equal degree of caution while
deyoting to the work less time and ef-
fort.
Teething is n natural operation, and
ought 20 take place in child as easily
and as normally as in other young ami
mails, which at worst suffer but few
days irritation OF the gums, and re-
fuse n few OF the usual feelings rather
than endure the discomfort caused by
mastication. If baby is accustomed TO
awake at all hours CT the night, and to
sleep at any hour OF the daytime, then
even the slight irritation OF teething i'm
terrupts or altogether prevents it's
sleeping. But II 10 has during several
months slept soundly all night and
mapped regularly each day. the habit
will have become too strong 10 be
broken by any slight pain. In one ease
the restless child grows weaker day by
day for want OF adequate sleep; in the
other, the rested child, even though
teething. grows stronger every day, be-
cause still enjoying its regular amount
Of sleep.
The same principle applies to food.
A child that is injudiciously fed
throughout the night and given nour-
ishment irregularly whenever IL cries
throughout the day, suffers in conse-
quence from impairment OF its di-
gestive powers and becomes suScepti-
ble TO germ-infection throughout the
mucous lining OF the alimcntary canal.
Such a child, while 10 suffers from chron-
general system for adequate nourish-
ment, yet never at one time experiences
the wholesome acute hunger OF normal
health, and therefore. when teething,
alternately refuses food or consumes 10
so vornciously that each feeding only
serves TO aggravate the stomach trouble
already existing. It's flesh, already too
white and soft from malnutrition. now
wastes away SO readily as TO convince
the mother more firmly than ever that
teething Is disease" The diseased
condition in reality existed previously.
and the soft white fat was, 60 more cX-
perienced eyes. one OF its manifesto
tions. When really well-fed and we'll
nourished child begins 10 teethe. habit
induces IL to take a due amount OF food.
even though the nipple does hurt the
sore gum, or the piece OF bread does
touch the tender spot over the pricking
tooth. The child. in short must eat, be-
cause its hunger is so acute and habit Sc
strong.-IIarper's Bazaar.