Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-02-17
An Incubator Baby.

For the last week the physicians of
the Johns Hopkins Hospital have
been much interested in watching the
development of a wee bit of humanity
deprived of a mothers care and
dwelling in specially constructed
contrivance built on the principle of
an incubator, such as little chicks
have been hatched out of for many
years.
The child is the baby of a Balu-
more physician. When it was found
that the most recent appliances Of
science must be called upon to save
the life of the little mite that had
been born too early he was taken TO
the Hopkins Hospital which has
owned for several years an apparatus
devised by up-to-date scientists for
experimental work in trying to pre-
serve the lives of children born under
such circumstances and deprived of
their natural nurses.
This little fellow must remain at
the hospital within the four glass
walls Of the Lion incubator-named
after its French inventor-at least
two months before attaining the full
maturity that should have been his
at birth. 1t was seen, upon his adj
vent into the world, that he must de-
pend largely upon artificial aid for
existence, and modern medical science
furnished this aid.
This particular child weighed at
birth slightly less than three pounds,
and was about ten inches long. During
his week in the incubator at the Hop
kins Hospital he has increased about
four ounces in weight and several
inches in length. His chances of be-
coming a full-fedged voter are excel
lent.
The Lion incubator is cube OF
metal and glass, little over two feet
in dimension each way. The child to
be nurtured in it is wrapped in medl-
Gated cotton and laid upon a pillow
in the glass case. Especial ventlla-
ting contrivances keep the air within
the incubator constantly pure, while
the temperature is kept at the required
standpoint by other scientific devices.
The temperature was started at 90
degrees, but will gradually come
down to IS. By the side Of the glass
case is a coil of metal pipe, through
which fresh water is kept running.
This water is heated by a gas flame
beneath the coil, and hot water is thus
circulated through metal coil at the
bottom of the incubator, Just below
the soft bed on which the body Of the
infant rests. At the top, inside the
glass case, is a thermostsl, that keeps
faithful record of the temperature.
When the heat becomes too great
simple contrivance shuts down the
gas Jet outside 2cd thus reduces the
temperature, in the same way increas-
ing it when the interior Of the glass
case becomes too cool. In this man
ner an even temperature is always
maintained in the incubator, without
the constant vatchfulness Of nurse.
OF course the tiny creature inside
the glass walls must be regularly and
scientifically fed, and this is done by
a nurse at least every two hours.
The infants food is as near that de-
signed by nature for his early susten-
auce as is possible for medical skill to
make it, and is administered about
teaspoOnful at time.
If all expectations are realized, the
infant now being aided to maturity at
the Johns Hopkins Hospital will be
able to be removed to its home in a
little less than two months. II will
then weigh, according to calculations,
about seven pounds, will be about
twenty inches in length and will pos
sess normal healthy appetite.
The incubator at the hospital has
been in use there several years, and
half dozen tiny specimens Of human
ity owe life and health to its efficlsn-
cy.-BaitimoTe Sun