Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-07-28
BABY WATER ENOUGH
II Abundance of Water Is Neglected
There Is Sure to Follow
Troubles.

You ask a young mother what and
how she feeds her baby, perhaps a
year old, and quite likely she will
say: Eight ounces of milk diluted
with two of water Her utensils are
kept with the most scrupulous care,
the child fed with strict regularity.
and still he is continually troubled
with constipation, and while not eX-
actly ill, heyis far from well. Why
does he not thrive better?
No, ne lis not over fed. He is. u n
der watered, The milk should be diJ
luted fully one-half. The load must
have an adequate vehicle. My baby,
now IL months odd, takes nearly. n
teacup CT milk tI a feed,9but it is di-
luted with wateg to make nearly o
pint. fed, of course, blood warm; i.
is not safe to si,&e, cold food except
in the smallest quantities under two
years. Besides he drinks one-fouftn
to one-third cup OF cold, Water several
times during the day. He has some
plain, solid food with his meals two
or three times a day, bread, crackers.
johnny cake, or same plain cereal with
out hulls. He has nc oatmeal, no veg
etables, no sweets, but the moment
the abundance of water is neglected
there is trouble.
1t is not the fats but the solids
which clog the digestion. In all foods
irritation must be avoided. But first,
last and always quantities of water
must be given 70 insure health. 1t
has been said that a baby suffers for
a barrel of water before it is Old
enough to ask for it. OF course, it
makes more trouble and many more
napkins to wash, but it makes rosy
cheeks and Astounding vitality. This
is my experience with four unusually
fat, rosy children.
If the baby is taken i'll, don't neglect
the water; it is all the more necessary
then. In colds, during the feverish
period. give cold water and after that
passes, if the child relishes it, hot
water. In measles and all dangerous
%fevers, give the water cold, but feed
it with a teaspoon. A dozen spoonfuls
every Is or 20 minutes will often keep
a fever below the danger point. In
any acute stomach trouble caused by
indiscretion in diet or hot weather,
give half al hour or so after vomit-
ing a cup of some cereal substitute
for coffee, hot, without milk or sugar.
Water is what is needed, but plain
hot water is sometimes nauseating,
while the slight bitterness of the coffee
substitute is most acceptable and be-
sides, it has a small food value. Then
give nothing until the usual time be-
tween meals has elapsed, when give
the same drink again. BY time for
the next meal after that the stomach
will be rested and the same drink
with milk and a very little sugar will
be all-sufittent. If possible, give no
solid food until the. following day.
II this treatment is applied promptly
the bowels being moved if there is
the slightest need. the first vomiting
spell will probably be the last. When
teething. feed cold water with a spoon.
You will be surprised to see how Gag
erly the baby VIII take it, and how
much he will want. 1t cools the gums
and fed in this way no quantity will
do harm. The only harm water can
do is TO chill the stomach, which it
will not do uniess taken quickly in
duantities.wOrange Judd Farmer.