Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-04

This is the time of year that the lives of
children and infants are in danger because
of hot weather. AS has been his custom
FOR several years. Or. ". c. Woodward.
health officer. has commenced his sys-
tematic campaign for protecting the lives
Of the Young.
During the sunlme: months young chill.
dren are susceptible to intestinal dis
eases. According to DIR. Woodward much
depends upon their diet. BY means Of
personal visits and letters. he is now en-
gagged in calling the attention of parents
to these matters and urging them to take
greater care in what the little ones are al
lowed to eat.
Consulting the birth reports he is hav-
ing letters sent to the mothers of chill
'SiYen borE within the past year furnishing
them with instructions how TO care for in
fants during the hot weather and how to
prepare their food. especially the milk.
lie contends that the condition of the
i milk is the keynote to- the health and life
]. Of the infant.
Inspectors to Visit Homes.
q He has also directed his health in
= spectors to work in conjunction with the
: Visiting Nurses Society and to visit all
:, new mothers and instruct them in the
= care of the child with the view of reduc-
:, ing infant mortality.
- In the health and mortality report of the
!. District for the week ended Saturday last.
submitted to the Commissioners by the
!, health oficer yesterday. it was noted that
infant mortality Is beginning to increase
. This condition, the health officer said is
due to the approach of the summer sea-
i son and shows evidence OF intestinal dis
). eases.
/. In his report he mentioned the neces-
sity of careful attention to the con-
fof fo0 to- f1a
sity OF clearly surroundings. properly
aired and ventilated dwellings. and an
/ early call for medical assistance upon the
first approach OF trouble.
Dr.. Woodward's Advice.
" DIR. Woodward's directions for the care
Of infants Is prefaced by the statement
that inasmuch as children suffer from the
erect Of bad ventilation much more
quickly than adults the babies should
+ have plenty of fresh air and all the out
of-doors possible. Keep the baby out in
the cool of the morning and evening, he
advises. and in the hot part of the day
try TO keep IT under some shady tree.
DO not dress the baby tightly. and let
his clothes air during the night, and let
the night clothing air during the day. says
Dr. Woodward. Under no circumstances
should soiled clothing be worn until they
have been thoroughly washed
The baby should have a bath daily and
should have regular hour for a daily
nap. II the child frets try to find out the
cause. but never give soothing sirup or
other medicine to induce sleep unless or
dered by the physician.
Use plenty Of talcum powder. boil the
+ child's drinking water. Let your doctor
guide in the use of food. If the mother
has consumption she should consult her
physician.
As soon as the middle teeth have come
the child should have in addition to its
milk one or two meals day consisting OF
milk and stale bread or broth containing
main article Of food until the second or
third year. Do not give the child bacon,
ham, pork. tea or coffee.
Do not feed child every time it cries
Very often water is all 1t wants. 4 child
should be vaccinared when year old
Education of Housekeepers.
Aside from explicit and detailed in
struoiions for caring for infants, Health
Officer Woodward is sending out instruc-
tons to housekeepers In general. caution
ing them about the care of milk. These
instructions are printed on .iece of
cardboard and requested to be hung In
the kitchen of the household.
Housekeepers are en.oined to see that
the milk is clean. and advised to look at
the ba:tofrrei each milk bottle. Dirty bot
ties will foul clean milk. and all bottles
Should be examined carefully before be-
ing opened II any sign of dirt appears
they should be returned to the miikman
unopened. The suggestion Is made to
thoroughly clean all empty bottles before
returning them TO the r!ilkman.
To prevent sour milk, keen 1t cold. Feel
ne bottles that the milkman leaves. 4
Hairy Thermometer is valuable See that
lie milk is not over N degrees r. Keep
the milk clean and cold after II gets into
house. So reads the Cjlcular