The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-20

During the winter and spring mothers
are frequently caused good deal of anxi-
ETY. because of colds or Group in their
children This can be overcome largely
if the child is accustomed to fresh air.
Keep the body warm, but not too warm,
and give plenty of pure, cold air day
and night. Where it is possible tent on
the roof of the house, or an enclosed
piazza, makes a fine sleeping place for a
child. A slumber bag is sometimes made
of four thicknesses of outing blanket, to
fasten about the waist by drawstring,
leaving one corner of two thicknesses as a
sort of cape to be thrown over the head and
shoulders. Some even make a run and in
sert elastic so that a hood is formed. 1t
is best to provide warm blankets for these
outdoor beds, and good thick night robes.
If slumber bag cannot be made easily
the blankets may be pinned tightly about
the child with large safety pins After a
night in the fresh air difference will be
noticed in the color of the cheeks, the
brightness of the eyes and the spirits oil
the child in the morning, Many will
think this treatment too severe, but those
who try it are satisfied with its bene-
fetal effects.
If child has cold in the head do
not give medicines with the idea of
curing it quickly. The popular remedies
do, it is true, dry up the secretions, but
that does not cure the cold. These medi-
cines tend to cause an excessive dryness
of the throat, nose, and eyes, and the in
fammation still remains. The nose should
be thorough cleansed, both morning and
night, to rid it of all mucus and foreign
substances which, if allowed to remain,
are likely to lead to chronic catarrh and
some of the contagious diseases of child
into the nostrils will allay the infamma-
ton and serve as lubricant with good
effect. Remember, cold in the head is
more or less contagious, and unless plenty
of fresh air is kept in the room with the
patient there is danger of it being con-
tracted by other members of the family
More severe than the "cold in the
head" is bronchitis. A child having this
should be put to bed Immediately and
kept there until the symptoms disappear.
Bronchitis usually begins with more or
less fever, especially at night, and almost
always continuous cough. When the
air passes through the bronchial tubes a
wheeling sound is heard and in sharp at
tacks there is more or less prostration.
There is no better method for curing
bronchitis in its first stage than by the
application of a mustard paste prepared
as follows One part mustard to FIVE
parts flour; mix thoroughly and wet with
enough cold water to make medium
thin paste. just thin enough to spread
evenly on square of old muslin and wet
through on the other side. The paste
should be large enough to cover the entire
chest, and the muslin large enough to
fold over the paste on all four sides to
prevent leaking. Before applying the paste
an application of vaseline or sweet oil
will prevent blistering the skin. After
III or 10 minutes remove the paste and
rub the chest with dry towel. This
treatment may be repeated two or three
times day elf necessary.
In the GUESSING game, calling for eight
words ending in date Mrs. Alice A.
Morse Of johnson City, Tenn, formerly
of Newfane and Brattleboro, was the first
to send in correct list, which reached
us too lat, for last weeks issue, and is
therefore acknowledged herewith.
Our rec ,nt inquiry about magazine and
book clubs has called forth most inter.
esting account of the West Brattleboro
magazine club, which is, no doubt, the
oldest club of its kind in the county
Both men and women are included in its
membership, which numbers 16 at pres,
ent. Tile object is summed up as fol-
lows: intellectual advancement, and
pleasure and profit to ourselves" The sec
rotary is A. w. Stowe. There is no presi-
dent. The exact date of organization is
unknown, but was in the sixties and is