Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-05-23

the nealtny anu HOrHdi CROWN VI
the child"
The death rate of infants is ex-
ceedingly high. One-fifth to one
third of all infants born die be-
fore reaching the second year of
| life.
The statistics of all localities,
both city and country, show that
the highest mortality of life is
during the first year. In the State
of Illinois, about one-fifth OF all
who are born die during the first
year. In the larger cities this
death roll has increased at times
until il reached the figure one
third.
One-fifth of all deaths among
infants occur during the month OF
July. The vast majority die in
the Summer months.
Hot weather in itself does not
kill babies. Deaths are chiefly
due to the effects of the hot
weather on the food.
An exceedingly large number of
infants, even those born under the
best conditions and afforded the
natural food of the mothers milk,
fail to weather the storm of the
first and second summers. Among
the poor, and especially among
those infants deprived of mothers
milk, the death rate assumes
shocking proportions.
The vast majority of infants dy-
ing during the first year die from
improper food or their inability
to digest and assimilate it. While
the mortality among all infants
is high, it must be appreciated
that digestive disorders are the
chief cause of death. 1t must be
further remembered that the
mortality among those artificially
fed is vastly greater than among
those nursed by the mother. The
infant deprived of the mothers
milk has its chances of life and
health materially lessened. The
adoption of any other food when
the mother is capable of nursing
the infant incurs dangers to the
child, which makes such action al
most criminal. Mothers milk is
the natural and only perfect food
for the infant. Any substitution
for mothers milk must be looked
upon as a dangerous undertaking
justified only by necessity.
When it becomes necessary as it
some times is necessary to substi-
tute other food for the mothers
mix the substitute should be
food which is as much like normal
woman's milk as possible. A heal
thy mother whose baby is able to
nurse properly need have little
concern as to substitutes for sew
eral months.
If the mother is able to nurse
and there is no valid reason why
she should not continue nursing
the infant should have nothing
but it's mothers milk for the first
six months of life at least.
For many reasons, too lengthy
to be discussed here, the physician
may decide that the interests of
the infant or of the mother re-
quire that the infant be weaned.
The weaving of an infant is ac-
companied by so much danger to
the child, especially in hot weather.
however, that it is the part of
wisdom to seek the advice of
competent physician before under
taking it.
Except under special conditions,
weaving should not be attempted
until every effort has been made
to improve the milk of the mother
If the milk is insufficient physi-
clan should be consulted before
artificial foods are adopted.
When the breast milk, while
plentiful, and apparently good in
quality, fails to nourish the in
FAINT, a change of the mothers
diet and habits will often give
good results. If the infant does
not increase in weight, the free
use of fats by the mother will
soon cause an Improvement.
The richness Of the milk may
often be increased by eating
plenty of meat, eggs, animal
broths and other animal foods.
The richness may be decreased by
emitting or decreasing these
foods and using plenty of fruits
and cereals.
The nursing mother should drink
plenty of pure water. She should
drink tea sparingly and not drink
strong tea at all. There is no
better food for the nursing woman
than good milk. She should use it
freely.
Foods which may be eaten by
some nursing mothers without af-
fecting their babies, cannot be
eaten by others. Tomatoes, straw
berries and lettuce cannot be eat
en- by some. For most mothers
these fresh foods are of great |
value and should be eaten freely.