The Washington herald., 1912-06-18
GOOD CARE Is FAR
BETTER THANDRUGS
For the Dear Little Life God Has
Given Into Mothers Keeping.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI,

About a year ago / told you Of Baby
Anne and how she behaved when the
first hot and humid days OF summer
gripped the land. The mother of BABY
Anne couldn't decide for the life OF
her what made the child fret so. until,
together, we undressed her and found
her dear little body covered with
prickly heat, a skin affection caused
primarily by heat, and sufficiently ir-
ritating to make q grown-up cross and
irritable. to say nothing Of an eight
months-old baby.
It seems that many have forgotten
what was done for the ehild's relief, for
on my desk this very minute there are
no less than ten letters from mothers
young and inexperienced and mothers
who are old enough to know better
than to leave hannels next TO a baby's
skin in hot weather, asking for help.
In each case the irritating rash- which
consists OF red papillae, each about
the size OF a pins head is described.
These small Jumps thrust themselves
up through the skin, in some cases in
patches as large as the hand. some
times covering the body. always a tor
ture to the baby afflicted with them.
Flannel IrritateH Eruption.
First of all, take all flannel from the
immediate vicinity Of the skin, substi-
tuting a linen garment preferably-a
fine nainsook one in case linen is i'm
possible.
Add a heaping tablespoonful OF soda to
baby's bath tub half full of tepid water,
and allow the afflicted little one to re-
main in the water only two or three
minutes. Repeat this treatment three
times a day IL the wealth Is very hot.
he should be given a tepid bath morn
ing and night during very warm
weather, never being in the water more
than two or three minutes. Never give
a young baby an absolutely cold bath.
It is not only too great a shock to the
nerves OF young children, but is very
stimulating to the blood. 1t Is a mis-
take to suppose that cold water Will
cool. It produces an afterglow Of
warmth that will be most uncomfortable
to baby in the summertime. and II he is
afflicted with prickly heat, aggravate
the irritation.
Where a case Of prickly heat is severe
the eruption should be bathed with equal
parts Of alcohol and water. Another
simple remedy, which is both soothing
and healing, is an infusion Of bran and
water-a cupful OF bran to a pint OF
warm water. This should stand for an
hour or more. when Il should be strained,
after which II is ready to be applied
to the baby's body with a soft sponge.
Food should Be Regulated.
The food Of children should be given
extra surveillance in the summertime,
particularly where they are at all sus-
ceptible to skin eruptlons. Oatmeal
should be stopped during warm weather.
as well as all other foods that are heat
ing to the blood. Lemon juice is a harm
less and a splendid purifier for the older
child's system. The juice Of half a
Iemon in a cup of hot water before
breakfast every morning will do wonders
for a sluggist liver, and is infinitely bet
ter for a little ones welfare than re-
sorting to drugs. Avoid giving medicine
to little children There are few sunmeT
ailments which cannot be remedied with
out the use OF strong concoctions, which
disorder the infantile stomach and work
havoc in many cases to the young sys-
tenn
Cleanliness. plenty Of fresh air, and a
mothers practical care of baby's health
will go a far way in keeping the little
one well Where these fail it is by far
the better way to send for a, physician
than to experiment with drugs. running
the risk Of jeopardizing the little life God
has given into mothers keeping.