Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-04
LITTLE TALKS ON BABYOLOGY
by STEESE RICHARDSON
Director of The Better Babies Bureau of the MomanS Home Companion
No IL.
What Every Mother Should Know
bv ANN STEESE RICHARDSON

is not natural for a baby to suffer with ear-ache. Do
not use laudanum to relieve earacne. Have your
doctor learn the cause Of the pain and remove it.
A mother should know that her baby breathes
properly. The baby who suffers chemically from
"%snufAes" needs attention. If he does not receive
medical care, he may develop a case of chronic ca.
tarrh. The baby that -breathes with it's mouth open
hahiiually is generally found to have adenoids, a
grapelike formation Of tissue which grows back of
the palate in the passage leading from the nose to
the throat. The air must pass through this passage.
way when the mouth is closed. II the passageway
is filed with the adenoid growth, there can be no
breathing through the nose, and the mouth remains
open, waking or sleeping.
Among the evils which spring from adenoids are
deafness, a deformed- jaw, restlessness,. general debil-
lily, loss of appetite, defective speech, persistent
colds and arrested mental development. Frequently
children pronounced defective in the public schools
are found to DC suffering with adenoids. When the
adenoids are removed, the child slowly, but surely,
makes progress in his studies.
The mother who, finds her baby breathing through
the mouth should have his throat examined immedi-
ately. Even the small, nursing baby that seems to
choke and sputter when nursing may be suffering
from this dangerous growth. The only cure for ade.
noids is their complete removal. This can be done
any time after the baby passes its third month.
Next to adenoids, as a menace to the baby's
health come enlarged tonsils. We all know how Ger.
tain children are subject to sore Threats with high
temperature. followed by extreme lassitude and de.
bility. This is tonsilitis, caused ninety-nine cases out
of a hundred by enlarged tonsils. These can be
operated on without danger to the small patient, with
little pain and at comparatively small cost. Enlarged
tonsils form a lodging place for germs, especially
those Of diphtheria.
A mother should know why her baby cries. In
the. very young baby, as have said before, a little
crying is good exercise, but it must he known as
what Is healthy crying, such as the crying for food
or attention, which never indicates real pain. This
is Baby's way of demanding notice.
If an ordinarily contented baby, presumably CON-
Portable, dry and well-fed, persists in crying, the
mother should investigate. Among small causes Of
discomfort may be mentioned an open s~afetypin, an
overnight belly band, folds in those Instruments of
torture. tho muslin bands Of skirts fastened with
safety.pins, a small arm twisted under the body, sun
shining into the eyes, flies or mosquitoes and wet dia-
pers. Make a baby absolutely comfortable in clothing
and position, and he will not cry long. If he does not
quiet down soon, or If he has p%aroxysms of crying,
have a physician look him over.
DIR. Roger bennett, in his excellent handbook for
mothers, "The Healthy Baby" thus analyses the
baby's cry which needs attention:
There is the hoarse cry of the child who has
cried a great deal, or the throaty cry of the child
suffering from some throat affection. There is the
low, moaning cry of the very sick child, which breaks
your heart to hear. There is even the ~'cephalic cry
OF meningitis and other brain conditions, and the
wild night cry with which the child with bone trbei.
culosis starts out of his Sleep"
Thus you see that certain cries are actual symp.
toms of disease, not to be triled with.
In this connection, one of the most. efficient or
CaniZliiOnS for raducinp infant iroOrto 1itv, hos cnro.
piled the following suggestions to mothers on this
very important subject. 1t is reprinted here from
Hints to Mothers" issued by the Better Babies Blu
reau, which will be sent to any mother wishing a
copy, on receipt of a self addressed and stamped
envelope.
If Your Baby Cries, Learn the Reason.
The Baby is Cross Because
His food is not right.
He is fed too often. t.3
He is fed too much.
He gets tice cream or candy.
He is fed or taken up whenever he cries.
lie is dressed too warm.
He is dressed improperly.
He needs a bath.
His bowels do not move properly.
He is wet. ,
he IS Kept up too late.
tic sleeps in a hot room with windows shut,
He is carried, rocked or bounced.
He is taken to the movies"
He is given a pacifer, soothing syrup or cath.
artics. -
The Baby Is Happy Because
He is fed regularly.
He is fed properly.
He is dressed properly.
He is bathe!d every day.
He is kept dry and clean.
He has plenty Of sleep.
He has fresh air all the time.
He is let alone.
He gets no patent medicines.
There are no flies on him.
simplicity. But even Thomas Jefferson kept a punch
bowl.
NJ Hobson's prompt acceptance of the challenge