The broad ax., 1915-07-31
Care Of
the Baby In
Summer
Helps Fer the Country Mother IN In,
Care Of the Baby.

Helps Fer the Country Mother IN the
Care Of the Baby.
Prepared by the chIldren's bureau. Unit
ed States department OF labor.l
Thousands Of young mothers living
on the farms and In the sparsely set
tied rural communities OF this country
have TO meet the problems Of mother
hood with little help. City mothers
may have doctors and nurses without
number at their service, as well as
hospitals and dispensaries. In addition
the infant welfare station has proved
of enormous help to mothers situated
30 as to be able TO avail themselves
Of It
But the country mother usually lives
too far away to make use Of these sta
lions, while hospitals and doctors are
resources TO be used only In illness or
emergencies Thus the country mother
usually has had to learn from her
neighbors or from her own, sometimes
sorrowful. experience what to do or
what not to do In the care OF her baby.
In this situation the mother should
have at least one good book on this
subject II she viii apply to the chief
of the children's bureau, United States
department Of labor, Washington. ask
ing for the publication called Infant
Care" It WIN be sent free Of charge
This bulletin contains simple directions
for the care OF the baby and in addi-
don gives references to the standard
books dealing with the subject
An encouraging prospect for the re-
lief Of the country mother has lately
opened up In the coming Of the rural
visiting nurse. who travels about the
farming communities with a horse or
an automobile. She is employed by
the families In her district, who con-
tribute 70 pay her salary. The town
and country nursing service maintain
ed by the American Red Cross associa-
ton. with headquarters at 1924 II
street, Washington, win be glad to
send literature and answer questions
about such service.
The nurses ride about their districts,
calling at each house where there Is
need of their assistance. They work
under the direction OF a doctor, help
ing the family to carry out his instruc-
tons In cases of illness or accident.
Thus the nurse does dressings, gives
baths, takes temperatures or whatever
may be required in the case. II there
Is q baby she advises the mother as TO
bis care, shows her how to give him a
bath and how to prepare his food II he
Is already weaned. But in addition to
giving bedside nursing and home care
the rural nurse does many other things.
If typhoid makes fits appearance she
may look about for a polluted water
supply or trace back the milk the fam
~ uses to fits origin TO see whether
this is the source Of the infection and
urge methods which will prevent fur
Their spread OF the disease.
She stops at the country schools and |
oOks over the children and sometimes |
detects beginning cases Of infectious
disease In time TO prevent an epidemic. |
She also notes cases Of probable ade-
1oids, deafness or weak eyes and calls |
he attention Of the child's family to |
The need Of care by a physician
In all Of this she carries on a con-
inual campaign of education toward q
1etter standard OF community life by /
showing the mothers how flies can be
or at least be kept out OF
he house; how to take care Of the
milk and the baby's bottles; how to
lean up the premises, dispose Of the
'efuse and how to keep the streams OF
he community pure Such a nurse is
therefore,, II she is as useful as she
nay be, far more than a nurse. She
3 teacher, hygienist. dietician as wen,
md her salary win be saved many
lines over in the course OF years by
he prevention OF illness and suffering
through her work
A rural woman's club may be the
Iucleus from which the movement for
community nurse starts. Clubs OF
his sort interested In such a move
nent WIN find many suggestions In a
IuIlettn published by the children's bu-
eau on work Of this sort which Is car
led ON In New Zealand This pamphlet
, published by the New Zealand So
iety For the Health Of Women and
Jhildren and Is sent free by the chi
lren'S bureau. Washington. to all who
- g. a.