Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-21
JANE.
THE CHILD AS A BAROMETER

Dear Cornerites:-A few words con-
corning the child as a bar ometer may
not come auaiss with some mothers not
quite understanding all Phases Of the
life of their children.
These were copied from a medical
work OF many years ago and the signs
have proved almost an-ailing In my
own experience and that of several Of
my acQuaintances. Others will proba-
bly, also recognize the symptoms
A child indisposed Is sTumbler and
the trouble is likely to be relieved by
a good dose of castor oil and will soon
right itself.
On the contrary, a child suffering
from some specified disease is de-
jected; and to such an extent is this
true. that observing mothers rejoice
and with good reason, when they see
their sick children become refractory
and imperiouS; it is truly q valuable
sign Of convalescence.
The indisposed child rebels against
his uncomfortable sensations; he feels
desire to live his ordinary course Of
life; to play, to run, to eat as usual:
but his discomforts prevent him. He
revoltS against 1t, cries without any
assiguable cause; shows a desire -or q
thing; and Immediately rejects IL;
dnds fault with everybody and pass
es from one demand 70 another.
The child with disease, on the other
hand Cncluding a child about to be-
come sickl is bewildered rather than
irritated;- there is diminished activity,
he seeks repose. rather than caresses,
and his little countenance Is neither
lighted up with q smile nor clouded
with i'll humor: he assumes the serious
air Of an adult. and seems to feel u
presentiment Of impending physical
suffering.
There are differences between these
two pictures which mothers and ply
SicianS accustomed fn the nhSaTCa-
ton OF children seize dpcn with mar
velous perception.
Gayety is one Of the child's func-
tons A sad child is a, painful
warning of all the more serious i'm
port, if his grief and cries be not &C
companied by tears.
IF the eye be dry, the disease is
grave; this is presented to the mother
as an aphorism; it will ran ely be found
at variance with the Truth.
a celebrated child specialist ad-
dressing an audience of mothers on
the care of sick babies said that ba-
bies diseases go fast, and that many
OF their troubles disappear If left alone.
But, he said. there is another group
that wont improve without treatment.
If we begin at the top. we must class
ify meningitis as one Oh the most seri-
Gus complaints. There is one sort of
meningitis from which every child
dies. There is another kind, however,
in which the child is almost sure to
get well if the disease is taken in time.
If the baby is troub ed with head
aches, and If he holds his head too far
back, call the doctor quick.
The eyes can usually be kept in good
condition by bathing them with So
luton of borax and w;:ter; but If the
eyes begin to run and this continues
even two or three days, it may be seri-
Gus.
A running nose is not uncommon
especially if the child has a cold, bun
if it keeps on running after the cold
is over. that is sign of adenoi6s. II
blood comes from inside the ncSe II
may mean diphtheria.
There are two kinds Ct Group. One
looks bad and isn't; the other is as
bad as the first one looks. Always
give the baby an emetic to discharge
the phlegm and mucous.
In nineteen cases out of twenty
commissions come from The stomach
Feet should be put in hot water in
which has been dissolved two table
spoons mustard, cold water cloths
placed at head and as soon as possible
child placed in bed, surrounded by hot
water bottles, and as soon as 1t can
swallow a good big dos, of castor oil.
In stomach troubles the. first thine
to do, is to stop feeding the baby
cutting off food and giving a dose OF
castor oil is frequently all that Is
necessary to put the child in good con-
dition again. Ia
Hoping this will prove helpful to
some inexperienced motner and wish
ing you all the best OF success.