Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-10
TELL !
OF BABY DISEASES
Mothers OF Community Instructed in
care of General Health and Teeth
of Children.

and L. S. McCabe department stores
four of the city physicians addressed
the mothers of this community on the
subject of the baby's diseases. The
first of the sessions was held at the
former store and was addressed nv
Dr. E. NJ Sala, who spoke especially
of the diseases that children are sub-
ject to, and DR.. H. c. Trent, who with
charts explained the growth of baby's
teeth and their proper care. Miss
Dixon assisted by Miss O'Day, gradu-
ate nurse from st. Anthony's hospital.
demonstrated the correct method of |
bathing the baby, explaining as they
bathed it the why and wherefore of |
each operation.
At the latter store the nurses again
bathed a tiny baby and DR.. G. L. Eys-
ter talked on the movement in behalf
Of the welfare Of the baby which has
grown from small significance to a |
world wide affair. Mrs Willhite with
her 9-months-old babies, which have
been under the care of the West End
baby welfare station, was in attend
ance, the mother proudly exhibiting
her healthy babies.
DR.. r. NJ. Pearce spoke on the care
of the teeth in children, giving simple
rules that every mother should fol-
low to insure the health of her baby.
DR.. Pearce and DR.. Trent spoke along
much the same lines in which the fol-
lowing was brought out:
The baby usually cuts his first tooth
when he is to months old, and by
the end of the first year has, ordinar-
lily, six teeth. He should have II teeth
at Is months of age; Is when he is
two years old, and before the end of
the third year the entire set of 20
milk teeth. The progress of teeth
ing in healthy baby cannot properly
be held responsible for the illness
commonly attributed to it. The first
half-dozen teeth rarely give the baby
any pain, but as the double teeth ap-
pear there is occasionally at the same
time a little disturbance, such as loss
of appetite, and possibly evidences of
slight indigestion, which may last for
a few days. But if the disturbance is
more serious than this, some other rea-
son for it should be sought. Teething
takes place through the weaving per-
iod and during the second year, when
mistakes in feeding are so often made
which upset the baby's digestion, even
if they do not make him seriously ill.
On this account it is often unjustly
blamed for making the baby sick, when
the real reason lies in the fact that he
was overfed or improperly fed, or per-
haps that the weather was very hot.
1t must be remembered that excess
sive heat aggrevates any ill the baby
may have, and is quite sufficient in
itself to make the baby sick. 1t is nee
essary in summer. therefore, both on
account Of the heat and because of the
disturbances connected with weaving
and teething, to take great care of the
baby in all respects, and especially to
feed him with great caution
The baby may not gain in weight
during the cutting of various double
teeth, but it is not serious matter
to have the weight remain stationary
for short time. The baby will quick
ly regain the lost ground when he is
well again, and eating his full rations.
The mother should never allow any
patent medicines, such as soothing
syrups to relieve the pain of teething
If they do relieve it they probably con-
tain opium in some form, which is
much worse for the baby than the suf-
| fering. 1t is a safe rule never to give
medicine of any sort to a baby, save
that which is ordered by a doctor
| From the time the double teeth make
their appearance throughout life the
| teeth should have daily care For the
baby a very soft brush is necessary
and the utmost care should be taken
not to injure in any way the delicate
tissues of the mouth when brushing
the tiny teeth. After the baby has sew
eral teeth. the mother should see to it
that no particles of solid food are left
between them after the baby has eaten.
If the first set Of teeth is we'll taken
care Of the second set will be health
Ter, and in addition the child will have
been taught good habit that will last
all his life There is considerable vari-
alton in the time that the teeth first
appear, but if the baby has no teeth by
the time he is one year old, he should
have medical attention to see if any
disease is causing this unusual delay
in the development of the teeth. or
whether it is due to improper diet.
| This afternoon DR.. J. R. Hollowbush
and DR.. Louis Ostrom spoke to the
mothers of the city at the McCabs
store, on general care of baby and on
the care Of its eyes, ears, nose and
throat.
| Tomorrow closes baby welfare week
as arranged by the national organiza-
ton. but today's program closes the
local observance. The various depart
ment stores, drug stores, etc, have
had exhibits during the week of arti-
Giles pertaining to the baby and there
can be no doubt but that much good
will result from the effort in baby s
behalf
in IN MOLINE LODGES II