The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-03-16
BETTER BABIES
WAS THE SUBJECT
Tho Following 10 the Lecture Civ
on by Dr.. Shields at the
Baby Day
PROGRAM IN The CITY HALL

Last Wednesday Afternoon Before
The Woman's Literary Club
8. Meetino
Daby's Health embraces a vast
field of scientific principles. To
discuss it we'll, would require
three or four hours. 1t is the pur-
pose of this lecture to crystalize
some of the important facts and
set them forth in a thirty minute
discussion and to emphasize the
Importance of a careful study Of
the development of the brain and
nervous system Of the infant.
infancy is the period Of life
which extends from birth to the
age of about two and a half years
or until the eruption of the first
teeth.
Childhood is the period of life
which extends from infancy to the
age of about fifteen years or until
puberty.
Infancy is the most important
and most interesting period of
life. 1t is the period of greatest
development and of greatest func
tional activity. The greatest chan
ges take place in the body and in
the different tissues of the body
and this is especially true Of the
brain and nervous system. 1t is
the period of rapid development
of the brain. 1t is also the period
of greatest mortality. The great
est amount of sickness and tho
greatest number of deaths occur
during the first year of life. This
death rate diminishes gradually
towards the approach of puberty.
During infancy all the organs are
delicately organized and contain
a large amount of water and this
is especilly true of the brain. For
this reason it is easy to under
tsand how easily the brain and
nervous system may be injured or
aided in their development.
The Senses are imperfectly de-
veloped during infancy. The in
fant when born is practically
Deaf for twenty four hours which
is due to the absence of air in the
midCle ear and the hearing is af-
fected only by loud noises-this
condition may persist for several
days or until the air enters the
middle ear.
The infant when born is also
practically Blind for several days
and the eyes have only a light
perception and are attracted only
by bright objects.
Tho Gray Matter of the brain
is absent at birth and does not
begin to appear until the end of
the first month when it is follow
ed by mental development and
mental phenomena.
The infant seeks the breast
from instinct alone.
Crying, like nursing. is normal
and necesSary-it expands and
developes the lungs. The loud cry
with which the infant begins its
existence is not from pain or an
ger but is simply natures method
of opening and unfolding the lit
tie air vesicles of the lung which
up TO the time of birth remain in
a state Of collapse. The child
which does not cry at birth or
soon after is often an early VIC
tim of pneumonia.
The infant may be compared
to tender plant in this way -
that it requires warmth, nourish-
ment. fresh air and proper sani-
tary conditions. Too much fond
ling and handling Of the infant is
just as injurious as the undue
handling and manipulation of
plats.
More infants loose their life
from too much kindness and af-
fection than from neglect or cru
city.
More infants die Of overfeeding
than from starvation.
More infants loose their life
from lack Of fresh air OF being
kept too warm than from expos
ure.
These three statements may
seem radical but they are born
out by statistics and experience"
Well Established Scientific
Principles of nourishment and
caring for the infant should al
ways be given primary considera-
ton and should never he lost sigh:
of or neglected on account Of
kindness or affection for the in
FAINT or because Of preiudicies or
advice Of fricnds or neighbors.
Ideal Conditions should he stud
led and kept in mind even though
it is not always possible to attain
perfection in them vet by having
a knowledge If what the ideal
should he we can alter and i'm
prove surrounding sanitary con-