The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-02-21

time it may become crippled either
mentally or physically and therefore
not have the equal opportunity later
in life which every child should
have guaranteed to it in so far as
is humanity possible.
Since DR.. Visanska has spent
many years of his life devoted ex-
clusively to the study of these prob
lens which are necessary for us to
know to have "better babies," and
therefore better adults, it is pecu-
liarly fitting that he should give US
an account of his experiments and
the result of his experience. 1t has
been said that genius is an infinite
capacity for attention to details and
if this be genius DR.. Visanska GER
tainly deserves the title, for it was
by this means that he learned and
proved his conclusions as to the
proper application of the diaper and
navel band to the infant. 1t some
what stuns US at first to learn that
our ideas century old are found
ed upon misconceptions and misin-
formation, but when we listen to
the clear argument of DR.. Visanska
and the clearer X-ray photographs
of the infant pelvis doubt is dispell-
ed mad we realize the truth of his
statements. In giving US these facts
in such a clear and simple manner
he has rendered a service to his
profession, to the many present and
1uture mothers and to his country.
A Comprehensive Volume.
The book Better Babies" is a
volume of about ESQ pages and be-
gins with the care Of the mother
from the time. of conception and
later the care Of the infant through
out babyhood: 1t is not a "Family
Doctor Book" and is not full of
prescriptions which may or may not
be suitable for a given illness. For
since the author is physician him
self he realizes the dangers attend
ant upon laying down set of rules
with remedies for all ills which may
arise. He knows that especially
with the baby too much medicine is
often times more harmful than too
little. It is more of practical
guide as to the proper dressing and
care of the baby. The two things
which strike US most forcibly are
the articles on the diaper and the
navel band. As is said by the edi-
tor of The New York Medical Re-
cord, "The time has apparently
arrived for a radical dress reform
in this most elementary of all gar
fnents. From time immemorial in
fants have protested loudly and elo-
quently against the clumsy method
of ensheathing a goodly portion OF
their anatomy, but until now their
cry, although heard only too well,
has been woefully neglected." II
we were called upon to mention. the
one thing to be most commended we
would unhesitatingly say that it is
the proper application of the diaper.
The photographs and X-ray pictures
here are absolutely convincing. That
the old method of putting on the
diaper, especially when too tight,
often lead to a deformed or at
least abnormal pelvis We have no
doubt. May not many of the so.
called congenital deformities and
abnormalities be the result of I'M
proper dress, accidents, injuries and
diseases of childhood? We think so.
Many more are due to the improper
care or neglect Of the expectant
mother more on account of the lack
Of knowledge as to the proper care
than to any thing else. We think
with more attention to mothers and
to "better babies' we will have bet
ter "grown-ups."
The publishers, Foote & Davies
Co., deserve special mention for the
excellent manner in which they have
performed their part. The paper is
excellent, having a rough surface
and clear type which makes the
reading easy without firing the eyes;
The illustrations are very clear and
show the exact methods described.
Altogether this work deserves
much praise with little criticism and
can cheerfully commend it to ply
sicians, nurses, mothers and fathers.
Atlantic Constitution