Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-09
R|CKETS MAY Be
SERIOUS IN EFFECT
Constitutional Disease of Infants
Which Should Receive I'M
mediate Attention.

Following Is the twenty-frst OF a series
n articles for the Mother Column, con-
trlbuted by the medical consutant of the
state Reconstruction Commission, and
submitted hy the commission through the
clearing house of the Delaware state
Program
RICKErs.
This is constitutional disease of in
fants the effects of which. # allowed TO
90 untrcatcd, are far-rcaching, often
giving risc to some permanent dcformity,
such as bow legs. pigeon breast, large
POINTS curvature of the spine, etc. "
generally begins from the sixth month to
the SECOND year, and IS much commoncr
IN hottle-fed babies In fact. very few
lreaSt-icd children develop this disease
Ii II purely nutritlonal disorder that
ls, u j. caused hy improper feeding. II
y probably due % n lack of what Is termed
Nltamlues, which are substances present IN
milk, butter. m some fruit Juices, and
leaiy vegetables Bad hyglenIc surround
ings, lack uf sunshine and fresh air are
prrdisposing factors IN rickets. This en-
phasiscs the need for having the baby
out OF doors every day.
10 prevent ricketts,. therefore. n we'll
balanced diet Is essential Breast feeding
~ bottle fed the milk must contain
sufficient percentage Of fat (at least
PER cent. Orange Juice must be gwen
daily M quantities of about two table
spoonfuls In eases OF r1ckets there seems
q bc a lcsscning Of the absorption of fat
and consequently fat humps are found IN
the stools of infants suffering from the
dlscasc The abdomen Is large and rather
pcndulous there Is usually profusc sweat
ing particularly of the head; the bones
hccome softer than normal and con
scqucntly. IN u child who d allowed Ia use
lis lmbs to bear his weight. either by
creeping or walking they bend and pro-
durc the characteristic dcformity The
ends oi the bones enlarge and produce
large Iulnts
Ii the patient Is allowed 10 lie in bed on
hls back continuously, the back of the
head often becomes fiat and curvature
If the spinc ls produced
hndren Suffering ;som riGkets should
hc put "a bcd and kept there, IN a rather
hard bed. with the head very slightly
elevated They should Of course lie in n
room which is brigh, and sunny and well
ventilated The he'd should lie kept out
of doors as much as possible II curvature
~ the spine has begun pillow should I've
placed under the curge N order to sup
port Il, and o. try 20 StraIghten II When
lifting the patient 90 sitting position
the back must always be supported Cod
liver oll has long been recognized rs one
of the most effective remedies for rickets
This should be administered under the
direction Of physician IN doses varying
according 90 The age OF the patient. The
diet should. Of course, be considered first |
uf all and properly adjusted. with large
doses Of orange lulce or fresh or canned
tomato luice included for young children. |
and plenty Of fresh eggs and green vege-
tables for the older ones
II the child has already learned 10 walk.
or 4 he crcrps much. he must be kept in
he'd AZ oil costs until all signs Of active
disease disappear II the child has not
vet learned 90 walk, he must not be en-
oouraeed 10 do so for long time
Riokcts, then, Is very serious but
easily preventahle disease IL will not
occur with its consequent defomiticS If
the proper are u taken with the chllds
dict The surcst way o. prevent rickets
Is &C. feed your hahy from the breast for
at least eight months and then follow
some good doctors advice a. TO hls sub
scquont dict