Newark post., 1920-07-07
Mothers Column

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Twenty- first article Of series for
Mothers Column contributed By
the Medical C0nsultant Of the State
Reconstruction Commission. Sub
mitted By the Commission through
the Clearing House of the Dela-
avare State Program.
RICKETS
This is constitutional disease Of
infants, the effects Of which, if
allowed to 60 untreated, are far
reaching, often giving rise to some
permanent deformity, such as bow
legs, pigeon breast, large joints,
curvature of the spine, etc. 1t gen.
orally begins from the sixth month
to the second year and is much
commoner in bottle-fed babies. In
fact, very few breast-fed children
develop this disease. 1t is purely a
nutritional disorder-that is, it is
caused by improper feeding. 1t is
probably due to a lack of what is
termed vitamins, which are sub
stances present in milk, butter, in
some fruit juices, and leafy vege-
tables. Bad hygienic surround
ings, lack of sunshine and fresh
ricketts,. This emphasizes the need
for having the baby out of doors
every day.
To prevent rickets, therefore, a
we'll balanced diet is essential.
Breast feeding is the best preven-
tive of all. If the baby is bottle
fed the milk must contain a suffi-
cient percentage of fat (at least
two per cent?. Orange juice must
be given daily in quantities of
about two tablespoonfuls. In cases
Of ricketts, there seems to be less
ening Of the absorption of fat, and
consequently fat Jumps are found
in the stools Of infants suffering
from the disease. The abdomen is
large and rather pendulous; there
is usually profuse sweating, par
ticularly Of the head; the bones be-
come softer than normal and con-
sequently, in a child who is allowed
to use his limbs to bear his weight,
either by creeping or walking, they
bend and produce the characteris-
tic deformity. The ends of the
bones enlarge, and produce large
joints.
If the patient is allowed to lie
in bed on his back continuously,
the back of the head often becomes
fiat and a curvature of the spine Is
produced.
Children suffering from rickets
should be put to bed, and kept
there, in a rather hard bed, with
the head slightly elevated. They
! should, of course, lie in room
which is bright and sunny and well
ventilated. The bed should be
kept out of doors as much as posi-,
BILE. If curvature of the spine has
begun a pillow should be placed
under the curve in order to support
it, and to try to straighten 1t
When lifting the patient to a sit
ting position, the back must always
be supported. Cod liver oil has
long been recognized as one Of the
most effective remedies for rickets
This should be administered under
the direction of a physician IL
does varying according to the age
of the patient. The diet should, OF
course, be considered first of al
and properly adjusted, with large
doses of orange juice or fresh ol
canned tomato juice included fol
young children, and plenty O.
fresh eggs and green vegetables fol
= the older ones.
If the child has already learned
+ to walk, or if he creeps much, h
! must be kept in bed at all cost
until all signs of active disease hav'
: disappeared. If the child has no
yet learned to walk, he must no
{ be encouraged to do so for lons
( time.
Rckets, then, is very seriou
L but easily preventable disease. l
will not occur with its consequen
1 deformities if the proper care /
i taken with the child's diet. Th
h surest way to prevent rickets is t
T. feed your baby from the breast TO
= at least eight months and the1
Follow some good doctors advic
4 as to his subsequent diet.