Newark post., 1920-07-14
Mothers Column

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Twenty-second article OF series
for Mothers Column contributed
Lp the Medical C0nsultdnt Of the |
State Reconstruction Commission.
Submitted By the Commission
thr0u1h the Clearing House Of the
DlIaware State Program.
Constipation
Constipation is one Of the COM
monest ills of childhood and while
+ NAV at times be one of the
easiest to overcome, there are
cases in which it will be found
most difficult to cure. 1t is caused
practically every instance by some
fault of the diet. There are great
many other causes, such as pro-
lapse of the rectum, impacted
feces and so forth, but these are
few compared to the number aris-
ing from dietary causes. The
breast fed baby normally has from
one to four stools a day depending
upon the quality of the milk. The
milk of some mothers contains a
high percentage of fat, which
causes more frequent stools. The
movement should not be difficult
nor cause straining, but should be
soft and yellow. If it is hard and
formed the baby is constipated.
The cause of this in the breast
fed baby is usually to be found in
the mother. She may be consti-
pated or may not take sufficient
exercise. Excessive tea drinking is
often the cause. If none of these
commoner causes are found, her
milk should be examined. 1t may
be that it contains too much pro-
teid, or may be lacking IN fat. In
this case her diet must be regulat-
ed. Medicines should jbe avoided
as much as possible. Small doses
of milk of magnesia are very good,
or a teaspoonful of olive oil,
orange juice or prune juice.
Cows milk is more apt to pro-
duce constipation than human
milk, and should be carefully made
up so that the percentages are as
near that of human milk as is
possible. 1t contains higher per-
centage of proteid, which, as l
have said above, is constipating,
and also a lower percentage OF
sugar. For this reason formulas
are made up which consist of
diluted cows milk with added
sugar. Oftentimes lime water is
added to increase the alkalinity Of
the milk, and this may cause con-
stipation. In some cases the form
of sugar used, oftentimes cane
sugar, may cause it, in which
event the sugar should be changed
to lactose or dextri-maltose. Boiled
cows milk often produces it, and
this can be averted by using clean
raw milk, or by using the mild
laxatives above mentioned if boil
ed milk must be used to assure
safety. The addition of cream to
the formula may sometimes cure
the constipation. However, none
of these changes should ever be
made in the baby's formula with
out the advice of physician who
is well-trainedl in infant feeding.
No mother should ever change her
babies formulas in any way with
out such advice.
In some cases where the con-
stipation is obstinate, it may be
found necessary to employ more
drastic measures than those de.
scribed above. In these cases a
small dose of castor oil or extract
of cascara may he given. Enemas
Of soap suds and warm water are
most effective if rapid evacuation
of the bowels is desired. All chill
dren should be trained early tt
evacuate their bowels daily, and il
is surprising at what an early age
this habit can be formed. Merely
put the child upon the stool every
day at a certain time and it will
soon be found that he will wait fol
this time to come and not soil tht