Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-02-07
DAY IN THE BABY CLINIC.

= The scene Is a street in one OF the
smaller cities of New England On the
left a wooden building with steep, over
hanging stairways perches upon an an
gular hillside The sidewalk Is crowded
with baby carriages and go-carts over
flowing with pink and blue blankets.
Shall we follow the sound Of baby voices
up the narrow stairs and see what's go
ing on?
As we climb. we meet Portuguese
mother with her rosy baby in her aruls,
and she tells US that this is the baby
clinic. Weeks ago she brought her child.
screaming with the pain Of indigestion,
to the doctor and the nurses. to ind out
what was wrong the doctor ordered mod
ified milk feeding, the nurse came to her
home to show her how 10 prepare the
food and bottles. and now the baby is
as healthy and happy as one could wish
Upstairs we find sunny rooms hlled
with mothers and their babies. Here's
youngster Of Greek parentage who has
boil on his forehead. and has como te
have It lahced and dressed. Here's
Polish woman with FIVE children, all thin
and pale from undernourishment. The
doctor has told her that she must stoT
| giving the children fried fish and greasy
/ potatoes to eat and coffeo to drink. and
prepare for them instead eggs and baked
potatoes with plenty Of milk. Next W
hear the story Of an Italian family oil
five, the newest baby suffering from &C
zema, now almost entirely healed. tn
4 nurse, calling in the home TO teach tn
mother how to dress the sore places. dis
covered that the next older child hAt
impetixo, another form Of skin disease
No simple application Of ointment VII
cure this trouble; the outer scabs mus
first be removed and the infected are q
thoroughly cleansed, then with freQien
treatment of a healing saive, the cure
rapid. We notice a little Russian chill
who does not seem to walk properly an
We learn that he has had ricketts, frun
Improper food. The doctor has prescribe
special diet to build NO the weak bones
and the little boy 10 now gaining Il
weight and strength. A French mothe
tells US of her baby whom she has bee
bringing to the clinic for some time, 70
weighing and measuring. One day IN
nurse on a friendly visa in the home nc
ticed that the little girl had discharg
; ing ear, wh5nh proved 20 be caused b
an abscess in the middle ear. For thre
weeks she visited the family regularly
under her instruction the mother learne
20 irftEate the ear, and now II Is who'll
healed.
: What OF the other babies who com
and 90 during the course Of the aftei
noon surely these fat and rosy young
sters are not sicl12 The nurse explain
; tina 1.-THE clinic Is Just as much for hea
thy children as for III. and that man
mothers come regularly to have the
babies weighed and measured, and to as
advice IN matters Of hygiene and die
Each child Is given book In which
kept a record OF the gain In weight ar
height, and az the mothers repeat the
visits to the clinic they watch with keel
est interest the pogress Of their chi
dren.
/ Do you notice clothesline stretch,
, aeross one Of the rooms and hung viii
! dainty baby garments? This Is the Gin
fashion show, an exhibit Of the most a.
proved style OF baby clothes. and mar
. an italian or Polish younGster has BED
transformed in the twinkling Of an e,
into little American citizen, by q me
! change OF clothing.
Such is the Rock Nook Chiidren's CHI
10, held at the United Workers Houl
every Wednesday Afternoon FROM Q
4.5o p. m, for children under seven yea
} Of age. The service is freely given;
aim the safeguarding Of the health
; the babies Of Norwich, mon and womeA
the future.