Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-31
MOTHERS

Summer weather brings with it
many problems having to do with the
care and feeding of infants. Each
summer hundreds of infants die be-
cause Of lack of knowledge on the
part of the mother. There is no rea-
son why infants should not survive
the hot weather, providing the mother
understands and puts into practice the
principles of care and feeding which
every mother should know. Every
family physician knows that probably
the one great outstanding problem in
warm weather is that of feeding. It
is most important, and too much
thought cannot be given to it.
Intestinal diseases occurring in the
summer, with their large infant NOR
tally rate, offer one of the largest
fields for an active life-saving cam
paign. 1t is the duty of every mother
to begin at once by taking such pre-
cautions as will prevent these much
dreaded diseases. If every mother
would study this problem and take adj
vantage of all that is to be learned,
the mortality rate of infants during
the summer months would be mate
rally reduced.
Those mothers who have Natures
food for their infants are indeed for
tunate, for there is no better food
than breast milk. Unfortunately,
however, many mothers are inclined
to be careless in choosing their diet,
with the result that baby's digestion
is upset and serious bowel trouble
may follow. 1t is as important for
nursing mothers TO exercise the great
est care in eating proper foods and to
observe all the rules for cleanliness,
as it is important for those mothers
who feed their babies from the bottle
to select safe food that will properly
nourish and strengthen their children.
Any attacks of vomiting or diar-
rhea, or even green undigested bowel
movements occurring in an infant
under eighteen months of age During
hot weather) are to be regarded as
serious matters and require imme-
diate attention. These signs are FREE
quently forerunners of dangerous in
testinal disorders, and a physician
should be consulted at once
In the case of bottle-fed babies. the
greatest danger lies in all unclean
milk supply, and in careless methods
of preparing the feelings. Not only
is it vitality essential that the milk
be clean. but it is equally essential that
it be kept clean. All utensils, bottles,
spoons, etc, used in the preparation
of the mixture must be sterilized in
boiling water before they are used
All water used in diluting the food
or to be given plain as drink, must
be boiled and then cooled. 1t is safer
to boil fresh supply each day.
During hot weather it is not ad-
visable to change the infants food,
unless such a change is absolutely
necessary or advised by physician.
During the extreme heat of the day
it is safer TO give little less food
than the baby usually takes in cooler
weather. Few babies are underfed.
The chief danger lies in Overlooking.
In preparing the food, care should be
taken that the proper quantities are
used. When condensed milk is used,
it is better to pour the milk from the
can to the spoon, allowing the milk to
level itself. This will insure more
accurate measurements.
Very often fresh milk is hard to
obtain, or perhaps it is not always
safe In such cases condensed milk
is safe food for infant feeding. The
Belgian Relief Commission used con-
densed milk extensively in France
and Belgium during the late war and
obtained wonderful results. The Near
East Relief is using it almost exclu-
sively in the feeding of over 100000
orphans. Canned milk has actually
saved the lives of many of these I'M
fortunate children in the Near East.
The warm weather is here. Get
ready now and make preparations for
avoiding summer complaint. If your
baby gets sick with darrhea, vomiting
or has frequent attacks of indiges-
ton, you should consult yout family
physician az once. Care and precau-
ton on the part of each mother will
materially cut down the infant NOR
tally rate this summer. Babies can-
not help themselves. It's up to you.
Remember that breast milk Is the
safest and best food for babies at all
times.