The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-08-30
N:szeJhe Road Go go go
E-s:lBettersssJ
NaSaNHealthSSii
BY DR.. ARTHUR L. FORSTER
Copyright 1927. Bonnet Brown Corn.

44f0 " AlalM
ey Ok. ARTHUR L. FORSTER
copyright 1927, Bonnet Brown Corp)
Anhydremia
During the closing years of the last
century mothers considered them
selves fortunate if their baby went
through the summer season without
an attack of anhydremia (the tech
meal term for cholera infantum. or
summer complaint). In those times
babies died by the thousands of this
disease.
Today the condition is comparative
y rare. However, it is only through
the greatest care that its occurrence
IS prevented. Were we to relax our
Watehfulness in the least, the disease
would speedily become as rampant as
it ever was.
Nature of Summer Complaint
irrespective of the original cause,
which is an infection, the essential
feature of the disease is desieca
ton drying up of the body. The
Infection itself may be situated pri-
marily in the gastro-intestinal tract.
que to swallowing of tainted food or
poisonous secretions from the air
passages; or, it may be located in a
certain point, and impair metabolism.
The most common locations are the
oinuses or ears. Often the attending
physician is unable to find the focal
infection because it is concealed.
whereas the gastro-intestinal symp
toms usually are prominent. However,
all factors which cause nutritional dis
turbances can be active agents in
causing state of anhydremia and
anhydremic intoxieation.
Features of the Disease
The most prominent feature in most
cases is the diarrhea. This results in
a depletion of the system of its water
content and reduced volume of blood.
Associated with the diarrhea is an IT.
rltability of the nervous system. These
combined factors are responsible for
the other symptoms that develop in
rapid succession through the short
course of the disease.
The most severe type of anhydre-
mia is the distressingly familiar
cholera infantum. Here the stools
become like riee-water and are al
most continuous. The baby has high
fever, loses weight rapidly, and his
general appearance undergoes a de-
oh of.4e r,F |.
cease functioning and unless prompt
remedial measures are employed
fatal outcome is inevitable.
The Modern Treatment
All food is withdrawn for from six
to twelve hours. During this time
enough water must be administered
to counterfeit its loss from any and
all causes. The infant will require
one-fifth of its body weight in water
during each twenty-four hour period. |
Water given just after the baby has
vomited is often retained.
The hunger diet should not be con-
tlnued for more than II hours, but
1t produces striking results when suf-
ficient water is given during this
time. Nature is the best guide in
this as under all circumstances, as
shown by the fact that desire on the
part of the infant for food is coinci-
dent with his increased ability to di-
gest and assimilate food.
When breast milk is obtainable it !
should be given, as of course it has
no superior. But when breast milk
IS not available a substitute must be
resorted to-
The infant will get along best if fed
small amounts at frequent intervals
Eight to ten feelings in "a hours.
At the same time the maximum
amount of water must be administ-
cred.
The food itself should at the start
be OF the same strength as that given
to much younger infant. However,
such underfeeding should not be CON
tinued for too long period. The
tendency Of these babies to slip into
must not be lost sight of.
All danger of underfeeding is mini
mixed by giving a food containing
the least amount of raw fats, small
of casein and proper guam
lily Of sugar. Cows milk, as ordi-
larily modified, fails to fill these re-
luirements. | know of no food that
Lactropon in cases Of this
Iind