The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-22
Child Guidance
by
Frank Howard Richardson
M. D., F. A. c. P. :,
Black Mountain, N. c, and
Brooklyn. N. Y.
WHAT ABOUT TONSILS?

The Aliens have been told by
three different doctors that Cor
don's tonsils should be removed
He has had repeated attacks OF 1e-
yer and sore throat, often accom-
panied by earache; he has begun
to have difficulty in hearing; ne
breathes with his mouth open; and
he shores noisily at night. But
his father says that his old doctor
never talked about tonsils, when
he was a boy; and he guesses Ma
ture knew more than these mod
ern doctors, when she put tonslls
there in the first place!
Mrs. Fenimore is going to have
Grace's tonsils out at once. No,
her family doctor and the chill
dren's specialist say it is not nee
essary; but she knows that ton
sis should be removed just as soon
as the child is old enough to stand
the operation. And once when
Grace had cold, and some
strange doctor was called in, he
asked if she still had her tonsils.
Mrs. Fcnimore was terribly
ashamed to have to admit they
hadn't been taken out-yet! No
repeated sore throat, no earache,
no big infected tonsils; but -
"Mother knows BEST" better even
than the doctors; and Grace must
have her operation.
If only Gordon Allen, who needs
it, could have the operation; and
Grace Fenimorc, who will be
harmed by it, could be spared it!
Poor Gordon is probably doomed
to eventual deafness. and repeat
ed sort threats, with possible rheu-
matism and heart disease; while
Grace must undergo the risks that
are never absent from any surgi-
cal procedure, together with the
nervous shock and the probable
loss in weight, as a sacrifice to
her mothers silly self-sufficiency.
What. topSy turvy world we par
ents make for our children! Why
not let the doctor decide each case
on its merits?
QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: Dear DR.. Richard
son: We have been following your
instructions, and want to cooper
ate intelligently with our 16-
months-old son. Here is our latest
problem: My mother does not APP
prove o. our letting him cry; so
since she has come to visit us, I
have had to sing him to sleep or
hold his hand. He never made a
fuss until she interfered. What
can we do?
ANSWER: Even grandmothers
will sometimes see reason. Why
not get friend husband to take
Grandma to the movies, or to a
poker party, or suthin', for a few
nights; or get her to listen to
Amos m Andy, while you put the
little fellow to bed in the sensible
way you used to follow? Of course
it will take longer to re-establish
the good habit, than it did to- es-
tablish it in the first place; but
1t is only fair to him to get
him back to the sensible regimen.
Couragel
QUESTION: When my year-old
son began to want to hold his
spoon while being fed, T let him
ard encouraged. him to HELM in
feeding himself. Now. however,
ne plays with his food, banging
with the spoon. If 1 take it away,
he shuts his mouth firmly and re-,
fuses food. | try to divert him bv
iln1,dilng objects for him to play
with. Is this wrong? '
ANSWER: Let him use tho
spoon as long as he will trv To
help you by eating with il Az AZ
soon. as he stops, and starts 70 70
play or bang with it, terminate tho
mealtime = without reproaches
but definitely. Don't be so IN,
fair to him as to get him into tho
habit of needing to be bribed or
played with, or cajoled. in order
to eat his meals. Then give moth
ing TO eat, of course, until the
next meal time.