The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-07-13

questions or general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
This is a remarkable advance and
is due to the application of a very
careful routine of treatment and
immediate care.
The four factors in saving the
premature baby's life are: %
-. Maintenance of body tempera-
ture 90 individualized feeding,
80 specialized nursing technique
and ca prevention of infection.
Both the heat-regulating mocha
nism and the respiratory center of
the premature infant are imper-
fectly developed. Body tempera-
ture drops rapidly to that of the
surrounding air. Conversely, it
is very easy to raise the tempera-
ture of the infants, and attempts
TO keep them warm without well
regulated supervision are apt to
do more harm than good.
Keep Air Humid
The temperature should be
maintained between so and S5'
Fahrenheit. Incubators or evenly
heated cribs which will maintain
this temperature are available in
most modern hospitals today.
Premature infants do not thrive
in low humidity and humidifier
or air conditioning apparatus is
required to keep the air of the
ward or crib between 60 and 65'.
The breathing must be watched
very carefully and some form of
artificial respiration substituted
if necessary.
The digestive apparatus, even
in the smallest premature infant,
is reasonably well developed.
Breast milk is the ideal food and
every effort should be made to
secure it. If not available, some
form of evaporated or peptonized
milk may be substituted. 1t is
found best to start feeding with
in two hours after the infant is
born unless there are special in
dlcations against it.
The premature infant needs a
good many calories-from As to
so per pound Of body weight in
the first "a hours. This amount
should be increased at least so
Galleries within 10 days. Smaller
infants should be fed at two-hour
intervals by day and three-hour
intervals at night. Vitamins
should be added to this diet early.
Special nursing care indicates
that the nurse should have had
some experience with premature
infants. The infant should be fed.
weighed and otherwise cared for
without removal from the incuba-
tor. 1t is very good thing to in
duce crying in these infants in
order to prevent collapse of their
lungs. If the child appears to be
in shock stimulant of some kind
is indicated.
Avoidance of Infection
Aside from respiratory failure
or mere inanition and weakness,
the commonest cause Of death in
a premature infant is infection.
This may come from the hands Of
the attendants, improperly steri-
lied feeding apparatus, improp-
erly sterllized milk formulate, or
alr-borne infection spread by
visitors or attendants. For this
reason the most stringent regul-
tions-wearing masks, closing off
the ward or incubator from out
side infection, washing and
sterilizing the hands and all cloth
ing or cloths that touch the in
fanfare mandatory.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
z. F.: I hear that tomatoes
cause rheumatism. Is this true?
Answer: No, tomatoes do not
cause anything bad.
P. ]. B.: What can we substi-
tute for milk for a boy fifteen
years of age, who is allergic
to it?
Answer: The main necessary
ingredient in milk is calcium.
This can be supplied in many cal
cum powders and preparations
at a drug store. Mead. johnson e.
Co., Evansville, Indiana, make
several preparations which are
milk substitutes, suitable for in
fants as well as children. Mellin's
Food contains wheat -four, matted
barley and potassium bicarbonate.
Many Heinz products are pre-
pared especially to remove milk.
Smaco Hypo-allergic Milk, made
by the SMA Corporation, Cleve-
land, Ohio, is a good substitute. D..