HOME TREATMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 276, 21 November 1934, Page 15

HOME TREATMENT.

VOMITING IN INFANTS. (By PERITUS.) There .are many persons who do not know when to stop. They may talk too much, laugh too much, eat or drink too much, and, less frequently weep too much. Some are born with this tendency to unrestraint. I have known ix, fine 101b new-born boy to cry himself to death. There is a greedy infant who invariably fills himself to overilowiug and vomits the excess —ae a habit—and the mother has a most unpleasant task in keeping this infant "tidy," but he is .not really ill, and generally prospers and grows and: has to be taught selfcontrol. Among the causes of vomiting —as a, symptom of disease —we have pyelitis, car mischief, pneumonia, alimentary canal obstruction, infections, , and gastric disorder. In ascertaining the cause, the appearance of vomited matter is important, and this, should be remembered when calling a doctor. When niilk is returned unaltered there is probably gastric obstruction. Sometimes the vomiting is almost violently expulsive. Some mothers over-feed. The limit of a' full meal' should be under six tablespoonfuls per pound of body weight (Dr. Hamilton), with three to four hours interval. .Too rich milk (excess of fat) causes vomiting of sour curd's and diarrhoea. Defect in the nose and hampered breathing will cause vomiting, as also wi)l swallowed air. Air swallowing is quite common. Ephedrine spray will clear a blocked nose. The greedy, quick feeder can bo checked by giving water before each feed. After two or three months there may be vomiting caused by sucked fingers or a "dummy." "Habit vomiting." The "acid baby - ' can be improved by Hinewateiv or a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in the milk, Nearly all dyspeptic conditions (nonsurgical) can "bo dealt with by varying proportions of sugar, cream, milk and limewater in bottle : feeding. Reduce cream and increase limewater in all ordinary diarrhoea and vomiting, cutting down the cream according to severity of the symptoms of dyspepsia. Crescent shaped mustard plasters (mustard and flour paste spread on brown paper, cut to shape, and covered with thin muslin) placed behind the ears, will generally stop obstinate vomiting in older children.