OUR BABIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 November 1927, Page 9

OUR BABIES

MORE ;ABOUT WORMS. (By Hygeia). Last week we published a mother’s letter regarding the trouble she was having in trying to rid her little chilG of worms. , We then indicated the best general hygienic treatment, the most appropriate diet, and the simple measures which usually get rid of thei pest, at the same time emphasising the necessity for particular cleanliness of fingers and nails, and avoidance of sucking fingers, lest this should lead to reinf ectidn. We now wish to give our readers an intelligent idea of the nature and cause of this most annoying and irritating disorder. As we sa,id last week:

Small thread worms are very common, and they should always be got rid of as sdon as possible, as they cause intense itching and irritation, restlessness and disturbed sleep, and this tends to upset the whole system. Further, the itching and consequent scratching induced not infrequently lead to formation of bad habits. ’ The first question to ask is whether in a given case worms are to be regarded as the real cause of the trouble, or rather as an evidence that the general health and the bowel and its contents are not what they should be? As a rule ordinary worms don’t tend to flourish in a perfectly healthy bowel; but, on the other hand, worms are almost sure to take up their abode and flourish if the bowel becomes chronically weak and sluggish, especially if more or less chronic catarrh of the bowel becomes established, accompanied by the passing of slimy or jelly-like mucus. Worms tend to flourish in this mucus.

The great cause of the invasion of the body by parasites of any kind — from microbes to worms—is a lack of defensive, robust health and pure blood. There are myriads of tiny enemies ever ready and on the lookout to attack and feed on all living things, whether plant or animal, and these enemies always tend to select the weak rather than the strong for their prey. One might have supposed that it would be otherwise; one might have supposed that parasites would prefer to live on plants with pure, sweet sap, or on babies with rich, red healthy blood; but this is hot the case. They choose the feebler organisms or the weaker parTs of those who may be otherwise strong. FIGHTING THE FEEBLE. Any gardener or farmer will tell you —indeed, you can see for yourself—that blight comes on the smaller, feebler cabbages or turnips—those growing in the! poorer parts of the field dr insufficiently supplied with air, light and water. The strong, vigorously growing plants nearby will be found quite free from the pest; but you would only have to weaken any of these plants by cutting most of their roots or by depriving them of proper supplies of air and water and cause an army of aphides to cover their leaves and weaken them further in the course of a few weeks. Speaking to students regarding a condition of feebleness and falling off most frequently seen in children about the time of their second “teething,” a distinguished physician says: “Other cases of debility with intestinal disorder will be brought to you simply for worms, and I want to impress upon you that you should always regard worms as a. symptom, and not as a disease. They are a symptom of chronic intestinal catarih rather than a disease in themselves." It must surely be clear to our readers from what we have said that the best means of preventing the invasion of worms and all other troubles is to keep our babies and children well and We should, go over the! Essentials for Health on pages 1 and 2 of the Society’s book, “Feeding and Care oi Baby,” and see whether we are failing

in any respect. , When children get teeth give them something to gnaw—at first a bone, later a fair proportion of food which must be thoroughly chewed. Teach the child to chew and don’t feed it on restrict the' quantity of sugar and sweets. Children would be very much happier and healthiei if they had no sweets at all. As it is, nearly every child is damaged by excess in this direction. If sweets must be given, let the children have one each at meal time. Always finish the meal with a bit of ripe uncooked apple well chewed.