OUR BABIES

Grey River Argus, 7 February 1941, Page 9

OUR BABIES

I By Hygeia.J Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a’ fence at the top cf a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” INFANTILE DIARRHOEA. Statistics show that the average death rate from infantile diarrhoea for the whole of New Zealand varies from one-tenth to one-twelfth of the average of the rest of the civilised world. The rate has fallen to twothirds of the average of only a few years ago—eloquent testimony of the high standard of infant care and mothercraft knowledge. However, we must not let these reassuring statistics lull u s into a false sense of security. As an ailment affecting babies summer diarrhoea is most serious and dangerous. In New Zealand it occurs mainly from Christmas to the middle or end of March, the number of cases depending on the temperature. During a cool summer the number is comparatively low. In the course of the next few weeks we shall again give our warning and instructions that they come before those parents who have not realised the importance of the subject and be fresh in the minds of the mothers of this summer's babies. WHY IS THIS? Why should summer not be , the safest instead of the most dangerous time of the year? The reason is simple. Most babies are fed on liquid food, which is specially liable to ferment in hot weather. Milk becomes infested with germs—in other words, “goes bad’’—and becomes “poisonous" more readily than any other food. The hotter the weather the more readily the germs grow and flourish in the milk, and if we are not careful in the selection of the milk supply, the cleanliness of billies and jugs, and the place where the milk is kept it may go bad in hot weather even before we are ready to use it.

Tainted pasteurised milk is more dangerous than unheated milk which has gone sour in the ordinary way. Therefore we must be just as careful to keep bottled city milk cool and loosely covered —not capped and sealed from the air—as we do ordinary milk. All epidemic diseases, including summer diarrhoea', tend to attacx “the bodily unlit” rather than Uie “lit,” but babies who are perfectly well may fall victims. It is very necessary that babies should be kept in first-rate health and condition to enable them to resist the attacks of germs. Why Does Nature Single Out Babies and Calves? In warm weather the young of horses, pigs, and dogs are almost uniformly healthy, while calves are the victims of “scourings” and Babies still suffer and sometimes die from the same scourge under the name of summer diarrhoea. Why? Calves are sacrificed because man takes the cow’s milk for himselt and feeds the calf out of a bucket. The baby is sacrificed when the mother’s breast is denied to it and improper food contaminated with germs is substituted for the pure, blood-warm vital stream direct from the propei- source. Are ill-health and diarrhoea inevitable for babies and calves in the summer time when they cannot be suckled? Certainly not. In both cases the trouble arises, not from the mere fact of artificial feeding in itself, but because proper care is not taken to procure suitable food and to prevent the possible growth of germs in the food. For babies properly prepared humanised milk supplies by far the nearest approach to mother’s milk. Kept cool and clean and given according to directions issued by the Plunket Society, there is little risk of trouble. Even breast-fed babies may contract this ailment, but immediate suitable treatment soon brings about complete recovery, as breast feeding itself helps to give a baby immunity to infection by germs. On the other hand, among babies who have been improperly fed the chances? of complete recovery arc lessened and lasting weakness and debility may result. We cannot afford to expose our babies to this risk.

The Plunket Nurses. The Plunket nurses’ services are free to all. They are pleased to see all mothers and babies at the society’s rooms in the various districts throughout the Dominion. If you are travelling away from your home, do not hesitate to take the baby to see the Plunket nurse in whatever district you happen to be. She will help and advise you on exactly the same lines as your own nurse doos. If you are out of reach of a nurse write to the nearest one or to the nurse with whom you have previously been in touch. Of course, if the baby has more than a passing upset or you are in doubt, always consult a doctor. Do not lose valuable time before getting advice. In following articles we will deal with the prevention and simple treatment of summer diarrhoea. SUMMER DIARRHOEA. What Can We Do to Prevent It? We must see that every baby has the “twelve essentials’’ in his daily life. He must have what every baby needs. These needs are described in the first two pages of “Feeding and Care of Baby,’’ the book with which every mother should be familiar. If the baby who has lived in the fresh air, who has been naturally fed, trained in regular habits, and had all the essentials for good health should chance to get ill, he usually throws off the sickness with very little trouble. He is practically germproof. Now we must consider the matter of food. Natural feeding is the great preventive of illness. Professor Budin has shown that out of 250 deaths of infants occurring in one midsummer week, less than 30 were breast-fed babies. As we have said, humanised milk is the best substitute for natural feeding, but in hot weather special precautions are necessary in the preparation and keeping of the milk. Making and Keeping Milk in Hot Weather. It may be best to bring baby’s milk

mixture to boiling point and keep it at that temperature for 10 minutes instead of only scalding it. Whether boded or pasteurised, the milk must be cooled quickly at once, and below GO deg. Fahr, if possible. Germs multiply with- extreme rapidity in warm milk. Cover the jug loosely with damp butter muslin and stand in running or frequently changed cold water. Needless to say, if ice is available, milk can be kept perfectly cool. In the country a running stream or an artesian well may be ’handy; in the towns it may be possible to get tap water below 60 deg. Fahr. A pailful of water left outside in the air all night and away from the morning sun will be quite cool for some hour Select the shadiest, draughtiest, and cleanest place for the milk safe, and in it stand the jug of cooked milk in a shallow dish containing the coldest water available. Be sure that the damp muslin which covers the jug dips into the water all round, that it may be kept damp and so cold by evaporation. This method always ensures some cooling, especially in hot, dry weather. When there is any doubt whether the milk has remained below 60 deg. Fahr, in the evening always rescald what has been left of the day’s supply. Again cool quickly, and place in the coldest available place for the night. If it is possible to obtain fresh milk twice daily, the humanised milk can be made morning and evening, thus avoiding the risk of its not keeping fresh. There are various kinds of sates and coolers, details of which may be obtained if wished from the Plunket nurses or Karitane Hospitals. The simple. easily available methods prove satisfactory in the great majority of cases if carefully carried out. Special care must be taken with regard to cleanliness during hot weather. Billies, jugs, bottles, and teats must be washed absolutely free of all traces of milk. An . almost invisible amount of stale milk may render the whole day’s supply poisonous. Vessels which have contained milk must always be washed in cold water before being washed with hot waler and soap. Hot water “sets” the milk on the utensil and makes it difficult to remove. Beware of flies. Keep everything

that is used in connection with baby's food under cover. Remove ’ soiled napkins at once to covered pail. Wash the hands after changing baby before again handling him or his food. Wash the nipples thoroughly before nursing baby. Be careful to ensure the regularity of the bowels. See that baby has plenty of exercise in the open air. Let him be out of doors all day and sleep outside at night if a suitable balcony or porch is available. Avoid overclothing and overheating. Do not worry unduly about baby, but be ever on the watch for warning symptoms and ready to take prompt measures to prevent trouble. Weaning. If possible do not wean baby during February and March, especially if the weather is hot. If weaning cannot be avoided, it should be done gradually. Care must be taken in the preparation and diluting of the artificial food, which should be humanised milk ' made and graded according to directions in “Feeding and Care of Baby” or the instructions of a Plunket nurse. Even one breast feeding daily is better than none during the hottest weather, delaying complete weaning until cooler days. Indigestion. Indigestion, due to overfeeding, irregular feeding, or unsuitable food, is the main predisposing cause of diarrhoea. Therefore mothers should always be alert, especially during the summer. All habits should be regular, and children should not be given unsuitable foods or foods likely to disagree. It is during the summer months, the warmest time of the year, when travelling away from home, that the usual routine of both babies and older children is upset. Disordered digestion, and consequent lowered resistance, render them an easy prey to anv infection. Some hints on food for children when travelling were given in these columns a few weeks ago. When away from home make every effort to secure good, fresh milk. Always boil it before using for the first few (lays, and continue to do so if there is any doubt as to the freshness of the supply. Spare no pains to keep

all feeding utensils scrupulously clean. For older children beware of unsuitable foods, cakes sweets, unripe or overripe fruits. Next week we shall go into the simple treatment of a threatened attack of diarrhoea.