OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15433, 20 April 1912, Page 4

OUR BABIES

Br Ilram. Publico*! utulw lot aniplcn el thi SocMy lor tho Health ot Women iod Children. " It Is wlier to pnt op a fence it the top ot a piKlpioi tbio to maiutalo in imbsloQM it the bottom." The following letter was received nearly two montlis ago :— A MOTHER'S LETTER. Some time ago 1 wroto to you asking advico for my chilli, who was then four months old. By return mail I received u letter from you advising mo how to proceed. I also got tho book on "Tho Care and Feeding of the Baby," and as far as I was nWo I followed tho directions. Tho child crow strong and was very lively until about nine months ago (shu wus then two years old), when 1 was obliged to send her away from homo for a time. When f,ho returned she had just recovered from tho mumps, and was fut and flabby; a month afterwards sho took influenza very badly, and she haa never recovered her strength. On Christinas Day sho had an attack of what I thought was bronchitis. Ten (lavs later she had another very bad attack. Sho cried and coughed all night, and was in a high fever. I rubbed her chest and back with hot camphorated oil, and sho lived on boiled water for two days. She recovered on tho fourth day, and was as full of life as ever, but sinco sho had tho influonia I have had trrcat difficulty in geltnjr her to eat. Two nights ago sho had a similar attack, but was not so fevered. I saw a doctor, thinkine that sho might bo tho better for a tonic, but ho said she needed no medicine Sho is very susccntiblo to cold, and she feels tho least ehanKo of weather. Whon sbo is well she is outsido the whole day long, and takes a great deal of cxercUe--so much so that she exhausts herself by 2 o'clock and has a sleep of two hours. Nino months a«o she slept with a young girl in a room with both door and window shut, and I dato her weaknew from that time I havo lost two beautiful baby boys, so you may knowhow anxious I am about her. Trusting to hoar from you 6oon, and thankinit you in anticipation,—l am, etc., C—. II —.

COMMENT. Tho advice first forwarded (o tho inothor was on the broad lines which wo recommend in all cases—namely, " What every baby needs, whether well or ill," as Riven in tho Society's book and repeated, slightly simplified, in this column a few wcoks ago. Further, I sent a copy of tho account which I wrote samo time ago dealing with a child whoso cuso presented 'similar points. The mother's second letter, which 1 shall publish Inter, shows that sho profited by the information given, and I am therefore re-publishing the articles referred to, honing they may prove equally helpful olsowhere: HARDENING A DELICATE CHILD. Tho following sample case, drawn from many within my own personal experience, illustrates tho benefits of tho "hardening process" systematically and judiciously carried out "during early childhood. My reasons for selecting this particular case aro threefold—viz.: 1. The child was extremely dolicato when she lirst came under our observation, over three years ago, and was steadily dwindling and becoming feebler and fc-chler, in spite of tho fact that tho family wero doing their best and wero quite, unsparing in their devotion. Tho child was really receiving too much, rather than too little, attention—but tho cure was of the wrong kind. 2. The progress of the case stands recorded in a series of lettem covering the whole period, and these convey in simple, homely terms the progress made from time to time. 3. Tho relations aro quito willing that tho tenors should bo published, in spit-o of the fact that the details and circumstances render identification possible. Indeed, when communicated witli on tho subject, the grandmother replied, with fine public spirit: " There is not tho slightest objection to making tho case public; names can bu mentioned if you think well. Wo aro only too glad if «•« can in any way help the good work of tho Society." THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH.

If all mothers and grandmothers wero equally broad and liberally minded—equally willing to admit tho mistakes of the past, and'change their point of view with fho advance of human knowledge—tho teek of tho Society in spreading its "gospel of health " would receive a wonderful impetus. However, we have no reason to complain of lack of help from parents whose babies have been saved or benefited by conforming to tho essential needs of child life, as practically taught in the home by tho Plunket. nurses and laid down in tho Su-iety's publication?. Wherever parents who have l>eeii convinced by their own practical experience of tho enormous benefit accruing to children from tho simple systematic care recommended by the Sociely become helpful centres of light and loading for their district, they donstitute in effect "branches' 1 of the Society. Thero aro many such unnamed branches fcattercd throughout the length and breadth of tho Dominion, and we aro only too pliid to acknowledge the great se'rvico they are rendering to tho causo wo havo at heart.

LETTERS OF A GRANDMOTHER. Rcforo quoting tho actual letters, I shall say a few words by way ot introduction. It is quite unnecessary to givo tho namo of tho family or of the back-block in which they wcro living. The township was in .Southland—wc will call it ETCwhon. HISTORY OF THE CHILD. Tho child was brought by tho grandmother to tho Karitnnc Hospital in January, 1908. Sho was then over 2J years of age, but was |Ktlc, feeble, flabby, and spiritless. Durinpr tins first two years of life sho had mado good headway, growing •well, talking, walking, and getting about iii a normal way. Towards tlio end of tho second year progress was less satisfactory. Gradually tho child becamo irritable and capricious, lost her appetite, and manifested increasing activity and listlcssncss. Tho parents woro advised tlint tliero was irritation of the stomach and bowels, and ns month after month went, by with steady aggravation of tho symptoms, and falling off :n every direction, they did all they could tc tempt tho child to take sufficient food to keep up nutrition. Not only was tho appetite very poor, hut sho becamo more and more fastidious.

Do what they would, sufficient milk was not taken, and simple, wholesome foods such as bread-and-butter, toast, or plain biscuits were refused. There appeared to bo no alternative hut to further humour and "spoil" the child with sweet biscuit?, sweet puddings, etc., which it took more willingly than anything else. Under this regimen there was « sad falling-off. but not so much in weight as in strength and activity. Being no longer ahlo to run or even walk, sho was wheeled alsout in a go-cart, and when she was stood up fhcro was obvious knock-knee. There was no vomiting or diarrlwcn—no evidence of definite disease of any kind—nothing calling for the use of drugs or strictly medical measures in any direction. What the child needed was simply "What Every Child Needs Whether Well or 111" (sen pages 1 anil 2 of the Society's book), and, for tho very reason that it was ailing, an even stricter conformity than ordinory to those primary and inexorable requirements of Nature was of vital importance. WHAT WAS WRONG.

'] lie use of wrong food, undue frequency of feeding, the giving of pieces between meals, irregularity of habits, lack of muscular exercise. lack of stimulation of the skin (and cotis-equont slackness and absence of tone throughout the whole system)— these were quite sufficient to account, for iho remarkable and progressive ifallinsr-ofT in condition which was causing such alarm and making the parents further "spoil" the child m tho vain effort to keep it from further wasting and going downhill. In inch cases, in the absence of definito knowledge, tho moro affectionate and devoted aro tho parents tho moro difficult it is for them to brim: themselves to properly "cgulatc and disciplino tho courso of a child's life (seo " Forming a Character." nage 135 of the Society's book). Onco a wide departure from tho proper daily routine has been made, owing perhaps to SOl.lO iMiiporary indisposition or illness (such as wo mav assume to havo upset tho child in question), k return to normal habits need,-, great tact, patience, and firmness on tiie part of guaidians. In the present instance, fortunately, all these -requirements wire forthcoming, as soon a? the relntionn had been brought to realise what was essential. WHAT HAD TO RB DOXK. Tho leading instructions to the grandmother were on the lines laid down in tho beginning of the Society's book. MEW-S. Snnr.tK meals rf wholesome, plain food —such as bread-and-butter, toast, rusks, porridge, milk (1J pints a day)—were to ho given with perfect _ regularity only three or. at most, four times in tho 24 hours. No " pieces " were to bo permitted between

meals, ant' no "lollies," cake, or sweet biscuits, etc., at r.ny time. A drink of water might be given between meals if tho child woro specially thirsty. Tho use of wholesome, ripo fruit and suitable vegetables was to l» encouraged at meal times. The little meat allowed was to 1«3 underdoni'. Thorough mastication was to bo ensured as far as possible. This dietetic regimen was not to I>d arrived at suddenly, but by proper gradations, and pending somo improvement in digestion tho milk was to bo iK.rtlv modified. Duo warning was given as to tlm harm liablo to arise from any sudden, extremo change of habits. It was explained that some weeks would have to bo spent in attaining the prescribed goal, hut that distinct v icos such as the taking of "sweets" and "pieces" between meals wero to bo abandoned at once. KXKRCISB. As (he child could not walk, (ho first EXERfisk hi'il to bo given in the form of "massage." which fortunatoly a member of the family was able to carry out herself, as sho had had somo nursing cx|>criencc. BATHING. Stimcutios of tiir skin was to bo initiated by first sponging tho limbs only, cold bathing] for tho wholo bodv being gradually arrived lit on tho lines laid down in the preceding articles and fiiimiiariscd on page 71 of tlm Society's bonk. In this connection particular stress was laid on tho paramount nred for wissixo the child to resume the use of its voluntary nuißclcs by making the " exercise after ' bathing " take "the form nf an open-air Oajie—such as tho most primitive form of " hide and seek," carried out in such n way as to induce the child not to dawdle, hut to run with spirit from poin: to point of the routo chosen for tho morning excursion. (This may seem very troublesome and exacting, but it must bo borne in mind that the relations were in earnest, and that they were fighting for the child's health and life. Moreover, they won tho battle in tho courso of n single month!) GOING BAREFOOT. The limo was midsummer, and it was advised that tho child should be trained to waik barefoot. CLOTHING. Tho ci.OTiii.s-rt next tho skin was to bo uon-irritafin-.' (silk and wool), and tho rest of tho clothing was to be as light and porous as possible, consistent with duo warmth—loose, woollen materials, not cotton. Further, there was to bo absolute freedom from constriction of any kindnothing to hamper tho froo ploy of tho muscles and internal organs. ITHF. AIR AND SUNMGIIT. Tho child was to be kept, as much as possible in the or-KS Ain by day, and to Bleep in puro air at night. These wore tho leading injunctions. (For tho rest sco tho Society's book.) SUMMARY OF PROGRESS. When first fecn the child was over 2J years of age, and weighed 241b. Exactly a month Inter'" (viz., on February 10, 1903) the grandmother wrote :- I must tell you how my little grandchild is gelling on. I am pleased to say sho i- much improved under tho treatment recommended. Sho has gained 2Jl!> in weight; her appetite is much better, I and she rests better at night. I "Within another nine months the child had increased in weight from 241b to 34Jlb, and had attained abovo tho average weight for her years, having 'gained in 10 months about thrco times the ordinary " weightincrease " for 12 months from 2[ to 3J years nf age. Of courso, sho was " putting on flesh " and making up for lost time. Tho following scries of'letters will servo to show that tho all-round improvement in health, vigour, and happiness was quito as remarkable as the rrain in weight: —

March }D. 1008. Little Annie's weight is now 301b, and she is still improving. April 17, 1908. Since writing to you a month ago sho has had diarrhea, and for a time was not quit/> as well, but is taking her food bolter now. and continues to gain jn weight. Sho was weighed to-day, and weighs J2lb-th.it is an increase of 21b since I Inst wrote. Sho still has hor cold hath every morning. We are wondering if we should continue thorn through the winter, or substitute tepid water during the very cold weather.

Tho' urandmothcr was written to and informed thut tho cold hath ought lo bo continued through tho winter, provided Hint prow reaction could bo ensured by tlto tnkinsr of a sufficiency of suitable exercise, immediately after bathing.

CunKt) ok OArntCE and Fastidioussbss.

Further progress was reported in May, but unfortunately the letter has been mislaid It stated that tlto child was full of lifo and spirit. growing Fteadily, and "on tho ro" all day long. Her appotito was pood, fastidiousness as to food had disappeared, and the maintenance of a consistent, rosjular dailv regimen had completely obliterated tho old craving for capricious and irregular indulgences, This the grandmother exemplified hv (lie followin? incident:—When in town the child was offered some sweets, hut refused them of her own accord, saying: "I don't have things between meals,"

Juno 9, 1908, I am plea.y.d to tell you that little Annie is still improving. Sho is growing fast, and is not like the same child. She take* her fwd well. Wo hav c kept on faithfully with the cold hath, and she takes a good run after. Her weight is now 331b lOoz. I cannot express my gratitude for what has been done for her. , r .„ , •% 18, IMB. lou will bo pleased to hear that little Annie is still keeping- well and gaining in weight. Klw has gainod 2Jlb since Juno 8. Sho still continue* the cold bath. N.B.—This was tho coldest month of tho year, and the region-Southland! Furthor letters will bo given next week.