HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 64

HEALTH COLUMN.

When the Baby Cries. ALL SORTS FOR ALL REASON'S. When ,the baby cries there is a reason for it. Sometimes it is useful and important for a baby to cry. Dr L. Emmett " Holt, New YToi-k's "best-known authority on infants, in a remarkable little book called "The Care and Feeding of Children,"' has a chapter on crying. Among other instructive questions and answers for mothers and nurses, Dr Holt says : — When is crying useful? In the newly - born infant the cry expands the lungs, and ir is necessary that it should be repeated for a few minutes every day in order to keep them well expanded. How inucli crying is normal for a very young baby? From 15 to 30 minutes a day is not too much. What is the nature of this cry? It is loud and strong. Infants get red in the face with. it. In fact, it is a scream. This is necessary for health. It ih the baby's exercise. When is a cry abnormal? When it is too long or too frequent. The abnormal cry is rarely strong, but it is a moaning or .a worrying cry, sometimes only a feeble ■whine. What is the causes of such crying? Pain, temper, hunger, illness, and habit. What is the cry of pain? It is usually strong and sharp, bub not generally continuous. It is accompanied by contraction of the features, drawing up of the legs, and other byinptoins of distress. What is the cry of hunger? It is usually a continuous, fretful cry, rarely strong and lusty. What is the cry of temper? It is lond and stiong, and accompanied by kicking or stiffening of the 'body, and is usually violent. What is the cry of illness? This is usually more of iretfulne&s and worrying than a real cry, although crying is excited by very slight causes. What is the cry of indulgence or from habit? This is often heard even in very young infants, who cry to be rocked, to be carried about, sometimes for\f light in the room, . for a bottle to Flick, or for the continuance of any other bad habit which has been acquired. How can we be sure- that a child is crying to be indulged*? If it stops immediately when it gets what it wants, and cries when it is withdrawn or withheld. What should be done if a baby cries at nigiu? One should get up and see that the child is comfortable, the clothing smooth und«r the body, the hands and feet warm, and the napkin not ivet or soiled. If nil these matters aru properly adjusted, and the child simply crying to be taken up, it should not be further interfered with. How is an infant to be managed that cries from temper 1 or to be indulged? It should simply be allowed to cry it out. A second struggle will be shorter, and a third rarely neee&eary. Is it likely that rupture will be caused fiom crying? Not in young infants if the abdominal-band is proptvly applied, and not after a ye^r nr.d c r any circumstances. If oiv t<> PrcMMit J'yspppsiß. V\"e do noc suppose that any thoroughly we'll man over raised this question in" his own behalf. To sy-h a one digestion is a pT>?-" o* v!m"'i he i« never cop«-r»«ou« ''be iui.i i< '• ■!; •!»!•> iw-t as tilt* lieaii be«i.ti or

the lungs heave. It is a powerful organ, and will stand 0 great amount of abuse. But if a mother should ask the question in the interests of her children, we should reply in general terms, that the prevention of dyspepsia lay in the avoidance of its causes. These are many. We Can indicate only fome of the more common of them. 1. The most common is, perhaps, overeating. A physician lately said : "Most .persons eat four times as much as they phould." The proportion seemed pretty large, but an eminent physician of a former geneiation said almost the same thing — that one-fourth of what we eat goes to sustain life, while three-fourths go to imperil ik. Another physician wittily remarked that most people dig their own graves with their teeth. The foundation of the habit of over-eating is apt to be laid in childhood and youth, since the stomach then seems able to bear almost anything. There would be little danger of eating too much if the food were always plain and simple ; in that case the natural appetite would be a safe and sufficient guide. The trouble is that the natural appetite is too often spoiled by cakes, pies, condiments, and highlyseasoned food. 2. Another source of dyspepsia is emotional waste.'Of nervous force. The nerve force is to the physical system what steam is to the machine." In the normal condition of things, it is renewed as fast as it is used. But Nature raSSes no ptovision for the immense amount expended by excessive care, by fuss and worry, by hurry and drive, by explosions of passion, and by the undue excitements of pleasure. All these are like a great leakage of steam. The stomach is the first and largest sharer in the •loss. 3. Another source is overwork of the brain. Brainwork is specially exhaustive of nerve force, and the exhaustion is greatly increased by the fact that high intellectual activity gathers to itself a most delightful momentum, making a few hours of high,pree«ure work more productive than days of plodding. Moreover, a brainworker .generally neglects physical exercise and curtails sleep. He is like the careless engineer who, while driving at the highest speed, fails to supply the needed wood and water. He cannot help being a dyspeptic. 4. Another cause, which generally acts with all the others, is a lack of active, exhilarating outdoor exercise and recreation. Such exercise and recreation are absolutely essential. We only add that it is vastly easier to prevent dyspepsia than to cure it.