OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 65

OUR BABIES.

By

Hygeia.

Published under the auspice* of ffi. Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It I* wiser to put up a fence at th# top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.''

PLUNKET NURSES, ETC.. DUNEDIN BRANCH NURSES SERVICES FREE. Nurses O’Shea (telephone 23-348), Isbister (telephone 10-866), Thomson, Scott, and Ewart -(telephone 10-216), and Mathieson (telephone 23-020) Society e Roons: Jamiesons Buildings 6 Lower Stuart street (telephone 10-216), Office hours daily from 2 to 4 p.m. (except Saturday and 'Sunday: and 10 a.m to noon on Tuesdays. Thursdays and Fridays; 315 King Edward street South Dunedin 2 to 4 p.m daily (except Saturday and Sunday), and 10 a.m to noon on Fri days; also 125 Highgate Roslyn—Mon day and Thursday from 2 to 4 pm.; Gospel Hall, Mailer street. Mornington, Wednesdays, 2 to 4 p.m.; Kclsev-Yaralla Kindergarten, Monday and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m.; and at 99 Musselburgh rise, Wednesdays, 2 to 4 p.m. Outstations: Baptist Church. Gordon road, Mosgiel, Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 4 o’clock; Presbyterian Church Hall. Outram, alternate Fridays. 2 to 4 p.m.: Municipal Buildings. Port Chalmers. Wed nesday afternoons from 2 to 4 o'clock: also Hall. Macandrew’s Bay. Fridays. 2 to 4 p.m.

Secretary, Miss G. Hoddinott, Jamie son’s Buildings. Stuart street ( telephone 10-216)

Karitane-Harris Baby Hospital, Anderson’s Bay (telephone 22-985) Matron. Miss Hitchcock Demonstrations given on request every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 by Plunket Nurses and Firitanr Baby Nurses Visiting hours: 2 to 4 p.m.. Wednesday Frida- and Sunday

COLDS : THEIR CAUSE. PREVEN TION, AND TREATMENT. The following remarks are extracts from an interesting article which appeared in a recent issue of “ Life and Health,” under the name of “A Sydney Physician,” who says:— In the past fifty years medical science has wrought wonders in eradicating disease. In civilised countries plague, yellow fever, and smallpox are almost unheard of. But iu spite of the advance of medical science the common cold stands to-day as a rock of offence to the medical profession. What is the Cause of Colds ? Colds are due to infection, although this infection is not always due to the same organism. Upon the surface of the body (skin and mucous membranes) there are millions of bacteria waiting, as it were, for a favourable condition to develop, so that they may implant themeelves. . . While these organisms are present in the nose and throat, they do not gain entrance into the system until the resistance of the individual is lowered or the virulence of the bacteria is increased. This lowered resistance to colds is frequently associated with a sluggish circulation. Some individuals, by taking too good care of themselves, keeping every square inch of body surface -wrapped in closely knitted woollen clothes, allow the vasomotor system to become soft, as it were, like the man whose hands are not accustomed to the shovel, or the hothouse plant not accustomed to the weather. Exposure in these cases may be followed by disastrous results. All statistics reveal that colds are more common among men than women. This statement needs no comment.

The Influence of Climate on Colds. In the United States the incidence of colds is not. greater in the changeable climate of an _ eastern winter than in sunnj 7 California, or in the Northern States, where the thermometer goes ten to thirty degrees below zero, than in the mild climate of Florida. In autumn, when nights are cold and days warm, respiratory .infections are common. The. extreme and rapid changes of temperature are seemingly responsible for this. The Defence of the Body. The defence of the body is dependent on the circulation. In the blood we find -the white cells, specially adapted to resist the invasion of micro-organisms by actually engulfing and digesting them, or by giving off certain immune bodies which neutralise, as it were, the toxic products of bacteria. These protective bodies we find in the blood serum, and they are excreted in the saliva, the tears, gastric juices, and nasal 'secretions. When saliva is not excreted how quickly the mouth becomes infected and foul. These life-giving elements contained in the blood do not protect the body unless they are evenly distributed to every tissue. This distribution is effected’ by the vascular system,, the tone of which is controlled by nervous influences. Certain external conditions may actually shock the vasomotor system and cause unequal distribution of blood, resulting in congestion in one part and anaemia in another.. If. Itical amemia occurs in the nose and throat, due to a stasis of blood m other parts of the body, infectious organisms or other toxins may gain entrance into the tissue. This is followed r congestion, which is so characteristic of the early symptoms of a cold.

The Dangers of a Cold. Colds always decrease the efficiency of the human organism, whether in the mental or physical worker. The dangers of a cold in the head may be compared to a camp-, fire in the bush in dry weather—slight changes may produce disastrous results. The air sinuses which

connect with the nose and throat may become infected,’ and these sinuses may harbour the infection for months—tonsilitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, and broncho-pneumonia may re-.-result. Prevention of Colds. Observance of the following suggestions will help to prevent colds:— Live an active, outdoor life as much as possible. Avoid over-dressing the body. Avoid chilling after perspiration. Be regular in habits of eating, and avoid excessive eating of sweets of any kind. Take a cool sponge in the morning, and follow this with friction until the skin glows. It is important to see that the alimentary canal is kept clear. In doing this we should, however, avoid the excessive Tise of purgatives. . . . The Rational Treatment of Colds.

No form of treatment compares with the proper application of hot and cold water to restore the vascular tone. Excessive sweating should be avoided, as this tends towards weakness and fatigue. Warm the body till the skin shows a slight perspiration and the patient, feels warm, then finish with cold water and friction. This may be accomplished in several ways. One may .give a short foot or leg bath, accompanied by hot fomentations over the abdomen, chest, or spine, long enough to dilate the skin vessels. This should be followed by a cold application with friction. . .. The most common method of applying hot and cold water is by means of a spray. If a shower is used it is well for’ the feet to be placed in hot water. . . However the treatment is applied, the skin should feel dry and warm, and should glow with an active circulation. Hydrotherapy, is .worse than useless when a-patient’s skin is left in a cold, clammy condition, due to improper, application of the treatment. Therefore see that the treatment leaves the skin warm. Fluids.

Fluids should he used freely, as they maintain the volume of the circulation and also favour the excretion of toxins from the blood. Fruit juices should be used, as they contain organic acids, as citric and malic acid. . . ,

Rest. During an infection the b give off toxins, which circulate t. i the body. These toxins cause ‘s in the protoplasm of the cells . which are not-able to function pro. That is the reason why a person w. fever has a dry mouth, and the rcas.m why there is loss of appetite, the bowels are constipated, and the muscles weak. In this condition it is important to give body as complete rest as possible, so tnat the cells may be able to recuperate properly. Physical rest is important; also give the patient food that is easily digested (and fluids in abundance). • / there is one muscle in the body which is apt to be injured if we do not take this precaution, and that is the heart fins is especially so after attacks ?hJ n ? ue + nza ’ • -u A cold 011 i,a chefi t that lasts more than a month : ; always dangerous to the individual. A doctor should be consulted, and the lungs examined by a competent physician.

Next week we shall give ;cr extracts from this same magazh o, referring in particular to the quest:.-n of protecting the baby from disease in winter.