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CURE FOR THIN CHILDREN.

HOW TO WARD OFF WINTER AILMENTS. Any mother 'who has a thin child should consider it >ne of her prime duties to make him fat. she s only too anxious to see him put on more weight, but be does not always take the most efficacious measures ,0 accomplish that end, and thus in winter and spring especially the thin child usually reaps more than an iverage share of childish ailments. In the latter half of life leanness is generally an But the plump child is usually healthier .nd much happier than the thin one, and has a far better '.hance of escaping disease. This is also true \of the young adult. Insurance tatistics show that among members of consumptive amilies the fatter ones are less liable to the disease than verage members of the community. So is it in children Arith regard to measles, scarlatina, diphtheria, colds, lervous affections, e^c. One reason for this 1 is that a thin child is more easily chilled than a fat one; another is that he is iftener hungry, and a chilled child or hungry child s just the person most open to the attack of diseaseIJgerms. He becomes hungry for want of the reserve of "at on which the body draws between meals. Fattening Foods. A thin child is often nervous and irritable. His mind is apt to be too active for his strength. And in winter weather, unless very warmly clad, he is liable to icoughs and colds, chilblains, and all the other cold yeather ailments. But how is a cfeild to be made fat? Provided that 10 disease is at the bottom of his thinness, it is a quesion of food, warmth, and exercise. He should get all the food he wants and of the kind ie wants, and he should get it whenever he asks for it. A child will not ask for food unless he is hungry; and whatever ideas a mother may have about regular times' for meals, she should not let the child remain long hungry. When he comes in from play or home from school ke may be faint with hunger, and yet very often his siother will compel him to wait an hour or more for the egular dinner. It would be much better to give him some bread ind butter, an egg, cold meat, or anything that is handy ven if it spoils his appetite for dinner. He should jave plenty of milk, and as much sugar and sweet pudings as he cares for short of upsetting his digestion. A glass of hot milk first thing in the morning and last hihg at night, in addition to.the ordinary food, often arorks wonders. He should have plenty of butter, too, ind other fats. Very often a child shies at fat meat, .n that case do not force him. Give him fat in puddings, •nd buttered toast. There is a prejudice against butered toast for children; but nothing is more wholesome n reality, as long as the toast is cooked crisp. False Economy. On this question of butter, it may be said that this ♦r.ticle is an inexpensive fattening food. 'Some parents nurses are apt to study economy with especial strictjess when buttering bread for a child. It is false jconomy. The child must in one way or another get .efficient material for fuel, energy, and the formation >f fat. He cannot get it in a cheaper form than butter, ,fchich is more palatable and digestible than other fats. 'Therefore, put it on the bread as thickly as the individual child wishes. Do not force him to eat underdone eggs if he prefers them hard. The latter have been proved to be quite as digestible as the former. If you give him cod-liver oil watch the effect on his appetite, and, if this is inurious, reduce the quantity or stop it altogether if meeessary. A child is better without beef tea, chicken broth, >tc. They may help the digestion of other food, but they Xicrease the wear and tear of the body. The general rule as to food is to consult the child's taste and give Jhi'm what he eats with most relish, barring some obvicusly unwholesome articles. Clothe him warmly night and day. Warmth is a eort of food. That is, it saves the food which would otherwise be used to maintain the heat of the body; and allows it to be laid down in fat. ' As to exercise, the thin child must not be allowed to take too much*of it. Exercise consumes fat and the food eaten to lay down fat. It is better when a child 8 very thin to forbid altogether such strenuous work as that of football, running, and other violent sports. But, of course, even a thin child must have some, exercise, and it must be of a pleasant nature. He may be allowed to join in all games where only a moderate amount of exertion is called for. Parents should watch the effects and never allow the game to be carried to the point of fatigue. When the child shows signs of tiredness, he should rest for half an hour. Thus refreshed, he may return to his game. —"Daily Mail."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNCH19140418.2.23.3

Bibliographic details

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 6

Word Count
876

CURE FOR THIN CHILDREN. Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 6

CURE FOR THIN CHILDREN. Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 6

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