REPLY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13791, 24 October 1908, Page 9

REPLY.

Young I>al)M"s nre naturally somewhat how -legged. This natural curvature

straightens out with growth. From the fact of your writing, you evidently think there is something more * L Jian tlie natural curve, but you have given nothing to indicate the extent of deformity, and you do not say when it ■took place, or Mhether you think it is increasing. In qiiUo normal children si certain amount of excess of curvature is Stable to be induced by ailovmg a lieavy baby, such as you deserihe v»m»ks to hi~, to stand too early, and bow -legs are not Inirequently produced by the ha by sitting, tailor-fashion, cross-legged on the floor. In «ny case, the ten-«li-nov lo curvature is vory«niioh gn>ater it vtiere is any defect in nutrition. TTere, -again. I am cjuito in the d«rt».. Von say nothing whatever as to how Airnr habv has been brought up--whether breast-ted or bottlo-lod. and, if bottle-fed, (he nature of the feeding. I'ndulv bowed legs at<- (comparatively rare in hreast-fed hahies. <nit very n'ommon in those who are fed *\ith ]iateTit foods, condensed milk, or crude coav's milk, cane sugar, and water.

Of almost equal importance are the amount of exposure to open air and sunshine, the purity and freshness of

llie air in the house night and day, bulling, clothing, kicking exercise, etc. Possibly there may be a tendency to liikets, one of the commonest resultb oi w 1 1 ifh i-. bow legs.

I Without knowing more, one ran only s;i_v th;.t you should carry out the \an- {)[:-> requirements tor health laid (low n in the society'^ pamphlet and indicated i; 1 what 1 have .already said m this Inter. You will also iind the cwnj tiaK summarised in the "Our Babies" 1 article which appeared in the hoginiii nj4 of September. IHOB. Tlie use of ! iYe-.li fruit juice is important. (Sec pamphlet.) The hal>y should have a pint and a-half of new milk every day, a.s well as other food. Probably you are giving too much starchy or sugsirv fend, and ihe baby has become too fat | without sufficient bone and muscle for support. Do not give potato, unless in very Invited (jiiantity. Are the motions regular and normal '? Keep the baby out as much as |)ossible, and be sure that she is never kept in a warm, stuffy room. She should sleep in a room by herself with a current of fre^h air How ii»U through it. She shouM have n cot w ith plenty of room for her to move about and kick. Stimulation of (he skin ffiul muscular exercise arc very important for bracing and strengthening the limbs, am?, indeed, the whole system. Cold sponging followed by a •rood rubbing is beneficial, and there should he a systematic massage twice n day. especially of the lower limbs, uiiiil they are stroim enough to permit a sufficiency of walking; however, (here is probably no reason at the present time why the baby should not not a fair amount of ex»rciso by kicking and cr;u\ling. even if the limbs are still tending to yield and become more bent from standing. Such points can only bo determined by a doctor a Her examination, and you should seek competent advice a I (he first opportunity. Possibly the tendency to bend has ceased already, but on the other hand there may be clear signs, which would be obviou-; <o a doctor, pointing to weakness of the bones or ioints calling For specific treatment. In the meantime bo guided by (he general principles of treatment indicated above.