OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19448, 6 November 1925, Page 10

OUR BABIES

Dy Ilygela. Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom. 7 ' ABOUT WORMS Last week we published a mother’s letter regarding the trouble she was having in trying to rid her little child of worms. We then indicated the best general hygienic treatment, the most appropriate diet and. the simple measures which usually get rid of the pest, at the same time emphasising the necessity for particular cleanliness of fingers and nails, and avoidance of sucking the lingers lest this should lead to reinfection. We now wish to give our readers an intelligent idea of the nature and cause of this most annoying and irritating disorder. As we said last week: Small thread worms are very common, and they should always bo got rid of as soon as possible, as they cause intense itching and irritation, restlessness, and disturbed sleep, and this tends to upset the whole system. Further, the itching and consequent scratching induced not infrequently lead to the formation of bad habits. Cause or Effect. The first question to ask is whether in a given case the worms arc to be regarded as the real cause of the trouble, or rather as an evidence that the general health and the bowel and its contents are not what they should be? As a rule ordinary worms don't tend to flourish in a perfectly healthy bowel; but on the other hand, worms are almost sure to take up their abode and flourish if the bowel becomes chronically weak and sluggish, especially if more or less chronic catarrh of the bowel becomes established accompanied by the passing of slimy or jelly-like mucus. Worms tend to flourish in this

The Law of Parasites The great cause of the invasion of the body by parasites of any kind—from microbes to worms—is a lack of defensive robust health, and pure blood. There are myriads of tiny enemies ever ready and on the look-out to attack and feed on all living things, whether plant or animal, and those enemies always tend to select the weak rather than the strong for their prey. One might have supposed it would be otherwise; one might have supposed that parasites would prefer to live on plants with pure, sweet sap, or on babies with rich, red, healthy blood; but this is not the case. They choose the feebler organisms or the weaker parts of those who may be otherwise strong. Fighting the Feeble. Any gardener or farmer will tell you indeed, you can see for yourself — that blight comes on the smaller, feebler cabbages or turnips—those growing in the poorer parts of the field or insufficiently supplied with air, light, and water. The strong, vigorously-growing plants nearby will be found quite free from the pest; but you would only have to weaken any of these plants by cutting most of its roots or by depriving it of proper supplies of air and water, to cause an army of aphides to cover its leaves and weaken it further in the course of a few weeks. Are Worms Generally the Cause of the Effect? Speaking to students regarding a. condition of feebleness and falling-off most frequently seen in children about the time of their second “teething' 7 a distinguished physician says: “Other cases of debility with intestinal disorder will be brought to you

simply for worms, and I want to impress upon you that you should always regard worms as a symptom, and not as disease. They are a symptom of chronic intestinal catarrh rather than a disease in themselves. 77 The Lesson It must surely be clear to our reader* from what we have said that the best means of preventing the invasion of worms and all other troubles is to keep our babies and children well and fit. We should go over the Essentials for Health on Pages 1 and 2 of the Society’s Book “Feeding and Caro of Bab’y." and sec whether we arc failing in any respect. When children get teeth give them something to gnaw —at first a bone, later a fair proportion of food which must be thoroughly chewed. Teach the child to chow, and don't feed it on pap. Especially restrict the quantity of sugar and sweets. Children would be very much happier and healthier if thev had no sweets at all. As it is, nearly every child is damaged, by excess in this direction.

If sweets must be given, let the • children have one each at meal-time. Always finish the meal with a hit of | ripe uncooked apple well chewed.