WHEN THE LITTLE ONES ARE ILL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 41, 8 October 1892, Page 1012

WHEN THE LITTLE ONES ARE ILL.

r pHE young mother who is far from a physician may reL member for hercomfoit that a child very seldom really requires medicine. NN hat it needs is what she can give without danger— proper food, pure air, cleanliness and rest. Most of the disorders of children, particularly of infants, arise from some derangement of the digestive tract. The food is not of proper quantity or quality. It is not assimilated ; that is, taken up by the blood for the nourishment of the tissues, and the child sutlers. It is pale and fretful, throws up its food in undigested masses, and does not thrive as a healthy child should. The first thing to be done is to change the food. Add a tablespoonful of limewater to each six of food ; if this does not succeed, try using one fourth cream instead of all milk with water. N ary the strength of the food by adding more or less water. If still unsuccessful, try some of the artificial foods until one is found that does agree with the baby. ITT IT H older children an error of diet is very apt to be H followed by feverishness and restlessness. High temperature does not mean as much with children as with grown persons. A child may have a temperature of one hundred and three or one hundred and four degrees at night and yet be comparatively w*ell in the morning. A simple enema of soap and water given with a syringe such as should be in every household, is the safest way of producing a movement if there is constipation. A child two years old may have half a teaspoonful of spiced syrup of rhubarb or a teaspoonful of liquid citrate of magnesia, if there is reason to think that indigestible food is the cause of the attack. NN hen this acts there will probably be an immediate improvement.

AN ailing child should be kept in a pure atmosphere and have fresh air to breathe. This does not mean that the windows must be thrown wide open and the little body chilled with draughts. The temperature of a nursery should never fall below sixty-five degrees, and in illness be kept at from sixty-eight to seventy degiees. Fresh air must be admitted and enough artificial heat supplied to keep the temperature unifoim. Of course, iu extremely cold weather the window’ must be closed and the room aired when the child is asleep. At this time it can be covered from head to foot with a blanket, the face protected and the window opened for a few minutes. The extra coveting must be left on until the thermometer again registers sixty eight degrees. Tn ordinarily mild weather, the window can be lowered from the top about two inches and a strip of flannel tacked over the opening to prevent a draught. If the window does not open at the top a piece of board two inches wide and exactly fitting the window frame can be put under the lower sash. The child should be kept away from the window.

A warm bath is always grateful to a sick child. The water should fully cover rhe person and feel pleasantly warm to the hand. As the little patient is lifted out wrap it in a warm blanket and dry it under that with a warm towel. Put on a flannel night dress, or jacket, over the cotton night-gown. If the attack is the beginning of an eruptive disease, the bath will help to bring the eruption to the surface. An ailing child should not be allowed to sleep in the room with other children. Elizabeth Robinson Scovil.