SOME TIMELY HINTS OF INTEREST TO PARENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 6, 11 February 1893, Page 125

SOME TIMELY HINTS OF INTEREST TO PARENTS.

Bilious fever is one of the most common affections among children. And, strangely enough, its true nature is rarely recognised by parents, probably because its signs are somewhat vague. It is generally caused by exposure, and, more frequently than otherwise, soon after eating. If a child takes cold while its stomach contains food, that organ stops work for a time. Its contents then decompose and become a source of irritation.

Not only is the stomach disturbed by the products of these changes, but the liver and all associate otgans are more or less upset. Moreover, evidently some of the hurtful products are absorbed, and, in consequence, the blood for the time being is impure. The symptoms that result are loss of appetite, offensive breath, headache, dizziness and general malaise, or what many mothers term ‘ dumpishness.’ There is also more or less fever. A noticeable feature about the fever is that it generally comes on first during the afternoon or evening, and declines after midnight. The following morning the child seems to be very much better, and very likely desires to be up and dressed and to play about for a time. Near noon, however, it loses much of its spirit, and by night the fever is on again, and runs as it did twenty four hours before.

The fever comes and goes like this, and the child’s condition changes correspondingly, now better and again worse, for a week or longer ; finally, if it has been properly treated, an improvement is noted. Theie are the same remissions, but the afternoon fever and depression grows less

from day to day ; each succeeding day, also, the little patient seems stronger and brighter during the forenoon. And in this way the trouble seems to wear oft. Attacks of this sort run from ten days to several weeks, if left to themselves but under propertreatment the course is very much shortened. Almost without exception parents assume that their children when suft’ering from it are rapidly losing strength, and ought to be fed generously. They, therefore, insist upon their taking beef tea, eggs beaten up in milk and other invalids’ food, and in consequence their Ciouble is aggravated

Whereas, the . dietetic treatment should be of the starvation sort. And, as a rule, were they deprived of food altogether for two or three days they would rapidly mend.

During such attacks the digestive powers ate very weak, and the food not being quickly disposed of, as it ought to be, decom-

poses and then intensifies the existing trouble. The proper course is to feed very sparingly, and only the lightest foods. Milk and lime water are allowable ; also the juice of ripe fruits in season. Beef-tea and other meat products are forbidden, also all fatty foods, for the liver being for the time crippled, they would pass through the body unchanged. Cornstarch, arrowroot, and light custards are amply sufficient for support. As for medicines, only a mild laxative is needed. The bowels are geneially constipated, but they open readily upon the judicious use of any form of magnesia. Whatever laxative is given, it is better to administer it in small doses, two or three times daily, than in one large dose. To favour its action and wash out the waste avenues, large quantities of warm water should be taken daily. Not only do parents assume that such patients need generous feeding, but they have the mistaken notion that they must have tonics, and the same are sure to do harm. If they will only give them a chance to get well, and restrict themselves to the treatment advised, a cure in every instance will speedily take place.