OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 5

OUR BABIES

[BY HTCEIA.I Published under the auapices of tho Royal New Zealand Sociotj' for the Health of Women and Children. "It is wisor to put up a fence at the top of a preoipicb than to maintain an ambulance at tho bottom." HARDENING A DELICATE CHILD. (Continued.) I gavo last, weok a republication the history ot a delicate child who carne under my notioe over ten years ago. This wqeJs I give an account of the course thai was pursued with a. view to restoring her to health And strength:— WHAT HAD TO BE DONE. Tho leading instructions .to tho grandmother wore on the lines laid down in tho beginning of the society's book. Meals. Suitable meals of wholesome, plain food —such as bread and butter, toast, rusks, ■porridge, mill; (1J pints a day)—were to bo, given with perfect regularity only thren or, at moßt, four limes in the 24 hours. No "pieces*' were lo be permitted between meals, and no "lollies," cake, or sweet biscuits, etc., at any time. A drink of water might ho jriven between meals if the child were specials* thirsty. The übo of wholobome, ripe fruit and i-Liits>blo vegetables was to bo encouraged at meal times. The little nioat allowed was to bo underdone. Thorough mastication was to be ensured as l'ar as possible. This dietetic regimen was not to be arrived at suddenly, tut by proper grado* tions, and pending ccme improvement in digestion tho milk was to be, partly modifled. Due "warning was given as to*ihe harm liable to arise iroin any sudden extreme change of habits. It was explained that some weeks would have to be spent in attaining the prescribed goal, but that distinct vices such as the taking of "sweets" and "piecßs" between meals wore to he abandoned at oncc. Exercise. As the r.liild could not walk, the first exercise had to le given in the form of "massage," which, fortunately, a member of thy family was able to carry out herself. us sho had had some nursing eiperi. enco.

Bathing. Stimulation of the skin was to be initiated, by fire', sponging the limbs only, cold bathing for tho whole body being gradually arrived at ou the linos laid down in the preceding articles, and summarised on page 71 of the society'a book. In this connection particular stress was laid on the paramount need for winning tile child to resume' the use of its voluntary muscles by mailing the "excrciso after bathing" talto the form of an open-air game—such as the most primitive form of "hide and seek," carried out in Bucii a. way as to indaoo the chill not to dawdle, but to r*ni with spirit from point to point of the route chosen for the morning excursion. (This nay s?eui very troublesome and exacting, but it must be borne in mind that the relations were in earnest and that they were fighting for Ihe child's health ind life. Moreover, they won the battle in the course of a single month 1) Going Barefoot. The timo was midsummer, and it was advise<t that the child should be trained to walk barefoot. ' Clothing. The clothing icxt the skin, was to be non-irritating (silk and wool', and the rest of the clothing was to be as light an<l porous a3 possible, consistent v.ith duo warmth—loose, woollen materials, not cotton. Further, there was to be absolute freedom from constriction of any kindnothing to hamper' the lice play of the miiEcles and intern,il organi. Pure Aiv and Sunlight. The chilil wns to be kept as much as possible in the open air by day, and to sleep in jiuro air at night. These iver« tho leading injunctions, (lor Ul9 rest use tho society's book.) Summary and Progress. WJion first seen the child wbb over two and a half years of ag2, and weighed 241b. Exactly a month later—viz., on February 10, 1900—the grandmother wrote:— I must tell you how my little grandchild is gutting on. I am pleased to say. she is-much improved under the treatment recommended. She has gained 2ilb. in weight; her appetito in much better, ani she rests better at night.

Within another nine months the child had increased in weight from Mlb. to MJlb.. und had attained above the. average weight for her years, having gained in ton months about threo limes the ordinary "weight-increase" for twelve months from two and a half to three and a half yeavb of age. Of course, she was "putting on flesh" and making up for lost time. The following series of letters will serve to show that ihe ai'-round improvement in health, vigour, and happiness was quite as remarkable aB the gain' in weight:—

March 19, 1908. Little Annie's weight is now 301b. and she is still imivoving.

April 17, 1908. Since writing to you a month ago she has had diarrhoea, and for a time was not Quite as well, but '3 taking her food better row, ami continues to' gain in weight., tsho was weighed today, and weighs 321b.—that is an increase of 21b. sinco I last wrote. Slip still haß her 'cold bath every morning. We aro wondering if we should continue them through the -winter, or substitute tepid water during the very cold weather.

Tho grandmother was written to and informed that the cold bath ought, to he continued through the winter, provided that proper reaction could he ensured by the taking of a sufficiency of suitable cxercise immediately after bathing.

Oured of Caprice and Fastidiousness. Further progress was reported in .May, but, unfortunately, the letter had been mislaid. It stated that the child was full of life and spirit* growing Bteadily, and "on the go" nil day long. Her appetite was good, fastidiousness as to food had disappeared, and the. maintenance of a consistent, regular daily regimen had completely obliterated the old oraving for capricious and irregular indulgences. This tho grandmother exemplified hy the following incident:—When in town tho child was offered some Mveets, but refused thorn of her own accord, saying: "I don't have things bolivcou meale"

June 9, 1908. I am pleased to tell you that little Annie iB still improving. .She is growing fast, and iB jiot like the same child. She t.aliea her ioort well. We have kept oil faithfully with the cold bath, and she takes a. good ruu after. Her weight is now 331b. lOoz, I cannot express my gratitudo for what 'las been done for her.

July' 18, 1909. You will be plcaß?d to hear tlin-t little Annie is still keeping wo'i and gaining in weight. She lias Kuijird 211b. since June 8. She ttill continues the cola bath. N.B.—This was the coldest month of the year, and the region—Southland!