OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 241, 29 June 1918, Page 5

OUR BABIES

{"By Hygkia.l

Published under the auspices of the Hoyal New Zealand Society for the Health of "Women and Children. "It is wiser to put up a tenjso at the top of a precipice than to maintain an* ambulance at the bottom." A FAILING BABV. A few weeks ago wc published some articles dealing with th« failure of many children to fulfil their early promise, and we gave an instance'of how a delicate and failing child was brought back to health and strength by common-seiifce care and attention. We gave the history of the case, the treatment recommended, and the result, as described in a series of letters written by the child's grandmother, extending over 10 years. The following letters serve to epiphasise the matter still further, and v.*e trust they will prove helpful to many of our readers. ' A MOTHER'S LETTER. "Some time ago I wrote to you asking advice for my child, who was then i'our months old. By return mail I received a letter from s*ou advising me how to proceed. I also got the book on 'The (Jare and Feeding ox the Baby,' and as far as 1 was able I followed the directions. "The child grew strong, and was very lively until about nine months ago (she was then tw.o years old), when I was obliged to send her away from home for a time. When she returned she had justrecovered from the mumps, and was fat and flabby; a month afterwards she took influenza very badly, and she has never recovered her strength. "On Christmas Day she had an attack of what 1 thought was bronchitis. Ten day, <3 later she had another very ibad attack. She cried and coughed all night, and was in a high fever. I rubbed her chest and back with hot camphorated oil; and she lived on boiled water for two days. She recovered 011 the fourth day, and was as full of life as ever, but siuce fine had the influenza I have had great difficulty in getting her to eat. Two nights ago she had. a similar attack but was not so fevered. I saw a doctor, thinking that, she might be the better for a tonic; but he said she needed no medicine. She is very susceptible to cold and she feels the leaßt change of weather. When she is well she is outside the whole day long, and takes a great deal of exercise, so much so that she exhausts. herself by 2 0 clock, and haß a sleep of two hours. "Nine ( mouths ago she slept with a young girl in a room with both door and window Bhut, and I dale her weakness from that tiiae. I have lost two beautiful baby boys, so you may know how anxious lam about her. Trusting to hear from you soon, and thanking you : n antic'potiou.—l am, etc., "0 —. H — COMMENT. The advice forwarded to the mother when she wrote in the first instance was on the broad.-lines' which we recommcnd in all caßes-namoiy, "What every 1-ab.y needs, whether well or ill." as given in the society's book, "Feeding and Care of Baby,'' pages 1 and 2. "When answering the abovfl letter wo sent a copy of the account which we published a few weeks ago dealing with a child whose ei\se presented similar points. The mother's -second letter shows that she profited ty the information given. THE MOTHER'S SECOND LETTER, The following letter showß how soon a marked improvement took place in tho child's couditioh when systematic care was exercised on the lines advocated with re gard to her food and habits:— Your letter with the reprints of n - grandmother's ietters enclosed roachud me a fortnight ago. I did not write to you at once, because I wanted to upo if there would be any visible improvement in the health of my little girl. I give her only three meals a day, with a drink of boilod water the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. She relishes her food now, and often asks for her dinner an hour before the time. 1 uded to give a cold sponge in the morning, but as soon as 6he gets a little stronger 1 will commenco the bath again. She has improved wonderfully during the last fortnight, and is tretting like her old self again, happy and joyous. About 18 months ago I put her to sleep in a room by herself; but she was very restless, and I had to cross $ draughty passage sometimes three or four times during the night, bo removed her bed to our room again, but have it in the opposite cor- , ner from ours, and have the window and door open night and day. Please accept my grateful thanks for your kindness. I can assure you I will follow closely the rules laid down in tho society's book, for I am very anxious to have my girlie strong and well again. I was giving her petroleum ' emulsion when I wrote to you, but I have not- given her a tnsto of it since I received your letter. Again thanking you for your kindness. 1 COMMENT. I wish particularly to draw attention to the following sentences in the above letter;— I give her only three meals a day, with a drink of boiled water first thing iu tJio morning and last thing at night. She relishes her food now. t The custom of giving a child "a piece" is so common tnat it seems a»i almost hopelesa task to light against it. Children are supposed to be always hungry if they are well Few people seem to realise that are all creatures of habit, aud that the bad habit of craving for food at irregular times can be ab easily engendered as the good, healthful habit of taking a sufficiency of suitable food at proper intervals. Children so readily drop into tlie way of eating at odd times thai one not infrequently comes across a child who never uroperly relishes anything. The kind of food which appeals most to such children is often a class least suited to them, and therefore bound to bring abcut manifest harm, sooner or later. Though for a time neither the wrong nature of tho food nor the irregularity with which it iB taken may do any apparent harm, a child's digestive and nutritive powers may be undermined and gravely impaired in a way which will cause more or less progressive damage to the system and stunting of growth for months and even for years. Parents should never forget that such leeway, made during what should he tho most progressive and formative period of life for the growth and development of the whole organism, is uever entirely made up and compensated for, however, well and rationally the child may bo treated subsequently. Such a child can never become quite what it might have boon, though, as we have seen in the cases I. have referred to, it is marvellous what can be dono' in the way of restoring health and strength to children if the matter, is systematically taken in hand by earnest and devoted guardians.