OUR BABIES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 356, 10 February 1937, Page 3

OUR BABIES.

. o By “Hygeia.” i t Published under the auspices of 1 The Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). SUMMER DIARRHOEA. First, we must see that every baby has “the twelve essentials” in his daily life. We must see that every baby has what every baby needs. The first two pages of the Society’s book, “Feeding and Care of Baby,” should be perfectly familiar to every mother in the land. If the baby who has I lived in fresh air, been naturally fed, I trained in regular habits, and has received all the essentials for good health chances to get ill, he “throws off the germs as the bow of an ocean liner throws off the spray”—he is pretty well germproof. Secondly, we must especially consider the matter of food. Natural feeding is the great preventive. Professor Budin has shown that in Paris

out of 250 deaths of infants occurring in one midsummer week, less than 30 were breast-fed babies. As we have t said, humanised milk is the best substitute ,but in hot weather special precautions are necessary in the preparation and keeping of milk. 1 Making and Keeping Milk in the 1 Hot Weather. —It may be best to bring the baby’s milk to the boil, and 1 keep it at that temperature for ten minutes, instead of only pasteurising ’ it (i.e., keeping it at a temperature of 155 deg. Fahr, for ten minutes). Whether boiled or pasteurised, the 3 milk must be cooled quickly, and at once, and well below 60 degrees Fahr, if possible. Germs multiply with extreme rapidity in warm milk. Cover 1 the jug loosely with damp butter muslin and stand in running or frequently ~ changed cold water. (Needless to say, if ice is available the problem is f solved.) In the country a running , Y stream or artesian* well may be handy 5 —but in the towns it may be impossible to get tap water below 60 de- - grees Fahr. A pailful of water left outside in the air all night, away from • the early-morning sun, will be quite cool for some hours. Select the shadi- ■ est, draughtiest ,and cleanest, place for the milk safe, and stand the jug of cooled milk in a shallow dish of the coldest water available in the safe. ' Be sure the damp muslin which covers the jug dips into the -water all 1 round, so that it will keep damp and so cool by evaporation. This method

always ensures some cooling, especially in hot, dry weather. When there is any doubt as to whether the milk has remained below 60 degrees Fahr., always re-scald what is left of the day’s supply in the evening, and again cool quickly, and place in the coldest place available for the night. Naturally, if it is possible to obtain fresh milk twice daily, it is best to make the humanised milk morning and evening. There are various kinds of safes and coolers, details of which may be | obtained if wished from the Plunket Nurses or Karitane Hospitals, but the simple, easily available methods suffice in the great majority of cases if carefully carried out. Thirdly, extra special care must be taken wtih regard to cleanliness dur- j ing hot weather. Billies, jugs, bottles | and teats must be washed absolutely free of all traces of stale milk. An almost invisible amount of stale milk may render a whole day‘s supply poisonous. Vessels which have contained milk should always be washed in cold water first, then in hot water and soap. Hot water “sets” the milk on the utensil and makes it difficult to remove. Beware of flies. Keep everything under cover. Remove soiled napkins at once and cover. Wash the hands ' after changing baby before handling him again or his food. Wash the nipples thoroughly before nursing a baby. Fourthly, be extra careful to see that baby has freedom of movement in the open air as much as possible. Let him be out of doors practically all day, and all night, too, if it can be arranged —but avoid overheating him. Lastly, do not worry about baby, but be ever on the watch for warning symptoms of trouble, and be ready to take prompt measures.

Weaning. If possible, do not wean baby during February or March, especially 5f the weather is very hot. If weaning cannot be avoided, it should be done gradually, with great care in the preparation and diluting of the artificial food, which should be humanised milk made and graded according to the directions in “Feeding and Care of Baby” or the instructions of the Plunket Nurses. Even one breast feed a | day is better than none during the ■ hottest weather, delaying complete weaning till cooler days come. Indigestion. Indigestion, due to overfeeding or to unsuitable food or irregular feeding, is the main predisposing cause of diarrhoea. Therefore mothers should be eternally vigilant, especially during the summer. All habits should be regular, and the children should not be given any unsuitable foods or foods likely to disagree.

Unfortunately, it is during the summer holiday months —the warmest | time of the year—that the feeding of i both babies and old children tends to become irregular and unsuitable. When travelling or away from home the usual routine is broken, often with disastrous results. Many a child | makes no progress during January or February for this reason. The disordered digestion and lowered resistance leave him easy prey for any infection —ripe for an attack of diarrhoea. He may not die ,and he may completely recover, but at least his progress will be checked, perhaps for months, and there is grave risk of life-long damage. Some hints on food for childrenwhen travelling were given in a few weeks ago. When away from home, make every effort to secure good fresh milk. Always boil it before use for the first few days, and continue to do so if there is any doubt as to j the freshness of the supply. Spare no i pains to keep all feeding utensils I scrupulously clean. For older children, beware of “pieces” of unsuitable food —cakes, sweets, bananas, and ! other unripe or over-ripe fruit, etc. Serious sickness kills all desire for tobacco, but with . the return of health—glorious feeling! —the eihoker’s first question is usually “where’s my pipe?” And, Oh! the rapture of that first smoke after convalescence! Of course, on such an occasion something “extra special” is indicated in the shape of baccy, by way of “celebrating,” and you cannot have anything better, more fragrant and comforting than a pipe of Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish or Navy Cut Plug No 3 (Bulldog), or (if a cigarette smoker) a bit of either Riverhead Gold or Desert Gold, the (wo cigarette tobaccos principally in I demand. All these famous blends | owe their superb flavour and fascin- j ating bouquet (and also, be it noted, | their innocuousness) to the fact that • the toasting they undergo at the factory rids them of their nicotine, so (bat they may be indulged in ad. lib. i with no unpleasant after-effects, such as irritated throat, burned tongue or j jangled nerves. These are the world’s I purest—and only toasted tobaccos. Accept no substitute —there no substitute for toasted It stands alone!