Part 46 (1/2)

HOW TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH AND LIFE OF YOUR INFANT DURING HOT WEATHER.

_BATHING._

1. Bathe infants daily in tepid water and even twice a day in hot weather.

If delicate they should be sponged instead of immersing them in water, but cleanliness is absolutely necessary for the health of infants.

_CLOTHING._

2. Put no bands in their clothing, but make all garments to hang loosely from the shoulders, and have all their clothing _scrupulously clean_; even the diaper should not be re-used without rinsing.

_SLEEP ALONE._

3. The child should in all cases sleep by itself on a cot or in a crib and retire at a regular hour. A child _always_ early taught to go to sleep without rocking or nursing is the healthier and happier for it.

Begin _at birth_ and this will be easily accomplished.

_CORDIALS AND SOOTHING SYRUPS._

4. Never give cordials, soothing syrups, sleeping drops etc., without the advice of a physician. A child that frets and does not sleep is either hungry or ill. _If ill it needs a physician._ Never give candy or cake to quiet a small child, they are sure to produce disorders of the stomach, diarrhoea or some other trouble.

_FRESH AIR._

5. Children should have plenty of fresh air summer as well as winter.

Avoid the severe hot sun and the heated kitchen for infants in summer.

Heat is the great destroyer of infants.

_CLEAN HOUSES._

6. Keep your house clean and cool and well aired night and day. Your cellars cleared of all rubbish and white-washed every spring, your drains cleaned with strong solution of copperas or chloride of lime, poured down them once a week. Keep your gutters and yards clean and insist upon your neighbors doing the same.

_EVACUATIONS OF A CHILD._

The healthy motion varies from light orange yellow to greenish yellow, in number, two to four times daily. Smell should never be offensive.

Slimy mucous-like jelly pa.s.sages indicate worms. Pale green, offensive, acrid motions indicate disordered stomach. Dark green indicate acid secretions and a more serious trouble.

Fetid dark brown stools are present in chronic diarrhoea Putty-like pasty pa.s.sages are due to aridity curdling the milk or to torpid liver.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_BREAST MILK._