Mr-i About ike IBab ilimim ymr I *A Class _(73Vl Book /^.'S Ccpiglit'N? CSEnUCHT DEPOSm THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY TUBERCULAR TROUBLES HOW TO GROW FAT, ALSO OVERCOME DISEASE BY ADA M ALBERTY, M. T. D. FIRST EDITION LOWMAX & HAN FORD CO., Publishers SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 1912 ©C!.A330^93 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Chap. 1. A Word to Mothers 17 Chap. 2. Marrjdng Without Knowledge 19 Chap. 3. Pregnancy: The Morning Sickness 22 Quickening Period 22 Changes in System and Disposition ... 23 Rest, Bathing and Exercise 24 Care of Vagina 24 Urine 24 Constipation 25 Care of the Teeth 26 Enlargement of the Abdomen 27 Duration of Pregnancy 27 Sex of Child 27 Chap. 4. Diet in Pregnancy: Strange Cravings 30 Chap. 5. Maternal Impressions 30 Chap. 6. Miscarriage 32 Chap. 7. Abortion 34 Chap. 8. Baby's First Clothing 38 Chap. 9. Necessities to Prepare Before Labor: Sanitary Napkins 41 Chap. 10. Painless Childbirth 41 Chap. 11. Signs of Approaching Labor: Preparation for Labor 44 Chap. 12. When the Physician is Absent. . 45 Chap. 13. Care of Mother After Confinement: Urinating 50 Soreness and Bloating 51 Irrigation 51 Care of Genital Organs 52 Rest After Confinement 52 Breasts 53 Bathing 54 Care of the Bed 54 Chap. 14. Care of Infant After Delivery: The Navel Cord 58 6 Table of Contents PAGE Chap. 15. Premature and Abnormal Children: Abnormal Infants 60 Apparent Death 62 Chap. 16. Care of Genital Organs: Male Children 64 After Circumcision 65 Chap. 17. The Nursing Mother: How to Have Milk 66 How to Hold the Child 68 Drying up Breast Milk 68 Different Methods of Feeding 68 Chap. 18. Unsuccessful Nursing 69 Chap. 19. First Days of Nursing: How Infants Generally Act 74 Chap. 20. Inability to Nurse: When Nursing Should Not be At- tempted 75 Chap. 21. Why Milk Fails to Come: Proper Periods of Nursing 77 Lack of Milk Supply. 79 Chap. 22. Mixed Feeding and the Bottle: Getting Baby to Take the Bottle 81 The Hole in Baby's Nipple 82 Proper Feeding Temperature 82 Chap. 23. Importance of Weighing Baby 83 Chap. 24. Babv's Exercise 85 Chap. 25. Care of Baby's Eyes 89 Chap. 26. Adenoids— The Pacifier 91 Chap. 27. The Cat and the Baby 92 Chap. 28. Bathing and the Scalp: Oil Baths 93 Care of Scalp 94 Chap. 29. Flannel A Fad 95 Chap. 30. Letting Baby Cry It Out 96 Chap. 31. Colic 98 Chap. 32. Night Feeding .• 100 Chap. 33. Sore Buttocks 103 Chap. 34. Baby's Stool in Health and Disease 104 Chap. 35. Ignorance 107 Chap. 36. Critical Age of Infancy 112 Chap. 37. Experimenting With Baby — The Decline, 116 Chap. 38. So-called Overfeeding Baby 120 Chap. 39. Starvation Diet for Babies and Adults: Starvation Schedule for Babies 127 Table of Contents 7 PAGE Chap. 40. Starvation Fever 131 Chap. 41. Nervousness in Babies 132 Chap. 42. Vomiting: Habitual Vomiting 134 Chap. 43. Blood, Purpose and Upbuilding 140 Chap. 44. Anemia 141 Chap. 45. Chronic Diarrhoea 143 Chap. 46. Constipation 145 Chap. 47. Sore Mouth 149 Chap. 48. Eczema 151 Chap. 49. Rickets — ^Bone Starvation 153 Chap. 50. Scurvy 157 Chap. 51. Infant's Gastric Capacity: Gastric Capacity and Growth 164 Correct Schedule for Feeding 165 Chap. 52. Sugar and Salt for Baby: Sugar for Adults 169 Salt 171 Other Articles 171 Chap. 53. Climb to Health 172 Chap. 54. Teething: Actions of a Teething Baby 177 Loss of Appetite 177 Urine 178 Teething Diarrhoea 179 The Skin 179 Shedding the Teeth 179 Chap. 55. Important Things to Remember 180 Chap. 56. ''Patented" Baby Foods and Medicines. . 185 Chap. 57. Testing Prepared Food and Cow's Milk. . 187 Chap. 58. Modification of Milk: Certified Milk 191 Chap. 59. Milk as a Cure for Disease 192 Chap. 60. Milk as a Food for Infants: Why Modifications of Milk Fail 195 Chap. 61. Discovery of the Real Substitute 196 Chap. 62. Care of Milk: Pasteurizing Milk at Home 203 Home-made Refrigerator 204 Chap. 63. Sour Milk and Summer Complaint 205 Chap. 64. Care of Baby During Summer 209 Chap. 65. Weaning Baby 211 Chap. 66. When Baby Begins to Eat 213 Chap. 67. What Baby Should and Should Not Eat. . 216 8 Table of Contents PAGE Chap. 68. Adult Foods 218 Chap. 69. What Food Does 221 Chap. 70. The Intestinal Tract 224 Chap. 71. Gastric Digestion 224 Chap. 72. Intestinal Digestion 228 Chap. 73. Assimilation of Food 229 Chap. 74. Vital Necessity of Fresh Air 230 Chap. 75. Use of Water 232 Chap. 76. Water Cures: Indigestion 236 Drinking at Meals 237 Chap. 77. Value of the Bath 238 Chap. 78. Tubercular Trouble: Treatment 240 Spittum 242 Chap. 79. Value of Hvpophosphites 242 Chap. 80. Loss of Appetite 243 Chap. 81. How to Grow Fat, also Overcome Disease, 245 Chap. 82. Colds — -Bronchitis — ^Pneumonia 255 Chap. 83. Virtues of Castor Oil 258 Chap. 84. Bismuth Subnitrate. 260 Chap. 85. Calomel, Use and Abuse 261 Chap. 86. Infantile Paralysis 263 Chap. 87. Measles 263 Chap. 88. Harness for Protruding Ears 265 Chap. 89. Inherited Syphilis 265 Chap. 90. Worms: Symptoms 268 Chap. 91. Infantile Myxoedema or Cretinism 270 Chap. 92. Vaccination 275 Chap. 93. Development of the Boy 277 Chap. 94. The Sex Problem 279 Chap. 95. Recipes 281 PREFACE A MOTHER'S DEVOTION Every human being lias traits and tastes for certain work in life. Many miss their true vocation, either through the influence of others or through lack of finances, and are compelled to go through life handi- capped. Some of these at a later time may manage to reach the proper path; others are doomed to dis- appointment and failure. Especially is this true of the real physician. True physicians are born, not made, and a man or woman may graduate from some large medical college laden down with technical knowledge and still lack the practical knowledge of how to heal the sick. Educa- tion is clearly one thing, the natural-born trait clearly another. Almost from the time of my earliest memory be- gins, I was determined to be a physician, so that I could help the sick and sufi'ering. When a child, my favorite pastime was that of playing doctor, bundling my small brother up in old shawls, and giving him bread pills and doses of water from an old bottle. Women and children appealed to me especially. To train as a nurse, I entered St. Lake's hospital, Denver, Colo., at the age of 18 years. I intended to enter some medical college in the East after my grad- uation there, to take up diseases of women and chil- dren. I believed that in order to make a successful physician, a thorough training in care of the sick would be an essential factor and I set out to acquire the practical experience necessary. Soon after enter- ing St. Luke's, I was given full charge of a large ward ; and worked so hard that my health began to fail and I was obliged to go on a vacation. Shortly after entering upon this vacation, I met Mr. 10 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY Alberty, and being young, foolish and in love, I mar- ried. My husband would not listen to my continuing my studies further, and although I was obliged to give them up for a time, as I grew older the longing seemed to grow in intensity. HaYing begun to raise a family, however, I could not see my way clear. When my first baby was born, I felt that I was well- equipped to raise him to healthy manhood. The nat- ural mother instinct, as well as the training I had received in the hospital should surely prove sufficient. As I had plenty of milk, there was no difficulty about the feeding question; and he grew naturally into a beautiful, healthy boy. There was but little to be learned, for there was no trouble, and when every- thing runs smooth there is no knowledge to be gained. Belladonna was used to dry up the abundant sup- ply of milk, and this medicine ruined the mammary glands and forever spoiled all future prospects for me in nursing my offspring. Great as this misfortune Avas to me, it has proved to be a great blessing to others, and I have been enabled to save many little lives, because it was necessary for me to solve the bottle-baby problem. When next baby came, trouble began. My mother instinct, as well as my hospital training, proved to be of little use after all ; they could not save my poor, suffering baby. He was placed in the care of the best physicians, who did everything they could, but with- out any success. Cow's milk in nearly every form was tried; baby foods of different brands were attempted, and failed. I grew desperate and almost frantic, as I saw my poor baby dying by inches, suffering the tor- tures of the starving, and yet powerless to relieve him.. He grew thinner daily, more hungry and miserable ; his feedings were cut down to smaller and smaller amounts — "dieted," it was called. I made desperate appeals to the doctor to put forth every effort to save my boy, and it seemed to me that for a poor helpless baby to die in that manner was one of the most agon- izing deaths any human being could experience. Experiments, were tried, first one and then another.. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 11 I learned much in the line of research, but my heart grew sick and tired of it all. I felt that if I could have been a ijhysician I would surely have spent my life in looking up a food that the weakest, frailest stomach could digest. Why was all this experiment- ing? Surely, there was some way beside it! But the truth did not begin to dawn on me until it was too late, when my poor, mistreated baby was far beyond all human aid. Then I was a sadder and wiser woman. My heart went out in love and sympathy to every suffering baby in the world. There was a determination to find in some way a food that every baby could thrive on. I felt that if I could only accomplish that, I would do more good in the world than even as a physician, for in the latter case I could reach only those in my im- mediate vicinity. From a light-hearted, care-free woman I passed into a serious, determined one. Be- lieving that God had put in the world everything for our good, and a remedy for every ill, I prayed as only a desperate mother can pray for guidance and wisdom in my search. I knew that all my succeeding babies would have to be raised on the bottle ; and also that I had not the grace to go through with many such ex- periences as that I had just encountered. Consulting with the best physicians, I found some very indifferent, while some took it as a matter of course that a large majority of babies were born only to die through lack of nourishment. There was a lack of interest and concern ; so much so that I was aroused to the fullest extent, and concluded that if others felt as strong on the subject as I did, the world would be turned upside down to find the food that I was looking for. The indifference I had met only made me more determined than ever. I cannot tell here of my efforts and struggles; I can only say there was an undying hope. My third boy was born, and the rounds began. At once he was placed under the care of an excellent, con- scientious physician, but we soon saw the baby was going just as the other boy. At the end of a trying^ l'^ THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY agonizing dav, I felt that I must do something des- perate. I had stood all a human being could ; I meant business. The next day I consulted with my physician, and he told me frankly that he had done all he could. He told me of the thousands of babies that had died through malnutrition. I left his office determined that I would take my child's case into my own hands and if he died, it would be because no earthly power could save him. I had become pretty Avell versed in the experiment- ing business, and I thought I would like to try a little along a new line. As my baby had just had a course of the old, tried-out method on which so many thou- sands had died, I felt that something new might possi- bly give results. So I began to put little scraps of knowledge together and was determined to profit by all past experiences. I went back to some of the old modes, making variations here and there. Finally an idea came to me, which I tested out and obtained ex- cellent results. It was far from being perfect, yet was a start in the right direction. In my study of foods I found certain ones Avhich gave different results. Some of these ingredients I combined in a way that proved to be highly scientific. At the time it was nothing but pure ignorance on my part. The combination worked to perfection. Careful study still Avas needed to balance everything, so that any baby could thrive on the new food; but I was suc- cessful. To say that I was jubilant would be expressing it very mildly. Love and determination had won at last ; I felt that every mother in the country would rejoice, and every physician would welcome my discovery. Yet when I announced what I had and what it would do, the unexpected happened. I was called crazy ; told frankly that I Avould be in the insane asylum inside of six months. My neighbors all felt sorry, and tried to reason with me. Some said I was a quack; some said my food was doped ; while everyone looked on me with suspicion. On meeting a few mothers with starving, dying THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BAliY 13 babies, I made an appeal for the sake of the little babies. I foiiud the mother iuditferent, and I was either told phiinly to mind my own business, or that the baby was under the care of a specialist. Still it was plain to be seen that the baby Ayas starying just the same. Finally I was almost ready to giye up in disgust, but decided to put forth a last effort; the old determina- tion to win or die was still there ; I had gone through too much to giye up in this manner. Surely, I thought, there Ayere mothers who were desperate as I once AA'as, so desperate that I Ayould gladly haA^e gone a thousand miles with my baby, had I but heard of any one who could help it. I placed an ad or announcement in one of the Seattle newspapers. A fcAA^ mothers ansAyered, most of them cases giA^en up as hopeless ; and the poor mothers came to me as a last resort. Such a miserable, desperate band of helpless babies and hopeless mothers — skepti- cal, unbelieying, suspicious ! Hoaa' happy I was, now that I could atone a little for my baby. Eyery one of those babies I brought to perfect health and flesh. The grateful mothers told others, my suc- cess was without a parallel, in fact, miraculous. All that came to me were desperate, hopeless cases. My reputation became established; my food was in de- mand. Hearing of the thousands of babies dying in New York and of the great efforts being put forth to saA^e them, and of the physicians who Ayere working so brayely, spending their liyes in behalf of them, I de- cided to go there. I felt that surely, AA^hen there Ayas such interest in behalf of them, I could get some people to try my new food now, as it had been proyen that it would do all that was claimed for it, and more, time after time. On consulting some of the physicians and nurses in New York, I was told that no baby foods were used — merelA' modified cow's milk. If that failed, eyerything else, they said, surely would; and they absolutely re- fused to giye any food whatsoeyer a trial. 14 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY No wonder the babies die, I said to myself, by the thousands, when there is no mode of combining cow's milk, top milk, lime water and sugar of milk so as to decrease to any extent the size of the natural curd of the cow's milk! I visited some of the infants' hospitals and saAv so many starving, dying babies that I begged and pleaded to be allowed to save just a few. Surely, it seemed to me, when death was to claim some of them so soon, I would be permitted to help a few; but I was refused. A friend — a noted surgeon in New York — said to me : "Mrs. Alberty, go home and forget it. You have a noble purpose, but it's no use. I should be glad to help you, but being a surgeon, baby foods are out of my line. These New York physicians will never listen to you. They are accustomed to seeing babies die like flies." Meanwhile the baby food for which I had striven so hard, was fast gaining a foothold in the Avest. Many physicians were recommending it, and I was success- ful, as far as it went. But there still remained that same old longing which had grown up with me from childhood. Mothers began to come to me to consult me in cases of pneumonia, cholera infantum, and other diseases. I was always able to help them, in fact, so much so that at last I determined to enter Hahnemann's Medi- cal College at Chicago. At this time, hoAvever, the method of drugless healing was fast becoming so popu- lar that I decided to look into it. I had seen failure after failure result from use of medicines, and I was looking for one of the most successful methods. I be- gan a study of anatomy, physiology, and the more I pondered and looked into nature's ways, the more I was drawn to the drugless method. I became a student of mechanotherapy, hydro- therapy (water cure), suggestive therapeutic, and osteopathy. I graduated from the American College of Mechano-Therapy, at Chicago, and received my di- ploma, joining the Washington Association of Drugless Phvsicians. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 15 During this time I was successful in saving many infants' lives, and was looked upon as an authority on the subject of babies. To cure children of scurvy, rickets, cholera infantum, infectious diarrhoea, eczema, indigestion, infantile paralysis, pneumonia, bronchitis and the diseases of the stomach and intestines were every day occurrences. I found that there is only one right way, and that way does not call for experimenting. The experiment- ing should come while the knowledge is being acquired ; but when it is acquired, the student should become a true specialist in every sense of the word. It may seem a broad statement when I say most emphatically that I do not believe in the death of in- fants. Thousands are slaughtered yearly under the so-called scientific methods of breast feeding and bottle feeding. I can surely stand by my statement after ten years of successful treatment, including the bringing to health of hundreds of babies which had been given up as hopeless. God put us here to live from infancy to old age. We are gradually coming back to nature, and studying her marvelous methods, putting aside much of man's wisdom and theories. We are learning to arouse activity in the functions of the body, knowing that "poor circulation brings poor health." Our bodies are made up of the food we eat, and nature never intended that we should be sick. Health is a natural law ; if we eat the right kind of food, breathe properly, drink the right amount of water and take the proper amount of exercise, we will be proof against disease, living to a hale, hearty old age, enjoying life to the last instead of desponding, becoming sick and gloomy, and waiting for death to free us from a miserable existence. Copyrighted 1912 by Ada M. Alberty, M. T. D. Notice.— All persons are warned against republish- ing the contents of this book, or any part thereof for any purpose whatsoever, without written authority. ADA M. ALBERTY, M. T. D. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY CHAPTER I A WORD TO MOTHERS The purpose of this book is to let the light of prac- tical knowledge shine upon the pathway of the mother, that she may know the whys and wherefores of those things whereof she has hitherto been ignorant. Unless a cause or reason is given — an object lesson, as it were — she forgets; household duties and care of her chil- dren give her little or no time to puzzle things out, why such and such should be true. It is to explain these riddles, to show the great principles of Nature underlying all our life and the need for mothers to return once more to the common-sense ideas of our grandparents that this volume has been written. "It is necessary to teach the mother in order to save the child." No mother can be successful if she is kept in the dark. She must be familiar with Nature's laws that she may intelligently start her children on the right road to health and happiness. If she has not this knowledge, whatever health her children have is accidental, not the result of her own application. Babies are the most abused and least understood of living things born into the world; yet they are the most important and most precious. Animals of all descriptions are studied and comprehended, but not the baby. If good common sense were used, a baby is as easily raised as the calf or any other offspring; but man has desired to tamper ; unnatural means have been substituted for natural; and as baby is a part of Nature, it could not be expected to survive such treat- ment. It is food first, and food last. From the hour con- ception takes place, growth commences, and continues 18 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY until manhood or womanhood is reached. Nothing can grow without proper nourishment. There can be no doubt but that food is the primary necessity in raising children. "Children not only eat to live, but to grow also." They must be fed more often than adults; they require a relatively greater quantity than do adults. It takes many elements to make up the whole, and if any one is lacking, the whole body will suffer. . We have schools and are taught about the human body, the process of digestion. Yet how few know or are taught how to apply this knowledge in over- coming disease or in keeping the body well. Every one has to make mistakes in order to learn; or see error in order to appreciate the truth. When our public schools shows by object lessons what insuffi- cient nourishment will do; what improper chewing of food will do; then the lessons will be remembered and we will have a healthier race. How many mothers today can give an outline of the process of digestion; or tell intelligently of that wonderful function ? Not many, and yet that is where we get our source of life. The first year of a child's life decides the physical future of the boy or girl, of the man or woman. Throughout this year the child's food is the all-im- portant problem. A baby fed normally on properly constituted food has an equal chance with any breast- fed infant; yet how many babies die because their mothers did not use common sense when nursing failed ! Many mothers feel that the sooner her baby begins to eat adult food, the better it will be for her child and herself as well. Little does she know how gravely adult food strains and overtaxes the tender digestive organs before baby is two years old and has all its teeth. She neglects to use the common sense God gave her. Many books on the subject of the baby have been written by doctors, who have used the medical point of view, while I have kept close to the mother's stand- point. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 19 Everything recommeuded iu this book has been thor- oughly tested and proven to do all that is claimed. There are many articles of diet, many remedies, and many appliances referred to, but there are no paid advertisements. Whatever has been placed herein is for the sole benefit of mother and child. For the object of this book is to benefit them, and to do what good it may. Indeed, the book would be of very little value except to a few if the information was not prac- tical in each and every case. It will apply and work out with marvelous results with every baby tried. A PEAYEK FOE THE BABIES By Prof. Walter Eauschexbusch O God, since Thou hast laid the little children into our arms in utter helplessness, with no protection save our love, we pray that the sweet appeal of their baby hands may not be in vain. Let no innocent life in our city be quenched again in useless pain through our ignorance and sin. May we who are mothers or fathers seek eagerly to join wisdom to our love, lest love itself be deadly when unguided by knowledge. Bless the doctors and nurses, and all the friends of men, who are giving of their skill and devotion to the care of our children. If there are any who were kissed by love in their own infancy, but who have no child to whom they may give as they have received, grant them such largeness of sympathy that they may rejoice to pay their debt in full to all children who have need of them. Forgive us, our Father, for the heartlessness of the past. Grant us great tenderness for all babies who suffer, and a growing sense of the divine mystery that is brooding in the soul of every child. Amen. C H A P T E E 2. MARRYIXG WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. How many women and girls rush into married life without thinking, or without inquiring, what such a life means I Men and women should mate properly. 20 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY the divorce evil would then right itself. Many women have no sexual power therefore should not marry ; there is usually dissatisfaction on both sides. Few girls know even how to cook or to keep house, and as for the sex problem, they are completely ignorant of it. Only too often they are doomed to awake to the fact that there is more in married life than they had ever dreamed. Obviously, this is not right. Whenever men or women start in business, they first familiarize them- selves with the business, obtaining the best informa- tion and making a study of it before venturing into it. Yet married life means a thousandfold more of responsibility and care. The health of one, and often the health of both of the contracting parties, together with the rearing of children, become the problems of life. The proper management of children is the most important subject that can be brought to the consid- eration of a parent ; yet it is one that has been greatly neglected. Mothers undertake it without previous in- struction, thinking it can be learned by instinct, or affection. However, instinct and affection is not knowledge. The consequences are that they find them- selves too often in a state of uncertainty and trouble, and act directly opposite to the best physical and mental welfare of their children. Just as every wise man and woman studies the raising of stock, or chickens, or other animals, why does not he or she make a study of the proper rearing and feeding of their own offspring into healthy and happy men and women — the most important subject that could be placed before them? Are chickens or other stock of more importance? Entrusted in a young, inexperienced mother's hands is a frail, delicate, helpless infant — one of the greatest gifts from God — a dear little baby whose health and life depend on her love and care. She seldom knows even how to put on its little napkin. How then is she to know what to do, and what not to do? THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 21 The right thing must be done at the right time, or the little one's life may be wrecked or sacrificed. The tender stomach and other organs are no playthings, neither are they made of indestructible material, but require proper care. More than this, the first month is the most critical period for the infant's nutrition and for the greatest actiyity of the organs of its body. It is during this period that its chances for life are the least. Children whose parents are healthy haye an ad- yantage oyer those whose parents are not. Those who would haye healthy children must first themselyes be healthy. Xo one can expect good fruit from poor soil. Children born of unhealthy parentage start in the race of life handicapped, and at a great disadyantage. C H A P T E K 3. PREGNANCY. When a woman has conceiyed, she is known to be pregnant. When a woman is unable to become pregnant (with child), she is said to be barren or sterile. In times past a childless marriage was belieyed to be the fault of the wife, but recent inyestigation has shown that the frequent cause is with the husband. A large percentage of marriages are childless. When the husband is at fault it may be impotency, or in- ability to perform the sexual act normally, or to the highest sexual excitement; or the semen may not be fertile. The testicles may be improperly deyeloped. When the fault is with the woman, there may haye been an absence of the oya; or the opening in the neck of the womb may be too small. Many perfectly healthy women haye neyer experienced orgasm, or sexual excitement, yet bear children because the womb is fruitful and otherwise normal. The first indication of pregnancy generally is a stoppage of the monthly period. There is no certain sign of pregnancy, at least none which has not been 22 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY found to fail. In some instances pregnancy may occur and yet the monthly flow continue. This is quite common for the first one or two months, but less fre- quent for four or five months. Some mothers assert that the first intimation they had of being pregnant was quickening, feeling the movements of the child. THE MORNING SICKNESS. Morning sickness occurs with most women for the first few months. The sensitiveness of the stomach to odors and flavors, and the peculiar ease with which feelings of nausea are brought on, is a very significant sign and rarely fails. It usually comes on while the woman is dressing, or when food is smelled. Some women suffer intensely from nausea. The best preventative of morning sickness is the eating of something before rising, or the drinking of a cup of hot beef tea. When violent vomiting occurs, the mother should eat immediately afterward. Hot milk seasoned with pepper and salt is excellent and very soothing to the stomach; likewise the juice of an orange; or rare steak fried without grease, or boiled Pregnant women often become sick at the stomach because of hunger, having a peculiar craving in the stomach. A pregnant woman should not abstain from food because of nausea. Heartburn, hot risings in the throat, are relieved by eating unbleached almonds — a dozen or two ; or by drinking a cup of water with a pinch of baking soda in it QUICKENING PERIOD. Quickening is the feeling of the movements of the child in the womb, which are apparent constantly at a period of about four and one-half months. The first sensations of life are described as being like the flut- terings of a bird, or as a creeping sensation, but after a few weeks, when the child becomes stronger, the movements are more decided. This quickening occurs in some instances at three and one-half months. When the parents are healthy THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 23 and vigorous, quickening takes place at an earlier date than when the parents are not strong physically. Quickening occurs with the average woman at four months. The popular idea that previous to quickening the child in the womb is not alive is of course erroneous, because if the child was not living from the very day of its conception it would not grow or develop. CHANGES IN SYSTEM AND DISPOSITION. Pregnancy is felt by the woman in almost every organ of the body. Changes in temper and disposition, longings for strange food, drowsiness, toothache, heart- burn, palpitation of the heart, constipation and piles are very common. As the mother is called upon to nourish two lives instead of one, it is but natural for important changes to occur in the different systems of her body. The spleen and liver increase in size. The skin is altered ; the urine becomes more abundant ; the nerves are highly strung; and generally she be- comes fretful, irritable, and very sensitive. The new life must live as she does, except in breath- ing. Its growth must have proper nourishment in order to lay a good foundation. The quality and char- acter of the mother's blood are altered and the quan- tity is increased. The heart enlarges and remains larger (by one-fifth of its natural size), after the birth of her child if she nurses her baby, as preparing milk requires more blood. Nature provides the placenta, commonly called "aft- erbirth," for the nourishment and protection of the fetus (infant). In the afterbirth is what is called waters. This not only guards the delicate body of the infant from jars and shocks, but also causes the move- ments of the child to be less painful to the mother. Likewise it makes the birth of the child easier, as it lubricates the parts. As the infant is nourished and kept alive by the blood of the mother, and as the child depends entirely upon her blood for its life, the fluid must not only contain sufficient nutriment (food), and be properly 24 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY purified, but it must circulate normally. The fetal (infant) blood constantly communicates with the mother's blood in the afterbirth by a process called endosmosis — the mingling of two liquids by passing through a separate membrane, but neyer directly mingling with it. If these functions are not well per- formed the future health of the little one is affected. REST^ BATHING AND EXERCISE. A pregnant woman requires more rest than one that is not pregnant. She should ayoid late hours and ''oyer- doing/' so as to allow her body to build up properly. A pregnant woman, howeyer, is by no means an in- yalid, and should go about her usual household duties, with the exception of heavy lifting or reaching up. A pregnant woman should rest and be quiet a good share of the time during the last two or three months of pregnancy. Oyerdoing has often caused a premature birth and sometimes the death of the infant, besides the injury done the mother. The uterus is heayy and a woman can easily injure herself. In the same way she should take plenty of exercise in the open air, but not fatigue herself; and should sleep with plenty of fresh air in her bedroom to purify the blood. As the skin undergoes a change during this period, she should bathe at least twice a week, rubbing the skin with a coarse towel to keep the pores open and allow all impurities to pass out. CARE OF yAGINA. When a woman is troubled with discharges from the vagina, she should wash out the vagina once a day with castile soap and plenty of water, as hot as can be borne, using a fountain syringe. If, during pregnancy, there is an itching of the parts, she should grease well with pure leaf lard once or twice a day. URINE. All pregnant women are more or less troubled in some way with urine (water). THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 25 Toward the end of pregnancy it is not unusual for them to have some difficulty in passing urine, while the desire to do so becomes very frequent. A pregnant woman should consult her physician in the early months of pregnancy, and at different times should give him a sample of the urine to analyze, lest there be albumen in the urine. Neglect of this has caused the death of more than one mother. A severe headache or a dropsical condition, or even swelling of the feet and ankles, should lead to an imme- diate examination of the urine. Samples for such tests should be taken from the urine first passed in the morning at the time of arising. Irritation about the bladder with incontinence or retention of the urine can often be relieved by a laxa- tive; or by the use of cream of tartar. A good pinch of soda in a glass of water is beneficial when the urine contains sediment. Lemons should be eaten during this period once or twice a day, as they improve the quantity and quality of the urine. Juice of lemons acts on the liver, and may be used in cases of constipation. If the urine is scant or offensive, it can be remedied by a cup or more of hot salt water four times a day, using one-fourth teaspoonful of salt to a coffee cup of hot water. CONSTIPATION. Women who are not naturally constipated will be- come so during pregnancy. After confinement they will become regular again. Owing to this condition, it is almost a necessity for the bowels to move once a day, or there is danger of piles, and a feeling of tenderness in the region of the uterus (womb) which may cause some inconvenience in walking or standing. A pregnant woman should eat plenty of fruit, and especially oranges, to remedy this condition. The use of hot water, seasoned with a little salt, is very, bene- ficial in toning the digestive tract, and is excellent for constipation. The hot water should be sipped at the temperature at which tea or coffee is liked. The salt 26 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY in the water will stimulate the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, and act as a tonic. At the same time it will prevent heartburn in a large measure, and also cause the gas in the stomach to be belched. Commence by drinking one cupful of hot water with a scant one-fourth teaspoonful of salt in it one-half hour or, so before each meal. This amount of salt in the water will not produce vomiting, as a good tea- spoonful of salt is usually used to one cup of luke- warm water for that purpose. CARE OF THE TEETH. During pregnancy the woman should take the very best care of her teeth, so as to prevent their decay as far as possible. It is very common for the mother to lose one or two teeth at this time. The acidity of the mouth is very destructive to them, and for that reason the mouth should be well rinsed with clean warm water after each meal together with listerine. Listerine will cause a burning sensation at first, but will kill the germs and heal the mucous membrane of the mouth. Decaying of the teeth is supposed to be due to the fact that some of the bone material for building the frame of the child may be obtained in this way. If every mother would add one teaspoonful of lime water to every glass of water she drinks, and would take reg- ularly for the first four or five months Fellow's Syrup of Hypophosphites, plenty of bone material for the growing child would be supplied, and the decay of her own teeth in a large measure prevented. The latter is also one of the very best tonics for the pregnant woman. To remove tartar from the teeth, or prevent its forma- tion, the pregnant woman should use once a day Euthy- mol tooth paste. This is harmless, whitens the teeth, and prevents their discoloration and decay. If the gums are well brushed with Euthymol paste on a stiff tooth brush their red pufiiness will disappear and they THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 27 will be brought to a healthy condition. They may bleed at first, but this will soon cease. ENLARGEMENT OF THE ABDOMEN. The abdomen of a pregnant woman commences gen- erally to enlarge about the third month. At that time she should massage the abdomen each night before re- tiring. To do this, she should first bathe the abdomen with soap and warm water, dry it thoroughly, and then apply vaseline, rubbing it in Avell. The treatment will cause the walls of the abdomen to give, without breaking apart. Vaseline is much better than olive oil, as it will soften the muscles more satisfactorily. As pregnancy advances and the womb becomes heavy^ it is well to wear during the day an abdominal belt sold for that purpose. DURATION OF PREGNANCY. The average duration of the pregnancy period is sup- posed to be forty weeks, or one week over nine calendar months. A woman may become pregnant at any time between her monthly periods. Many mothers miss their count and think they have gone overtime. This is rarely the case; the trouble lies in the count. Some women will become impreg- nated just after they cease to be unwell,^ and some just before they become unwell. The most accurate way to count is figuring nine months and three weeks from the day a woman ceases to be unwell, or five months from the time life is first felt in the womb. Some will feel life at an earlier date than others. Every woman is a law unto herself. SEX OF CHILD. If a woman becomes pregnant within ten days of the time of her monthly period, if she is regular, the child will be a boy. If she becomes pregnant within ten days after her period, the child will be a girl. 28 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY CHAPTER 4. DIET IN PREGNANCY. There are many theories concerning the diet of a pregnant woman. The future welfare of the infant, and the mother too, are often partly, if not entirely, over- looked. An easy, painless childbirth seems to be the important end in view. After years of experience and testing of many popular theories, it has been found that it is not so much what a woman eats as it is her build that causes difficult labor. The Indian woman has long been pointed to as a model for the American Avoman in this particular. Her mode of life has been said to be the reason for her easy childbirth. The modern pregnant woman is ad- vised not to eat meat, for fear of large bones and corresponding difficult labor. This advice is given despite the fact that the Indian woman knows nothing of diet and lives principally on meat and fish — (buffalo and deer meat in the past). Some other reason besides a meat diet must be found for the easy labor of the squaw, who would step aside, give birth to her child, and reappear again apparently not in the least inconvenienced. This reason — the true secret of easy childbirth, must center in the build of the woman. The Indian woman is wide through the pelvis and vagina. Constant sitting in a squatting position may have something to do with it, as she seldom sits in any other position. The same thing is true of the Eskimo woman, and many other semi-civilized or bar- barous races, although they exist chiefly on a meat diet. The American woman maj- be wide through the pelvis, but with a small and narrow vagina, child labor is bound to be attended with much pain, no matter what her diet has been. Conversely, she may be nar- row through the pelvis, but have a large, loose vagina, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 29 and labor then will of necessity be mild, in many cases with scarcely any pain whatever. There are many women who eat scantily during pregnancy, in order, as they suppose, to have an easier childbirth. No true mother would ever harbor such a thought, as she only does her own body injury, and gives birth to a weak and poorly nourished baby, handi- capped in its feeble struggle for existence. Some of these unlucky infants are born dead; some die soon after birth, unable to go through the critical teething period. Some have convulsions, rickets (or bone starvation), frontenal wide and open, cleft palate, and other troubles. A pregnant woman has to give her very life to her unborn child. Every atom of the little body is made up from her body, ''bone of her bone, flesh of her flesh." The woman who diets herself becomes weak- ened and run down, and is in no condition to go through the ordeal of labor. She generally gets up from her bed unable to take up added family cares or the nurs- ing of her baby. A pregnant woman should eat such food daily as w^ill keep her own body nourished and at the same time supply every element for the framework and flesh of her growing infant. To do this, she should eat a variety of foods, and ought to gain in flesh steadily through pregnancy. There is a difference in vegetable protein and protein of meat. Our bodies are made up of meat protein. Vegetable protein can not make as strong healthy bodies as meat protein. The average woman has a better appetite during pregnancy than at any other time, as Nature wishes to build up the body in order to get the mother in the best possible condition for delivery, for the subsequent nursing and additional duties of motherhood. Let the pregnant woman eat plentifully of rare, juicy, tender steaks, fried without grease in a hot skillet. Let her have a variety of food — vegetables, fruit, nuts — in fact, anything and everything she- craves. Whatever her system lacks she will crave. Nature seeks to supply every element and make up 30 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY every deficiency, both in her own body and in the grow- ing infant — bone structure, muscles, tissues, vital or- gans, brain, hair, nails, etc. If the mothers would supply these necessary elements, few abnormal or de- formed children would be born. Let the mother eat as often as she is hungry, and eat until satisfied. Then she will bear healthy children, and her own body will not suffer so much from supply- ing the things that must go to make up her baby's body. STRANGE CRAVINGS. It is a well known fact that the pregnant woman often craves strange food, as Nature demands that the mother make up for what is taken from her own self to build up the body of the infant. She will crave for certain kinds of food that contain these elements. Women have craved chalk, starch, raw turnips, and other odd things. One woman craved dirt, and ate large amounts of it without any bad results. Her system lacked lime. Some women crave pickles and vinegar, lacking acid. Acid may be supplied by eating pickles, oranges or lemons. Lime water added to drinking water is an excellent article of diet during this period; and the same may be said of Fellow's Syrup of Hypophosphates, which will help to build up her own body together with that of the child. CHAPTER 5. MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. From time immemorial there has been a popular belief that impressions made upon the mind of a preg- nant woman would cause defects in the child which she was carrying in the womb at the time. The in- stance spoken of in the Bible, where God told Jacob how to mark the offspring of the fiock of Laban, shows that even in animals such impressions can be made. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 31 During the early part of the nineteenth century there appeared a number of books on this subject, the object of nearly all of them being to demonstrate that there was no ground for the belief. All of these works are now valueless, inasmuch as the arguments which they contained were based upon theories and not facts. It has become an established truth that maternal im- pressions are frequently made upon the unborn babe. Of recent years some high physicians have again dis- credited this belief; but facts are facts, and theories are theories. Nevertheless, it is true that maternal impressions are a phenomenon which no one can un- derstand. An excellent example of treatment during pregnancy was set in the olden days of Greece. The women of that nation were surrounded by beautiful, pleasant things ; nor were they allowed to worry or fret, or crave for anything unsatisfied. Pregnant women should avoid strange or unusual sights, should avoid anything displeasing or calling for sympathy. They should avoid places of excitement like the theatre or the circus. They should gratify every wish or longing as far as possible. ''Maternal longings" for certain articles of diet are said to be the cause of some of these marks and de- fects. A strong impression may be produced in this way. A very common belief is that if the mother has longed for some certain food, the child will keep its tongue thrust out until it is given a taste of whatever the food might have been. Frequently children have been born with the mark of some certain kind of fruit or vegetable somewhere on the body. A pregnant woman should have all of any article of diet she may crave, and as often as she wishes it. Maternal impressions are often produced simply by sight, without any particular emotion. More apt to cause a mark, however, are shocks, surprises, or things that call forth sympathy. Just why some women will mark their children, while so many others do not, is a mvsterv. 32 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY There is an old and popular belief that if a pregnant woman when she beholds some strange sight or some- thing that shocks her, will at once think of her unborn child and not touch her body anywhere with her hands for a few moments, in this way she will preyent the child from being marked. The reason why this belief is so popular is that so many children haye been born marked on the spot on the body where the mother placed her hands when she caused the mark on the child. One instance out of the great number is the case of Mrs. K. Her husband came home from fishing and laid a fish on the back of her hand. She wiped the back of her hand on her apron, touching her thigh as she did so. The baby when born had a perfect image of a fish on its thigh. A child may receiye a mark or defect at any time during ultra-uterine life. The younger the child, the more sensitiye the organism. It was belieyed in times past that a child could not be marked after the first six weeks of pregnancy, but there are a number of cases on record where children haye been marked two weeks before birth, and eyen twenty-four hours before birth. If a pregnant woman receiyes a shock or surprise and there is fear that she has marked the child in the womb, she should put it out of her mind as far as she is able, and not brood oyer the idea that she may haye marked it. CHAPTEK 6 MISCARRIAGE A pregnant woman should ayoid all excitement, and especially should she ayoid the lifting of heayy weights, for fear of bringing on a miscarriage. Some women will habitually miscarry at a certain time in pregnancy, seeming to be unable to carry the fetus past this period. AVomen who habitually mis- carry should, as the usual time approaches, be yery careful and spend much time in lying down. If she THE TRUTH ABOUT THP: BABY 33 once passes the critical time safely, the chances are that she will carry the child to the full time. Discharge of blood from the womb during pregnancy is the usual sign that miscarriage is impending. A physician should be sent for at once. In the meantime the patient should lie down, with the head low and a pillow under the hips. The patient should lie quietly in bed for about four days, or until all danger is passed; and should be very careful thereafter. The treatment of jjatients after they have miscarried is a most important one, and one that generally re- ceives little attention. It is common for women of the laboring and middle classes to go about their duties as early as the third day afterwards. In some cases the neglect or proper precaution may not result in any immediate ill-effects, but it often lays the foundation of chronic diseases of the generative organs. To mis- carry is against Nature's laws, and to transgress those laws will bring bad results, sooner or later. Too much stress cannot be placed upon the neces- sity of lying quietly in bed for at least a week or more, depending upon how far pregnancy had advanced. Any woman can better afford to lie quietly in bed for a week, than to spend months in misery and suffering afterwards. If a woman will lie in bed for this length of time, she will not be so apt to miscarry the next time; but getting up to soon causes a weakness of the uterus and forms the abortion habit. By way of illustration : A young married woman miscarried at three months. She was young and in- experienced, and got up and went about her duties too soon. She became an invalid; her physician said she probably would be one all her life. It took years of the most careful treatment to overcome the effects of that one experience. She learned a lesson that she never forgot; but at what a cost! Some women can do almost anything for a while ; some cannot do them at all ; but all pay the price sooner or later. 34 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY CHAPTER 7 ABORTION The Divine command was, "Be ye fruitful and multi- ply, and replenish the earth." The reward for the fruitful one was better health, greater satisfaction with life, and happiness, whether it was tree, flower, animal, or the greatest of God's creations, the woman. When God gave this command, He provided ways and means. He said, ^'He leadeth those gently that are with young." On the other hand, the barren fig tree He cursed. In olden times it was an honor to bear children ; and the married woman who was barren was looked upon Avith reproach. Her husband often put her aside and souffht after a woman who could bear him children. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 35 God's all-wise purpose was for the female to bring forth children; her body was planned and made Avith this object in view. Deep in the heart of every true woman He planted the desire for offspring. While it may give place for a time to ideas, notions, and love of ease, it will manifest itself in time. Often the awaken- ing does not come nntil the woman has reached the age of forty or more; then before she realizes it there comes a yearning which nothing can satisfy, for it comes from the depths of her being — that avenne in her makeup which has never been opened, and which noth- ing can open save the love of her own children. Sometimes she may take a cat, dog, parrot or other animal, and lavish the love of her heart upon it, trying to fill the void, but nothing really can take the place of what God has intended. The birth of a child opens a mother's heart, makes her sympathetic, kinder, more unselfish, more thoughtful of others ; with the birth of each succeeding child she becomes more and more sweet, more gentle to her fellow men; and there is awakened something within her which was not there before. The woman who will not bear children grows selfish, narrow, envious and often bitter; her makeup is warped, and she looks upon life with a different view. As she grows older the things which she once loved pall on her; there is no son or daughter to brighten and 36 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY gladden her heart. In younger days life Avas gay, other pleasures filled her heart, but — there comes a times when these worldly things lose their charm and she envies the happy young mother with her cooing baby. It is true that with motherhood comes more or less care and responsibility; and a true mother will natur- ally have to forego some pleasures for a while; but does not the love, the trust, the sweetness of a pure little child repay an hundredfold for every anxious moment? A look into the sweet eyes of her baby will make a mother forget a world of care and sorrow and pleasures foregone, pleasures which in the end could not satisfy. In the heart of every true man is a desire for a child. God planted it there. Many a man has said, "'What's life to me without wife and babies?" The child draws husband and wife together as nothing else can do. Some women obstinately refuse to bear children, pre- ferring freedom and ease; but they pay the penalty, and miss from their lives much sweetness and all that is worth while. Sometimes she loses the true, deep love of her husband, who in his heart if he be a man, must condemn her. Often a woman will desire a child, but the husband will not consent, for he may feel that he does not care for the expense and trouble of a family. In case one of the parents wishes children and the other does not, it is not right to condemn the longing one to go through life with that desire unfulfilled; for the happiness of the home may be wrecked thereby. While it is not best in many cases to have a large family and overtax the mother, still two or three children in a home will make it more like home; and are for the good of both husband and wife. ''A home without a child is like a garden without a flower." Abortion is almost never right; only when the life of the mother is at stake can it be condoned. The child is alive from the moment conception takes place, and to cause an abortion is to commit murder. If any steps THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 37 are to be taken at all, pregnancy itself should be pre- vented, rather than abortion. When a woman is anemic, dropsical, syphiletic, or tubercular, of course she should not have offspring unless these conditions can be largely overcome; but she should not permit pregnancy to take place. Abortion not only is murder, but also it surely wrecks the health of the woman, it making no differ- ence how the operation is performed; for it is a trans- gression of one of Nature's sternest laws and the re- sults are disastrous, often fatal. The writer has known personalh^ of cases where young, married women have not wanted offspring until later in life, and have used some remedy each month to bring on their periods. When they awake to the fact that their health is being wrecked, they will then have a child, expecting perfect health after its birth; but they are generally mistaken for those who trans- gress Nature's laws must of course pay the penalty. There are instances where an abortion is necessary to save the mother's life ; but even then, when the Avork is done under strictly sanitary precautions and under the supervision of a first-class physician, her health is affected, and a repetition of the act ends in her pre- mature death; no one is able to survive such opera- tions very long. A young, married woman, mother of two children, became pregnant the third time. Her husband felt that his family was large enough under the circumstances, as he was a man of very moderate means. The family physician refused to perform an operation on the grounds that it was not a life and death matter, so the young mother decided to perform it herself. Blood- poison set in; her life was given up; the timely skill of a physician managed to save her, but for what — She was a hopeless invalid at the age of 25 years. How often does the unlucky woman pay the penalty with her life for this awful mistake ; then too, she must remember her reckoning with God. 38 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY THE MOTHER PENITENT (Anonymous) There's a spirit waiting for me in the shadow Bve-and- bye; Tin J, tiny, nndeveloped, but it makes me fear to die. It is waiting there to claim me when I leave my life's duress, It is waiting there to name me as its mother murderess. I was weak, was workworn, weary, when its body formed in mine And I roughly cast it from me, with its germ of life divine. And it waits there at the Portal, at Eternity's dark door. I am fearful to be mortal, little child I never bore I Oh my baby, oh my baby, with the never-opened eyes, Do you know you bar your mother from the gates of Paradise ? But my love goes straining towards you murdered as you were by me. Towards the mouth I never suckled, towards the limbs I did not see. I have other children 'round me, agate eyes and breeze- blown hair, But a tie more strong has bound me to the child I would not bear. CHAPTEE 8 BABY^S FIRST CLOTHING A baby's outfit should consist of the following articles : Seven little white slips or dresses, for every day. One or two little white dresses, for best. One white nainsook underskirt, for best. Four white underskirts of either flannel or white outing flannel for every day wear. Three or four white cotton or silk underskirts. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 39 Eight white outing flannel bands, unhemmed, about fourteen inches long and four and one-half inches wide. Four pairs of white silk or cotton stockings. Four pairs woolen booties. Four white outing flannel night-dresses. Three dozen heavy canton flannel diapers. One dozen birds-eye linen diapers for early days of life. Instead of making the usual cotton-filled pads for the protection of the mattress from soil or urine, white cotton blankets cut in halves are excellent, easily washed and dried. Their merit for use in place of quilts lies in the fact that they are so easily laundried. The little white slips or dresses should be made about twenty-one inches long. This is short length. The old-fashioned way of making long baby clothes which get wet and uncomfortable around the little feet are fast going out of style. Outside of the fact that they feel uncomfortable and damp, they are likely to cause colic because of this condition; and prevent baby from kicking his feet about. It is also a waste of time and goods to make them long for a short time, then cut them off short for a longer time. The night dresses may be made long, however. Wash cloths and soft towels may be made from cheesecloth, well-laundered before use. Shirts, bands and diapers should be washed before using for baby. Unless the diapers are washed about three times, they will not absorb urine. Any white cloths may be washed and torn in squares to lay in baby's napkins for the first day or so to pro- tect the diapers; as the first bowel movements consist of a heavy, dark-looking substance called meconium. FOR BABY^S BASKET Two sizes of safety pins, large and small. One roll of absorbent cotton. One cake of pure white castile soap. One box of talcum powder (bland). One box of boric acid powder for eyes and mouth. 40 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY One bottle of two per cent solution of nitrate of silver for the eyes, just after baby's first bath. One medicine dropper. One roll of antiseptic gauze. One bottle of pure white vaseline. One bottle of olive oil. One roll of small tape, to tie navel cord. One opal jar of pure hog fat, rendered at home, for the purpose of removing the cheesy-looking substance which covers the new-born baby's body to a certain extent. CHAPTER 9 NECESSITIES TO PREPARE BEFORE LABOR The following necessities should be prepared before labor : One small white china pitcher. One white wash-bowl. One slop jar. One granite bed-pan. One bottle of Lysol, for cleaning purposes. One large roll of absorbent cotton. One package of straws such as are used at soda fountains. Several dozen sanitary napkins for the discharges after childbirth. One strip of birdseye linen, one and one-half yards long, to be used by the mother as a binder after child- birth. All old blankets and comforts should be saved for use during childbirth. The white pitcher is to be used to pour sterile water over the genital organs of the mother to cleanse them after the birth of the child. Some nurses will dip their hands in the water to test its temperature or to bathe the genital organs. This should not be permitted. Test the temperature of the water by pouring some from the pitcher onto the wrist. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 41 The cotton is to drv the genital organs after cleans- ing. The LysoI — a few drops of it — is to be nsed in the water for antiseptic purposes, for cleansing of the parts. The package of straAvs is for the patient to nse in drinking all liquids during the first few days. SANITARY NAPKINS In preparing sanitary napkins, get about thirty yards of cheap white cheese cloth and scYeral rolls of cotton, as well as one or two packages of common pins. A few yards of cheap white muslin will also be needed. Cut the cheesecloth crosswise into strips about eighteen inches deep; and the cotton into strips four and one- half inches wide by sixteen inches long. Fold a strip of cotton into each piece of the cheesecloth. Xo basting will be needed, as they will remain folded. The next step is to diYide the napkins into bunches of two each ; and to pin into a piece of the muslin each bunch (old, clean, white muslin will do). Place about four of these bundles in a pan and set it in a slow OYen — slow to preYcnt burning — and bake from two and one-half to three hours. This process \Yill sterilize them, killing the germs and making them fit for the use intended. Let them remain in their muslin coYering until they are needed for use. The nurse should not handle them except at the edge of each end, thus aYoiding contami- nation. C H A P T E E 10 I PAINLESS CHILDBIRTH Because the Indian women were noted for painless child-bearing, it has been commonly belicYed that it was not natural for woman to haYe a painful child- birth, proYided she liYcd close to nature. This at best is merely a theory. White AYomen haYe tried it with varying success, some of the births they gave being in- 42 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY strumental, otliers almost painless. The cases of diffi- cult labor were with woraen of very small, narrow build, or where the bones of the pelvis and walls of the vagina were very rigid. The cases of painless birth were just the opposite, with walls and vagina relaxed and expanded readily, and with the pelvis bones wide. The Bible speaks of the cries of a woman in travail, showing that it is natural for childbirth to be accom- panied by some pain. Women have tried different remedies and ways of lessening the pains of labor. Sitz baths have been thought to be good by some, but they are not approved by many physicians, as some women have brought on miscarriage by their use. Others have tried rubbing the abdomen with some advertised remedy, but if the walls of the vagina were rigid, the remedy did little good. Olive oil or vaseline rubbed on the abdomen will cause the muscles or walls to yield, but will not affect the vagina. Low diets have likewise been tried in order to have as painless a birth as possible. A diet of nothing but fruit and vegetables, containing little bone-building material, may cause the birth to be easier, as the bones of the child in that case would be very soft. The low diet, however, does not affect the vagina — merely weakens the mother's body and makes her unfit to nurse her child. The blood becomes impoverished, while de- caying teeth, and falling hair result, as well as an easier birth. The child itself will be soft-boned, weakly, and unfit to cope with life. Every mother's greatest desire should be to give of her best to her offspring, and to have a healthy child. A weak, sickly, poorly-nourished infant saps the strength of an over-worked mother. Mrs. C, being a small, narrow-built woman, had just had a very difficult labor. With the next pregnancy, she decided to live upon such diet as would make as little bone-building material as possible. When this unlucky infant was born, the birth was much easier than the previous one. From birth the baby girl was a great care, so delicate that she was not expected at first THE TRUTH ABOUT TPIE liABY • 43 to live. Her bones were soft; teething was difldcult; she was tronbled with indigestion and anemia. From birth to womanhood she was an invalid, able to attend school only part of the time; and not expected by her physician to live through puberty. She was unfit for wifehood or motherhood; her life was ruined through her ill-health. The most nourishing food could not undo the evil that was w^rought, for her foundation from the beginning was too poor to give a footing for health afterward. There is one safe remedy for causing relaxation and softening of the muscles of the vagina — beef suet and pure leaf lard (fat from the intestines of a hog). In preparing it, render the beef suet and leaf fat in separate vessels. While it is hot, add to every five parts of the leaf fat two parts of the beef suet. Let it get cold, then cut into squares about three-fourths of an inch wide. On retiring at night, insert one of these suppositories as far up in the vagina as possible. The heat of the body will cause it to melt. This treat- ment should be commenced about five weeks or two months before expected delivery. To commence earlier, of course, will do no harm. CHAPTER 11 SIGNS OF APPROACHING LABOR Near the latter part of the ninth month, certain changes take place which indicate that labor is not far distant. With the majority of women there will be a sinking of the abdominal swelling. The upper end of the womb which at the beginning of the ninth month reached as high as the pit of the stomach, now falls a little below this point. With this change of the posi- tion of the womb, walking becomes more difficult and the desire to urinate becomes more frequent. The move- ments of the child become more frequent. When labor is about to commence there will be an appearance of a slight discharge of mucus, streaked with blood. In some cases the first sign of approach- 44 * THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY ing labor is the breaking of the water. This frequently occurs with no pains felt for several hours afterward. In others the first sign of labor is the recurrence of slight pains at regular intervals, gradually increasing in intensity until they reach their height, then pass off. There will be a frequent desire to go to the stool, as Mature often empties the intestines at this time. Labor is divided into three stages. The first stage is the dilation (opening) of the mouth of the womb; the second stage lasts from the moment that dilation is complete until the child is born. The third or last stage includes the time of the birth of the child to the coming away of the afterbirth. In the early part of labor the pains are slight, occur at intervals, and are felt mostly in the lower part of the front of the abdomen. As labor advances, the pains become stronger and more energetic; following one another more closely. Each pain is feeble at the beginning, increases in intensity until it reaches its height, then gradually passes off. At first the pains may be thirty minutes apart, then fifteen minutes, then ten minutes, and oftener. Labor pains are caused by the contraction of the uterus, or womb. During a labor pain the lower part of the abdomen, from just below the navel, will become hard and firm. After the pain passes the abdomen will be soft. Some women have had Avhat is called false pains, and have sent for the nurse and physician. When the woman feels the abdomen harden during a pain and when the pains come at regular intervals, increase in intensity, then pass away gradually — the woman may know that labor it about to begin. PREPARATION FOR LABOR As soon as the mother sees she is in labor she should send for the physician. She should take an enema of warm water, and see that her boAvels move freely. She should have an abundance of hot water handy. Next the bed should be prepared, with a large piece of oil cloth or rubber sheeting over the mattress and pinned with safety pins to it. Over this should be a THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 45 clean sheets with an old comfort, cotton blanket, or lot of newspapers pnt over the sheet ; and with an old worn- ont sheet folded and placed over the papers or blanket. The remaining bed covering mav be arranged according to the season of the year. A good, strong sheet should be tied around the foot of the bed for the patient to pull on during her pains. The patient should plait her hair, a braid on each side. The underwear is best removed, unless the mother desires to keep on her undervest. A clean nightdress may be put on, and a loose wrapper may be put on over the nightgown, if the mother desires to sit up. If the feet are cold, she should take a warm foot-bath. In the room where the patient intends to be confined should be collected all the clothing which will be needed for the mother and the expected infant. There should be a clean wash-bowl, also a good sup- ply of fresh, clean towels and plenty of soap. Other things needed include a w^hite cotton blanket to receive the infant in; a piece of strong, white tape to tie the cord with, about ten inches long; plenty of pure leaf lard (rendered at home) ; a bed-pan, and large roll of cotton. There should also be the boric acid solution, nitrate of silver, or whatever the physician has ordered for the baby's eyes. If the water breaks several hours before the child is born, the birth will be what is called a dry birth. Olive oil may be injected into the vagina to lubricate the parts and make the dry birth much easier. The injec- tions should be made with a syringe which has been boiled, and the hard rubber point which enters the vagina should not be touched by the nurse's fingers. The patient must lie on her back and remain quiet for a few minutes after the injections. CHAPTEK 12 WHEN THE PHYSICIAN IS ABSENT To prevent any inconvenience later on, the physician should be notified at the first sign of labor. No woman 46 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY should be so foolish as to trust her life and the life of her little one in the hands of a midwife, unless it is impossible to obtain a good medical attendant. If everything should go along smoothlv, a midwife of course might be all right ; but one never knows, and it is best to be on the safe side when life is at stake. The position of the child at the time of delivery some- times has to be changed. It may come forth feet first, or may present its shoulder, an impossible delivery. If the buttocks present, more or less difficulty is bound to occur. Again, sometimes the afterbirth adheres to the uterus, and the uterus has to be scrajjed to prevent the setting in of blood-poisoning and death of the mother. The very best of medical attendance, it is ob- vious, should always be obtained. Infants are frequently born before the physician ar- rives. When the nurse sees that the child is about to be born, she should scrub her hands thoroughly with soap and hot water, see that her finger nails are trimmed and clean, and dip her hands as a final precaution in a solu- tion of carbonic acid water — one teaspoon of acid to one pint and one-half of water. Then, without drying her hands, she may take a cloth which has been well sterilized (in a hot oven), and holding this in the palm of her left hand press against the bulging perineum ( opening into vagina ) , the fingers being directed back- ward so that the front edge of the perineum may receive the support. The object of this is to prevent the child's head from passing too quickly and lacerating the peri- neum. Nothing but harm is likely to result from at- tempts to enlarge the opening. Above all things, there should be no pulling, which frequently has been the cause of serious trouble. Xature must be allowed to do her own work. If the navel cord is found coiled around the child's neck or shoulders, it must be slipped over the child's head as quickly as possible, as circulation through the cord may cease, and the life of the child be sacrificed. If the child is born with membrane or veil over the face, it should be removed or the child will suffocate. If the child does not cry, the nurse should wipe out the child's THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 47 mouth as far back as possible to remove any mucus, then turn it on its side and spank it. As soon as the child cries it should be placed on its right side. This position is an important one for very evident reasons. The child's face must be turned from the maternal organs to avoid any sudden discharge that might come from them. It must be placed near enough to the mother to prevent the over-stretching of the navel cord. The navel cord must not be cut until the child cries, or breathes well and circulation in the cord is much lessened. The child must be brought into view before attempt- ing to tie the cord. It should be placed on its back, after which a piece of common white tape may be tied tightly and firmly around the cord about two and one- half inches from its body. The cord must be tied very tight, otherwise the blood vessels may not be closed sufficiently and the child may bleed to death. This having been done, the cord may be tied again an inch and one-half above this point nearer the mother 's body. Then the cord may be severed with a pair of sharp scissors, halfway between the places where it is tied. The infant should next be lifted care- fully so that it will not slip from between the hands, and wrapped in a warm cotton blanket, leaving the face exposed. It should be remembered that newborn chil- dren are slippery. Its eyes may be wiped with a piece of gauze dipped in boric acid solution; and the baby should be then laid on its right side in some safe place away from the light until convenient to care for it. As the body of the child is being born, the uterus (womb) should contract to the size of a ball five inches in diameter. If this does not take place, the womb should be firmly grasped through the walls of the abdo- men and be stimulated to contract. This is very im- portant, because if it does not take place the patient may bleed to death in a few minutes. The hand of the nurse should be kept pressed gently against the womb, kneading it occasionally in order to promote the recur- rence of a contraction strong enough to expel the after- birth. As long as the afterbirth remains, the patient is 48 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY not safe from dangerous flooding, but while the uterus continues firmly contracted and feels to the touch like a hard ball, there is but little danger. After five or ten minutes, if slight pains come on the mother should bear down a little and the cord should be pulled very gently. In many cases, this Ayill cause the afterbirth to come away. As it reaches the yulva, the mother should cease her efforts and the nurse should twist the afterbirth round and round on itself, ten or more times, gradually withdrawing it at the same mo- ment. This is to wind the membranes or bag into a string, if possible, inside the yagina, so that all may come away with the afterbirth. The mass, when re- moved, should be laid away for careful examination, in order to determine whether any part has been left in the womb. The attention of the nurse should then be immedi- ately returned to the mother; and her hand should be applied to the abdomen. The womb ought to feel under the touch as a ball of about three and one-half inches in diameter, and harder than before. If it does not so appear, the abdomen must be pressed firmly to in- duce it to contract. Should it not do so within a few minutes, the nurse must introduce her hand up the yagina into the cavity of the womb under strictly anti- septic conditions, and pull out the clots of blood which will probably be found there. Uterine contraction should be further stimulated, grasping the womb firmly through the walls of the abdomen. Uterine contraction is the mother-s only safety. If the womb is obstinate and will not contract after this treatment, a teaspoonful of ergot may be given in a little water, and the dose repeated in fifteen minutes. No more ergot should be given after the second dose. If flooding takes place before the physician has ar- rived, the pillow should be removed from beneath the patient's head and the hips raised, cold, wet cloths being in the meantime applied. The hand of the nurse must be kept firmly pressed against the womb. During this time the. patient must lie quietly. After flooding ceases, or in cases Avhere it does not THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 49 take place, a tight bandage should be applied to the patient's body. A towel or three napkins should be folded and placed where the nurse's hand has been pressed against the womb. Bandage eighteen inches wide and one and one-half j^ards long should be pinned tightly round the patient's body to prevent relaxation of the womb. After she is securely bandaged, the patient may be lifted up a little out of the wettest part of the bed, if it can be done without any effort on the part of the patient. Through fear of flooding, the patient must be kept always as quiet as possible for a few hours after child- birth, or at least until the blood has had time to clot firmly in the large, open-mouthed veins of the womb. When the patient has been made as comfortable as possible, a clean, sterilized napkin may be placed be- tween the thighs, the nurse's fingers being permitted only to touch the ends of it. The napkin must not be pressed too tightly against the vulva, lest it act as a plug and prevent the detection of flooding should it come on, as well as prevent the passing of blood clots. CHAPTER 13 CARE OF IVrOTHER AFTER CONFINEMENT After the patient has been made comfortable, she should have several hours of undisturbed rest, and if possible, sleep. The room should be kept quiet with blinds drawn, as childbirth is very hard on the eyes. The straining in childbirth affects the nerves of the eye and they are seldom as strong after childbearing as before. For the first day or so the patient will suffer from after-pains, though seldom with the first child. These pains are more severe when the infant is put to the breast. When the mother has thus rested, the infant should be put to the breast to get the colostrom, as the sub- stance which is in the breast is called. This colostrom acts as a physic on the baby as well as aff'ording nour- 50 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY ishment. The act of sucking stimulates the womb to contraction — so beneficial to the mother. For the first three days the patient should eat light, easily digested foods. She may eat all she wishes, but meat, potatoes and the heavy food-stuffs should be avoided. Toast, tea, cocoa, milk, eggs poached or soft boiled, soups, broths and easily-digested cereals should be chosen. No physic should be given until the morn- ing of the third day. Castor oil disguised by lemon juice brings very satisfactory results. To prepare it, take the juice of half a lemon, squeeze it into a cup, add two tablespoonfuls of castor oil, and squeeze tlie juice of the remaining half of the lemon on top of the oil. The patient in this way will swallow the dose Avithout tast- ing the castor oil. The stomach and intestines require a thorough cleaning out. URIXATIXG It has been found in some cases very difficult to empty the bladder after confinement. The patient in no wise must be lifted upon the vessel, as instant death has been known to result from such attempts. Instead, place a warm bedpan beneath the patient, and if she finds it impossible to urinate, the nurse may take a small, white, clean pitcher and pour prepared water on the vulva of the patient. This Avater must be clean and warm ; and previously boiled and cooled. Its tem- perature while in the pitcher may be tested by pouring a little on the nurse's hand. She in no case should stick her fingers into the water. Sometimes the patient may be caused to urinate by the nurse pouring water from one pan into another. If all efforts fail, the nurse should boil a rubber catheter, grease with pure A^aseline, and then draw the urine, If the nurse is not experienced in using a catheter, the patient may roll over on her hands and knees, and in this position she generally can pass urine. She should turn very carefully, and not raise herself too high. This has been done quite successfully. Each time after the urine is passed, the nurse before moving the bedpan from under the patient, may pour THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 51 some warm, sterilized water over the parts to cleanse them ; and then give the patient a clean napkin. Urine shonld be passed within twelve honrs after childbirth, as nnich annoyance has occnrred when it was not. SORENESS AND BLOATING On the afternoon of the second day the nnrse should unpin the bandage around the patient's abdomen and massage the abdomen for about fifteen minutes. A little warmed olive oil may be poured on it first, then commencing at the right side, she may rub toward the left of the abdomen, going round and round, using both hands, and letting one hand follow the other she may rub deeply and firmly. This treatment is exceedingly beneficial, as it starts the natural functions to working, helps remove the gas which forms after childbirth ; and takes away the soreness which is so annoying about the third day. It also stimulates the womb to contracting, and aids the flow and passing of bloodclots. In cases where the flow is scant or there seems to be considerable soreness, the patient should be massaged twice daily. In all instances the patient should be massaged at least once a day, for eight or nine days. She should also wear the tight bandage for five or six days. All women bloat to a certain extent after confine- ment, it first becoming noticeable on the second day. Some will have colic. Because of this easily-digested foods should be eaten, and tomatoes, pickles and cab- bage, etc., should all be avoided. The eating of these has caused serious results. All drinks such as milk, tea, etc., can be easily taken while in bed by the use of straws such as are used at soda fountains, or by the use of macaroni. IRRIGATION The nurse should never be allowed to give the patient a douche or w^ash out the vagina after confinement, unless otherwise ordered by the physician. In six or seven days, however, if the flow is scant and foul-smelling, the patient if the physician permits may be given a douche. The syringe should be boiled, 52 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY especially the liard rubber point which enters the va- gina. Water which has been boiled and cooled to the proper temperature should be ready, and after Lysol has been added, one teaspoonful to two quarts of the water, it may be poured into the fountain syringe and used. CARE OP GENITAL ORGANS The genital organs of the mother should be Avashed thoroughly after each urination. For this purpose water, boiled and cooled with a few drops of Lysol in it, should be placed in a pitcher and poured gently over the vulva and parts after a bedpan has been placed beneath the patient. The water should be at a blood heat, and may be tested by the nurse simply pouring out a little on her wrist. After the parts are cleansed, the w^ater should be carefully wiped away, with absorbent cotton or sterilized gauze ; but the vulva should not be touched with the fingers, nor should the gauze or cotton, where it has been handled, come in contact with the genital organs. Carelessness has caused the death of more than one mother, and great precaution must be exercised to pre- vent blood-poisoning. REST AFTER CONB'INEMENT Absolute rest after delivery must be granted the mother, if she wants to be strong and well after she gets up from her bed. She should not have any visitors until the baby is seven or eight days old and even then the callers should make their stay as brief as possible. On the second and third days after confinement, the mother will be thirsty and sometimes feverish and often very nervous, because of the milk approaching. This is even true when scarcely any milk comes. There must be no excitement about or near the sick room. If any complications have set in, they generally manifest them- selves on the third day. Should there be any chills and fever, the physician should be notified at once. For at least three weeks after confinement, the mother should rest quietly in bed. This may seem a longer time than necessary to some women, but any THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 53 mother, for the sake of her own health and for those dependant npon her, can well afford to remain quietly in bed for that time than be too anxious to get on her feet, and be miserable afterward. The majority of women sit up on the ninth day and get up from bed on the tenth. Some women may be able to stand that sort of thing a few times, but sooner or later they pay the penalty. Absolute rest is neces- sary after the long, trying months of pregnancy, and of nature taxed to the uttermost. The uterus has been nine months gaining its great size; and it will require months to regain its natural size and position. Because of the fact that the uterus is filled with nerves and blood-vessels, excitement or over-exertion frequently cause these to fill, and cause congestion or inflammation in the uterus. The woman who gets up too soon, and is on her feet or in an upright position too much, soon causes the heavy uterus to drop and this paves the way to chronic disease of the womb. A woman must be very careful not to take cold after con- finement, lest it settle either in the uterus or in the breasts, frequently causing the flow or lochia to cease. The flow or lochia should continue for at least eight days after confinement. Beading and writing in bed after confinement should not be permitted. The eyes need absolute rest just as the rest of the body. Few^ women have as good eyesight after confinement as they did before, and while she is recovering, the sick room should be darkened. It is well-known that the straining incidental to childbirth affects the delicate nerves of the eye of the mother. THE BREASTS If the mother desides not to nurse the baby, the breasts should be bound. This is done by applying a wide bandage around the upper part of the mother's body. If, on the other hand, the babe is to nurse and a large supply of milk comes, more than it can take, the balance left in the breasts should be drawn off as the milk will decrease in quantity and baby later w^ll not have 54 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY enough to satisfy it as his gastric capacity increases. By drawing off the milk the breasts may be preyented from caking. BATHING It is the custom of some nurses to bathe the patient in bed. This is a yery dangerous thing to do and should not be permitted. The face, hands, neck and ears may be washed each morning, but as for the rest of the body, it is not necessary for the present, and those who take chances may rue the consequences. The body is exposed to considerable extent and the mother stands an excel- lent chance of taking cold, which might easily proye fatal. CARE OF THE BED Each morning should bring to the mother a clean nightdress. If she has on an underyest, it had best re- main until the mother gets up. To put on the fresh nightdress, the following directions may be followed : Let the skirt of the soiled gown first be pulled up to the back of the mother's neck; then let the sleeyes be pulled off, and the nightdress then remoyed. The sleeyes of the fresh nightdress should be put on first, after which the remainder will be easy. The mother may place her arms around the nurse's back and hold firmly, and in this way the nurse can easily raise her up and slip the nightdress oyer the shoulders. To remoye the soiled undersheet, begin at the farthest end from the patient and shoye the soiled sheet towards her as far as possible. Then the clean sheet may be tucked along the ends and side and shoyed to the edge of the soiled sheet. The pillow may now be placed on the clean side, and the bedclothes adjusted. If the sheet seems cold, a warm blanket may be placed down for the patient to lie on when she rolls oyer. After she has rolled oyer on the clean side, the soiled sheet can be taken away, and the clean one drawn smooth and tucked in around the edges. To preyent any chilled feeling because of the new sheet, a blanket may be slipped under the quilts and oyer the patient while the upper sheet is changed. Let THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 55 the upper sheet be folded crosswise, and tucked in at the foot of the bed underneath the other clothes. Then it may be drawn up into a position over the patient, while the soiled sheet is being drawn down to the foot and removed. This blanket may be taken out after she feels warm, or the chill is off the fresh sheet. Bed- clothing should never be thrown off the patient; and the feet must always be kept warm. Crumbs should be carefully kept from the bed, and strict attention paid to keeping the lower sheet and clothing beneath the patient smooth. Let the sheets and bed-clothing be smoothened each evening; and ad- justed. The pillow should be shaken up and the patient made comfortable. C H A P T E K 14 CARE OF INFAXT AFTER DELIVERY Before attempting to care for the baby, the nurse should see that the room is nicely warmed. The child has been accustomed to a temperature of about 100° F., and any prolonged exposure in a cold room way be followed by disease and even death. All doors and windows must be closed. The nurse should prepare and have within easy reach the following: The baby's clothing warmed; one cup of pure home- rendered hog's lard, blood warm ; one cup of boric acid solution and a cup of cool w^ater w^ith a teaspoon; a bottle of two per cent solution of nitrate of silver and a medicine dropper ; pure castile soap ; talcum powder ; safety pins, large and small ; soft, warm towels, wash- cloth; an old, soft white cloth, and a square of white, absorbent cotton; a piece of white, sterilized gauze; a basin of warm water. The nurse should not sit too close to the fire, for the skin of a newborn baby is very sensitive and delicate. However, she should sit near enough for baby to be comfortable. The room may seem too close for the nurse, but the baby is the important object. 56 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY The baby's eves should be treated first. The nurse may take a square of the gauze dampened Ayith a little clean water and gently wipe them, albeit thoroughly. Then, with a clean medicine dropper which has neyer been used, she may drop a drop of the two per cent solution of nitrate of silyer into each eye. This solu- tion is yaluable and will preyent any trouble with the eyes later, if there should be any cause, Next, with a clean square of gauze dipped in the boric acid solution she may yery carefully wipe out the baby's mouth, around the gums, sides of the cheeks and the tongue. She must ayoid roughness, as the membrane lining of the mouth is yerj tender. Finally she may giye the baby one or two teaspoonfuls of water to drink. Let it be remembered that the child's body must be kept coyered as much as possible. When born, the surface of the child is generally coy- ered with a thick coating of yermix caseosa, or cheesy- looking substance resembling lard or tallow in appear- ance. This is a product of the glands of the skin, and protects the delicate skin of the child from the influ- ence of the liquid or water in Ayhich it has been soaking before birth. Some children are more thickly covered than others. Soap and Ayater will not remove this coat- ing, but it is easily taken off by hog's lard. To remove this coating, which is the second step in the care of the baby, let the nurse take a piece of clean, soft, old cloth and dip into the warm hog's lard. Be- ginning at the head, grease the child thoroughly to its feet, then with clean gauze gently wipe the lard ofi:'. Following this, the lard may be washed off with soap and warm water, but great care must be used to keep soaj) from the baby's eyes or mouth. Some nurses have let soap very carelessly get into baby's eyes, causing the poor infant suffering, as well as inflaming its eyes. The nurse also must be careful in bathing baby not to rub too hard and break the delicate skin. Before any of the baby's clothing is put on, the stump of the cord must be dressed. A hole should be cut or torn in the center of the square of absorbent cotton, through w^hich the stump of the cord may be passed, THE TRI'TH ABOUT THE BABY 57 after which the cotton is placed on the abdomen. The stump shonld be first powdered about with talcum powder, before the square of cotton is applied. The nurse should turn the stump upward toward the baby's chin, lav two or three thicknesses of gauze over the cotton and then apply the baby's band. Many nurses draw the band too tight around the abdomen, making the baby very uncomfortable, as well as interfering with its breathing and adducing other bad results. The band should be applied in a comfortable manner and pinned with small safety pins. Care should be taken to see that the band is smooth where pinned. Do not powder the baby from head to foot with tal- cum powder to clog the pores. The baby's skin is active and the pores need to be opened instead of closed up with powder to hinder them to throw off impurities. All the powder needed is a little dusted under the arms and in the groins. If the baby is bathed properly each day with plenty of soap on the washcloth, and is gently patted dry, there Avill be no soreness. A little olive oil rubbed under the arms and in the groins and creases will be found very healing and aid in preventing sore- ness. (See Care of Genital Organs.) The baby is now ready to receive the balance of its clothing. It should be put to the mother's breast, as the infant will need nourishment and the mother needs it to obtain continued contraction of the uterus. If the baby's feet are cold, a hot water bottle may be placed close to them, first wrapping the bottle in a piece of flannel. Placing the infant to the breast at this early date is most desirable, as it will learn to suck, whereas if it is not put there for several days the fac- ulty of sucking seems to be lost, at least the child Avill refuse to take the breast. If the mother wishes to have a good milk supply, the baby should be put to the breast regularly every two hours during the day and every three hours at night until the milk comes. If for any reason it is not placed there, a good dose of olive oil should be given it to work off the meconium with which the bowels of the newborn child are loaded and which must be driven out after 58 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY birth, lest a serious impairment of tlie digestion will take place. Baby S was not put to the mother's breast to re- ceive what Nature had intended, until the third day. The excuse was, the mother's breasts might become sore if baby was allowed to nurse. Neither was the baby given olive or castor oil to unload the bowels. The bowels moved, but it took about four days for all the meconium to pass, which should have been passed dur- ing the first twenty-four or thirty-six hours. The result was, the child's digestive organs became so impaired that the wee life was dispaired of. The child would nurse regularly for twelve hours, then would vomit nearly all it had taken during this time. Scarcely a particle of food passed from the stomach into the in- testines. The kidneys and liver almost ceased to act. The baby would not void urine scarcely once in thirty- six hours. If ideas and theories were all laid aside and mother Nature had a chance, few babies would die. But as long as we refuse, and desire the way which brings disastrous results, we have to suffer. Warm water in a feeding bottle may be given baby for the first few hours to cleanse the digestive tract, but the practice should not be continued. The child should lay on its right side for the first two hours after birth, and then be turned regularly every two hours lest the head become one-sided while the bones are soft. The baby's head should not be covered, because of the active circulation and development of the brain after birth. Nevertheless, care must be used in protecting the eyes from light, both natural and artifi- cial. Baby should never lie and look at a bright light, or the nerves of the eyes may be injured. It was also cause sore eyes. (See Care of Baby's Eyes.) THE NAVEL CORD A clean, fresh band may be applied to the child's body without disturbing the stump of the navel cord. In four to eight days the cord will slough off, and when that happens, the navel should be bathed and greased with olive oil. A square of gauze (three THE TRUTH ABOUT TPIE BABY 59 inches), comprising four or five thicknesses, may be greased and phiced over the navel. Over tliis may go the band. The navel should be bathed each morning Avith soap and water. Should there be soreness, or if the navel refuses to heal properly, it is excellent to dust in some iodoform. This will give satisfactory results. Unless a child is ruptured a band is not needed after two months, and a knitted band with shoulder pieces may be substituted. The purpose of the band is to keep in place the dressings of the cord, and to furnish sup- port to the abdomen, as well as protect the intestines. If it is too snug it will interfere with the child's breath- ing, as a child uses its abdominal muscles with each breath. Also, a tight band will often cause an infant to vomit. CHAPTER 15 PREMATURE AND ABNORMAL CHILDREN The lives of many premature infants are sacrificed yearly because the average mother or nurse (un- trained) knows nothing of their care. Every effort must be made to conserve the heat of the prematurely born infant. To do this succesfully an artificial media must be supplied to take the place of the one that Na- ture had supplied. The ^'hatching" must be complete. Incubators are made for this purpose, similar to the incubator in which chickens are hatched. Where par- ents are unable to secure the use of an incubator, a useful method of obtaining heat can be used in their own home. To do this, take a large size clothes-basket and line it both with a double blanket and then with two or three thicknesses of newspaper. Stand around its sides and over the bottom a row of hot water bottles (beer bottles filled with hot water for the sides serve very nicely). Then reline with another blanket and place a thin pillow over the bottom I'ow of bottles. There you have an incubator which will answer the purpose. 60 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY The infant must be supplied with an even tempera- ture of heat from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It is necessary to have a thermometer. If the infant gets too hot, it will become restless and breathe rapidly, or if too cold it will cry. These observations must guide in regulating the temperature. Prematurely-born infants should not be given a gen- eral bath. The entire body should be well greased with pure hog lard (leaf fat rendered at home is best) ; and the cheesy substance wiped off very carefully with cot- ton so as not to break the tender skin. Then let the infant be re-greased with the lard, and the whole body except round the head, face and arms should then be wrapped in raw cotton. Then around the whole should be wrapped a bandage of cheese cloth. This is best applied in strips of about two and one-half inches wide. A bunch of cotton should be placed over the anus to receive the urine and feces. To remove the soiled cotton, turn the child on its side, remove the cotton, wipe off the buttocks with moist cotton and replace with fresh cotton. The child should not be removed from its cotton wrapping for a soap and water bath until such time as it should rightfully have been born. A premature infant will sleep nearly all of the time, if kept warm and properly fed and attended. Great care should be taken, when the infant is to be fed on arti- ficial food, as premature infants are more or less prone to rickets. ABNORMAL INB'ANTS Not every child at birth is healthy. Sometimes it is not only weak, but the victim of disease, sometimes apparently dead, and sometimes really dead — still-born. The causes of these abnormal conditions are many and varied. They are the results of disease of the foetus during gestation, or the results of accidents of gesta- tion. In the beginning the child is only a small cell, then it grows into a matured foetus and to a child. When there is healthy generation, these marvelous changes take place naturally by law of Nature. If the building material out of which the future child is to be con- THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BAliY 61 striicted is good and every element is supplied, a healthy, robust infant will be the natural consequence. Healthy men and healthy women have healthy off- spring naturally, providing the mother eats the proper food during gestation. But as all men and women are not health}', either having inherited some disease or acquired bad habits which naturally breed disease, the offspring of such are naturally imperfect. Innumerable children die before birth, or at birth, or shortly after birth. If the infant is born blue, with features shrivelled, and more or less emaciated; and when, instead of the hearty cry of a healthy infant, there is a convulsive gasp or low moans or gurgling of air, the child is breathing imperfectly, either because it is too feeble to expand its lungs or it may be pre- mature with its organs insufficiently developed. In this case, the child will need very careful hand- ling. It should be greased with hog's lard, but not bathed with soap and water. Instead, dress the cord, put on the binder, shirt and diaper, and wrap up well, keeping it warm. Sometimes there seems to be an ob- struction to respiration (breathing). If after washing out the mouth of the infant the obstruction is not re- moved, take the infant by its legs with its head down and give it a spank or brisk shake. This will often remove the trouble. One very essential thing is to apply external heat by means of hot water bottles or hot bricks wrapped in flannel and laid close enough to the child to make it warm and comfortable, but not close enough to burn the infant. Often these babies die if permitted to get cold. Cases have often been reported where feeble children have been given up for dead, but left lying close to a hot fire which brought them back to life. Another essential thing which should not be over- looked is nourishment. Infants have been saved by the use of brandy or whiskey and water. One teaspoonful of whiskey or brandy in five teaspoonfuls of warm, sweetened water will be found the proper proportion. One or more teaspoonfuls of this mixture (warmed), 62 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY may be given every thirty minutes or so as may be necessary. APPARENT DEATH Children are sometimes born apparently dead. This apparent death soon becomes real death nnless proper means are used to forestall it. The face ma.j appear red with bluish spots and swollen, the eyes prominent and bulging; again, the child may be pale. In this swollen or apoplectic condition the child lies appar- ently dead, does not breathe or move. The heart may or may not beat. Sometimes twisting of the cord, or the cutting off of the circulation in the cord, will pro- duce asphyxia. In cases where there is every appearance of asphyxia and the child's head and face are swollen, the most successful remedy is the bleeding of the child — that is, cutting the cord and letting from one to three table- spoonfuls of blood escape. If the cord does not bleed, there is little hope. Often while the blood is escaping from the cord a rosy tint will appear, first in the lips, then in the face of the child, and finally over the body. The child will breathe and its life is saved. The cord should be tied, so that the child will not bleed too much. If no blood comes from the cord or if the bleeding has no effect on the child, the next remedy is a hot bath, with temperature at 100° or 105° F. However, be sure that the water is not too hot as to scald the infant. This bath will act as a stimulant, relieve the over- loaded brain, and equalize circulation. The basin or bucket of hot water may be brought to the bed if the child has not been separated from the cord. Plunge the body in, leaving the head and face above the water. Let the child remain in the water for two or three sec- onds, then take the body of the infant out and dash cold water on the warm skin. This will often cause a sudden and full respiration. Should bleeding and hot water both fail to bring the child to life, then the only hope is false respiration. This is done by opening the mouth of the infant and blowing directly into its lungs. The attendant should place her mouth squarely next the mouth of the child. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 63 The nostrils must be held so as to prevent the air from escaping. Press on the stomach and blow in the mouth ; and when the lungs fill, press gently on the stomach to expel air. Repeat this as long as desirable. Cases frequently happen where the child is born apparently dead, but the swollen, apoplectic appearance is absent and the child is pale, seeming exhausted. A prolonged labor sometimes produces the extreme pallor. In this case, there is too little blood instead of too much as in the above instances. The cord must not be cut, but a large basin of Avater must be brought to the bed and the child, still attached to the cord, be plunged into the water. After one half minute, its body may be brought to the surface and cold water dashed in its face. After all pulsation in the navel cord has ceased, separate the child, grease and wrap in warm blankets and keep the infant warm. Brandy and water (warmed), may be given to revive the child as much as possible. These directions are to be followed only when no physician can be had. No woman should be without medical aid unless such is impossible. CHAPTER 16 CARE OF GENITAL ORGANS It is of the greatest importance to begin in early infancy an intelligent inspection and cleansing of the genital organs of either male or female. Although highly important, this frequently receives very scant attention. Nevertheless, it has such bearing upon the health of the boy or girl that no wise mother with the well-being of her child at heart will permit any pre- conceived ideas or notions of others to influence her or deter her. With girls, the caring of the genital organs is easier than with boys, but equally important. Let them be cleansed with soap and water, both vulva and clitoris, holding the lips open with the fingers. See that all secretions are washed away. Soap used freely will 64 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY often prevent irritations, and at the same time cure soreness. Never use talcum powder on the genital organs of a girl. In between the lips and about the clitoris it rolls up and is difficult to wash away. Uncleanliness causes irritation and trouble. Be sure to soap the wash cloth well, and after cleansing the organs, dry and apply olive oil instead of powder. Talcum powder may be used in the groins. Keeping these parts clean will prevent the formation of bad habits, habits not alone loathsome and disgust- ing, but detrimental to the phild's future health. Some- times the clitoris has became adhered and there is fre- quent desire to urinate, with other distressing symp- toms. The results will be the same as they are with boys that need circumcision, if the girl is not taken to a physician for operation and treatment. Let every mother be sure there is no abnormal condition of the genital organs. Have a physician make an examination of the organs when the child is one year old or less. MALE CHILDREN Immediately after birth the boy's penis should be examined by a physician to be certain there is an open- ing large enough for the child to pass urine. The fore- skin should be draAvn back over the shaft of the penis every morning, and any secretions be washed away with soap and water. Vaseline should be applied and the foreskin drawn back over the glans penis again. If the foreskin is not thus drawn back, the penis will become swollen and there will be serious results. If the foreskin is not easily pushed back from the glans penis, do not try to force it back. Instead, the boy should be circumcised. There are many who do not believe in circumcision ; just why is not clearly stated. Some think it is a Jewish law; but God made man, and He knew what cleanliness meant. Just why the foreskin of the penis is too long, no one can probably explain. Ultra-uterine life may have some bearing on the explanation. When the foreskin is not pro^Dcrly attended to, there THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 65 are premature erections, bed-wetting, playing with the penis, and masturbation which Avrecks the health and life of the boy, making him unfit for fatherhood and a slave to one of the most revolting habits man ever in- dulged in. Surprising results have been accomplished bv this simple operation of removing the foreskin. On the other hand, alarming results have come from neglecting to push back the foreskin and washing imme- diately after birth. If this is overlooked, the orifice in the foreskin has so closed that it is impossible to push it back, and an operation is necessary, or inflamma- tion will set in just underneath the foreskin, growing fast to the glans penis. The child is irritable, nervous, dull, stupid. An accumulation of secretions collects beneath the foreskin, causing the irritation and fre- quent desire to urinate, as well as other distressing symptoms through direct impressions upon some of the delicate nerves. This irritation will create premature erections, leading the child to handle the penis, so that in infancy or early childhood it forms the habit of masturbation, Avhich often causes epileptic fits, idocj^ or St. Vitas' dance; in many a run down system that easily takes on disease. These symptoms do not mani- fest themselves at the outset, but later. Our insane asylums are filled with men and women who have prac- ticed masturbation. Mothers should be on their guard to keep watch upon their children, taking care that the genital organs are kept clean and that there are no signs of irritation. When a mother sees her child inclining toward bad habits, or if there is extreme nervousness or dullness, the child should be taken to a physician. All male children should be circumcised for many reasons. This operation should be performed when the child is about two weeks old. If not then, it had best be done when it is eighteen months old, when an anas- thetic may be given. AFTER CIRCUMCISION After the child has been circumcised, the penis should be well cared for until healing takes place. 66 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY In this sterilized gauze and pure white vaseline may be used. Take a silver knife which has been scalded, and spread a square of gauze with the vaseline, laying it then over the penis. Some children will refuse to urinate for long periods immediately after circum- cision, as the salty urine smarts. An effective way to get the child to urinate is to take sterilized water, blood warm, and let it drip upon the penis. The con- tact of the warm water will prevent the urine from smarting and compel the child to pass water. When the child desires to urinate it will start to cry as if something had hurt it. CHAPTER 17 THE NURSING MOTHER Nursing mothers should eat only such food as will be beneficial to the baby. Cabbage, lemons, pickles, etc., are not agreeable, and all food containing too much acid causes the milk to be affected and baby Avill vomit more or less or have diarrh(ea. The nursing mother should never use alcoholic drinks, beer, wine, whiskey or any malt extract, nor any drink containing barley; as these things cause too much acid in the milk and will bring about indigestion, diarrhoea and vomiting. Nursing mothers should not put their hands in cold water, or expose the breasts unnecessarily, as there is danger of cold settling in and causing trouble. The secretion of milk is easily affected by the nervous sys- tem, while worry or excitement have a detrimental effect on its quality. HOW TO HAVE MILK When a mother has reason to believe that her milk will be of good quality, and her health is good, if she desires to suckle her infant the following method of obtaining an abundant supply has been found very successful : Let baby nurse regularly every two hours during the day, whether asleep or awake, from the hour of birth. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 67 This undoubtedh^ will stimulate the mammary glands to secrete a larger supply because of frequent stimula- tion. If bab}^ was left to its natural instinct and per- mitted to suckle when it was ready, as animals do, more mothers would ha ye milk than do at the present time, for it would cause more actiyity in the mammary glands. Let baby nurse eyery three or four hours at night. If the milk supply is not large, when baby is two weeks old or more, and the mother still desires to nurse baby, the flow can be increased to a large degree. An eastern physician had such wonderful success in increasing the mother's flow of milk that he was led to exclaim, "I can bring a maid to milk." He used a head of green cabbage, the method being as follows: First take four leayes, large enough to coyer each breast. Lay a leaf at a time on the bread-board and with a rolling-pin press out the hard lumps or yeins in the cabbage leaf. This of course will bruise the leaf to some extent. Haye ready four squares of cheese- cloth, and lay a leaf of cabbage on each piece of cheese- cloth. Lay two pieces of cheesecloth and two leayes of cabbage in the oyen at one time, and when they become as hot as can be borne, place a leaf on each breast, the cabbage next the flesh, with the cheesecloth on top to handle the limp leaf. Haye the other two leayes warming in the oyen to put on as soon as the first two are cooled. The cabbage will make a poultice that will stimulate the mammary glands and draw in such a way as to increase largely the milk flow. Women who had almost "dried-up" were brought back to their milk by this method. The treatment must be continued for seyeral hours, or until the supply comes, letting baby nurse regularly. When the milk comes, let baby feed till satisfied, then milk out what is left in the breasts, lest the milk will dry up. When the baby's gastric capacity increases, as it always does, then the mother will haye a suflScient amount of milk to supply the baby's needs, if she keeps up the amount that she had in the beginning. 68 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY HOW TO HOLD THE CHILD. Infants held awkT\'ardlT to the breast often find diffi- cnltv in retaining the nipple, and may refuse the breast and be fretful. The mother should hold the child com- fortably, placing it partly on its side. She should not hold herself too erect, but bend oyer the child so that the nipple will drop easily into its mouth. Let her support the breast with the t^yo first fingers of her un- occupied hand, so as to keep the breast steady while the child nurses, and let the other two fingers support the under part of the breast, lifting it up. Otherwise it would hang down in such a way as to preyent the child from getting the full supply of milk. If the milk flows too rapidly, as it sometimes does, it may cause baby to yomit. The flow may be regulated better by pressing gently with the two fingers which hold the breast. DRYIXG UP BREAST MILK Many mothers haye found more or less difficulty in drying up their breast milk. Some will resort to cam- phor or belladonna, which is yery effectiye, but injur- ious to the mammary glands and naturally lessens the chances of haying sufficient milk supply for the next child. Xo remedy whateyer should be used by a mother who wishes to haye milk for succeeding offspring. If the milk is to be dried up in the beginning, and the infant is not to be suckled, the best plan is to bind the breasts smoothly and firmly. This will preyent the milk flow- ing as freely into the veins of the breasts. Milk out as little as possible and as far apart as conyenient. Warm oliye oil may be used to massage the breasts to take out the cakes. Warm antiphlogistin is also excellent for caked and feyered breasts, also oil of peperment. DIFFEREXT METHODS OF FEEDING The different methods of feeding infants are: (1), breast feeding; (2), mixed feeding; (3), combined nursing and artificial feeding; and (I), artificial feed- ing: exclusiyely. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 69 In deciding which of these methods should be used, circumstances must be taken into consideration. The health of the mother is the first thing to be noted, to- gether with her abilitj' to nurse baby. If her health is good and she has an abundance of good, properly- constituted milk, then it would be almost a crime to refuse to nurse her offspring. If the milk is good and baby digests it properly, but the amount is insufficient, she may nurse it and use artificial feeding also with good results. If the mother fails to have milk, or the milk dis- agrees, then artificial feeding must be resorted to. CHAPTER 18 UNSUCCESSFUL NURSING Imperfect or insufficient nutrition constitutes the most common form of disease and furnishes the most frequent cause of death in infants. The supply of food in many cases, may be actually insufficient, but there are also many cases where babies are fed systematically and persistently upon milk or food they cannot digest. Mother's milk does not always agree, or the mother may have an abundance but the milk may be poor and watery. When the mother is weak or anemic and evi- dently ill-nourished, her milk no doubt must suffer from the impoverished state of her blood. Then again, the mother may be perfectly healthy without weakness, but her milk may be of an inferior quality and so starve the baby. A test was made of eighty-nine infants suckled by women in apparently good health. Fifteen were found to be poorly-nourished. Milk that is either too Avatery or too rich will not nourish an infant. When a child constantly requires the breast, sucks his fists between meals or sucks at the breast laboriously, it is an indi- cation that the milk does not satisfy or is not enough to satisfy. Baby should be weighed every week. Why this is so often neglected is because mothers do not 70 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY realize the vast importance of a steady weekly increase of the bodily weight. (See Importance of Weighing Baby.) When baby is being suckled and does not gain, it shows that something is wrong. Attempts at nursing so often result in failure, en- dangering the life and health of the promising infant, that it is a matter of vital importance to decide the question of nursing rightly and as early as possible. If artificial feeding is to be employed the difficulties are fewer when begun early than after the digestive organs have been deranged. When the mother's milk fails to nourish baby prop- erly, the child does not gain. The stools are not only often frequent, thin, and sometimes green, but often thin and yellow (the natural color) ; and contain small white curds of undigested milk, showing that baby can- not properly digest its food. If baby is constipated there will be colic. Sometimes there will be vomiting, diarrhoea and severe colic. Again, all of the above symptoms may be absent, yet the child will fret and worry, and its sleep be broken. When the stool is green or contains white curds, maternal nursing is not suc- cessful. Sometimes there is a scant supply of milk and it may be too rich. Often the breasts contain little or no milk, yet seem large and full. A young, inexperienced mother cannot tell whether she has an abundance of milk, or none. The baby-s stomach may not be strong enough to handle the mother's milk in the period in which its character alters. This takes place shortly after lacata- tion begins. The baby may suddenly commence to cry, even after it has thrived on the mother's milk, and small white curds will appear in the stool. The trouble can often be remedied by putting the infant on a food which it can easily digest for a few days to strengthen its stomach. During this time the mother may retain her milk supply by drawing the milk out at regular inter- vals. An interesting case of this kind was Mrs. K, Her baby had gained a pound in the second week, but the THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 71 increase in weight began to fall off and grow less. The intervals between nnrsings were lengthened for some reason. White curds and mucus appeared in the stool. After suckling, the baby appeared much distressed. Finally it began to moan, and when put to the breast, refused to nurse. The mother was in despair. Baby was given medicine for indigestion, which of course did not put the required strength in the stomach. The baby was finally taken from the breast and put on Dennos food for a few days. All symptoms of indi- gestion disappeared, the baby became happj^ and satis- fied. The mother kept her milk supply by milking it out at intervals both day and night. Gradually the baby was put back on the breast milk and the bottle put aside. The baby continued to thrive on its mother's milk without any further trouble. Dennos built up its little stomach so it was strong enough to digest the mother's milk. CHAPTER 19 FIRST DAYS OF NURSING The young animal begins to receive its nourishment immediately after birth, one of its first acts being to look for its dinner. As this is a natural instinct, the mother animal has better sense than to refuse. A correspond- ing increase in weight takes place almost from the first day of life. The human infant in like manner should begin with its nursing after it has been greased and bathed, getting what it can from the breasts until the full supply of milk has come. After the babe is bathed, it should be immediately put to the breast (providing it is to be suckled). A baby seldom will refuse to make at least an attempt, as nearly all infants are born hungry, a thing which is natural with all young. This course has several advantages ; it insures the proper contrac- tions of the uterus, for when once the child has taken the breasts, no danger from after hemorrhage is to be expected; secondly, the child has the benefit of the 72 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY colostrom, which is in the breasts and Avhich precedes the appearance of milk, acting as a gentle laxative upon the bowels, clearing out the dark-looking substance, meconium, with which the bowels are loaded. This sub- stance must be removed after birth, or it will impair the digestive system. The nipple is drawn out while the breast is still soft, and the child is accustomed to taking hold of it, even before the milk comes. If suckling is delayed until the secretion of milk has become regularly established, the breasts will distend with the secretion so as to hide almost the nipple. The child then has great difficulty in obtaining its hold of the nipple and may refuse to take it. If the nipple is wet each time before the babe is put to the breast, the pain of suckling will be lessened. After each nursing the nipple should be washed with a boric acid solution. If the child is not satisfied after having attempted both breasts, it should be given some warm water by means of a bottle and nipple. A spoon should never be used to feed a little baby, as the infant must be taught to suck, or the art of sucking soon seems to be lost. A baby soon learns that by the act of sucking something comes, and it will suck anything available — breast, rubber nipple, or a pacifier. The notion that baby may have the colic and is not hungry, because it cries and will not sleep, is erroneous. Even if Nature did not send a supply of milk right at birth, it should not be taken as a sign that the baby is not hungry. Nourishment was supplied constantly before birth and the boAvels were filled at birth; but Nature expected human beings to have sense enough to feed Avhen baby cries because it is hungry. Give warm water two or three ounces at a time for the first twelve hours if baby is not satisfied after trying both breasts; then, if milk is diluted five parts water to one part cow's milk, and is modified with Dennos before it is given, the bab}^ will always digest it, sleep and cause no trouble. If the baby is fed after this manner there will not be the large loss in weight to recover, on account of which the infant is sometimes THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 73 handicapped at the very beginning of its career, wlien there is the most danger to be expected from a depres- sion of its nutrition. The first month of a child's life is the most critical period for the infant. The younger the infant, the greater the metabolic activity and hence the greater need of frequent feeding. Nutriment is required not only for repair of waste, but also for rapid growth. Some mothers believe in allowing baby to nurse from fifteen to twenty minutes every two hours, then length- ening out the time between feedings as soon as possible. Fifteen or twenty minutes may be long enough for baby to nurse, where the milk flows freely during the nursing and when the baby is a rapid eater. Some babies nurse slowly and stop often to rest, then in many cases the mothers milk comes slowly after the first five minutes. In the latter named case, fifteen or twenty minutes is not long enough. Then when the nursing time is lengthened out, the milk supply com- mences to fail. Nature secretes only when taken and the mammary glands become less active. Because of improper treatment it has become a rec- ognized fact, babies lose in weight the first week of life. This is unnecessary. If hahj was allowed to follow its natural instinct to nurse frequently and if not satis- fied, was then allowed a few feedings of some easily digested food properly treated, there would not be this loss of weight to handicap the new born infant. Baby A was placed regularly to the mother's breast. Six hours after birth baby was given two tea- spoonfuls of castor oil to clear out the meconium from the bowels, and the mucus from the stomach. A few feedings of warm soda water was then given to aid in passing off the gas. As the mother's breasts did not contain enough nourishment to satisfy the baby, a di- luted, easily digested food was given, with a few drops of milk of magnesia to work off the constipating effects of the castor oil. At the end of the first week of Baby A 's life, she showed a gain of three-fourths of a pound. This system has been tried in other cases with 74 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY excellent results, showing that the loss of weight during the first week of life is unnecessarj'. HOW INFANTS GENERALLY ACT If baby is born in the morning, noon or night, usually it will turn night into day. Why this should be true no one has ever explained satisfactorily. Some have thought that the baby's morning bath exerted a charm- ing influence. All mothers know that a baby will sleep better and longer if it will sleep at all, just after the morning bath. Day and night are all the same to the baby's stomach. It is just as anxious to eat at night, and sometimes is more so, than it was during the day. A satisfied baby will sleep most of the time during the first two months. All babies begin to get wakeful and cross about evening. There are many explanations for baby's fretfulness. The band may be too tight ; the clothing may be wet or uncomfortable. The mouth may be sore ; baby may have a cold, and the little throat may be raw. Sometimes babies have an ear-ache, or gathering in the head. Baby may be hungry, or the buttocks may be irritated. Pos- sibly the flannel band or shirt is causing the baby to be restless. Often the feet and hands are cold. Turn baby often, and do not lay it on its back or let strong light shine on it. During the first month a young infant has a large amount of gas, because of the great activity of the di- gestive organs. This should begin to lessen to some extent in the second month and still more in the third month. It may often make the baby restless after eating, or until belched. (See Colic.) Most all little babies will spit up small amounts of its food. Often babies will have hiccoughs for the first few months. Babies generally have what is called a "baby rash," when it is two or three weeks old. The impurities in the blood comes to the surface after birth, if not, a child mav have eczema later in babvhood. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 75 CHAPTER 20 INABILITY TO NURSE In spite of all efforts, it is a fact that maternal nurs- ing is steadily diminishing. A smaller percentage of mothers year by year are able to nurse their offspring. Some mothers are able to nurse the first and second babies, but the amount of milk grows less with each succeeding child. Some healthy mothers will give large quantities of milk, but the milk will be thin and blue and sometimes bitter. There is nothing that gives poorer results than bad nursing. The chances of suc- cess are small and the difficulties are increased by even a few weeks of bad nursing. An indigestible food of any kind, whether mother's milk or other foods, do baby much injury. But when baby is started with healthy digestive organs and an easily digested food, it suffers no setback and bottle feeding is successful. Sometimes mother's milk will agree with baby for a short time, then fail longer to agree. A mother who is able to nurse her baby for a full year is almost a phe- nomenon. Some have declared that mothers fail to nurse baby because they preferred to put them on the bottle, and that it is less trouble. But this is rarely the case. Many mothers earnestly and intelligently try to nurse their infants, but the milk is either unfit or so small in quantity that it is quite impossible. WHEN NURSING SHOULD NOT BE ATTE:MPTED No mother should attempt to nurse her baby : When she is subject to tuberculosis in any form; When she has had convulsions or is epileptic ; When she has any chronic disease, is very delicate or nervous, is anemic, because great harm may be done to the mother without any benefit to the child. When she has shown her inability on one or two previous babies to nurse under favorable conditions. '76 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY CHAPTER 21 WHY MILK FAILS TO COME Years ago mothers were able to nurse their children. There were very few books written on the subject, and the mother and babe guided themselves by natural in- stinct. In those days when baby cried it was conceded naturally that it was hungry and therefore placed to the breast. But in these last few years many mothers have attempted to raise their babies scientifically (so-called), with the result that fewer mothers each year are able to suckle their offspring. After a careful investigation the following was found to be a fact: In the beginning, instead of putting the baby to the breast regularly every two hours after birth so as to stimulate the mammary glands into action during the day and every three hours at night, the baby was suckled every four hours or more during the day and every five or six hours at night. The baby naturally cried and caused considerable trouble, just at the time the mother needed rest and quiet. Some- times the milk supply, in spite of the treatment, was apparently abundant. The babe was allowed to nurse just a certain number of minutes; at night one or two nursings were permitted; if baby cried from hunger he had to wait until the regular time. The regular time idea was all right, if the intervals were not too far apart. A baby should be allowed to nurse every hour and one-half for the first month, because of the activity of the digestive tract. An infant's gastric capacity more than doubles the first month of its life ; and it is sup- posed to increase most rapidly in its weight. A baby should nurse every three and one-half hours, or three times, during the night. A baby should feed until sat- isfied, and take both breasts if necessary. There is another reason to explain the failure of an abundant supply of milk and requisition of the bottle. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 77 An infant's gastric capacity begins to increase from the first day of life, and makes its greatest increase during the first two months. Following this it grows more gradually, albeit steadily. The baby of course is unable to take all of a normal supply of milk at the beginning, and the result is that the supply will begin to diminish in quantity, while in the meantime the infant's capacity grows. Finally the milk has dried up to such an extent that before the mother realizes it, baby is hungry and there is not enough to satisfy it. When the milk agrees with baby and there is an abundant supply, baby should be permitted to feed every hour and one-half throughout the day. By so doing its body w411 be built up rapidly, while the stomach increases in strength, until it is able to handle the change in the character of the mother's milk which occurs continually. If, howeyer, baby is not able to^ digest it, the mother must wean it. All dairy men know that if the cows are not milked dry at each milking the cows will soon dry up. It is also true of the mother. An abundant supply must be retained by milking out what baby leaves in the breast after each nursing. Mrs. C. had a large supply of milk. Her baby thrived beautifully, but after each feeding would vomit some of the food. The feeding time was lengthened to three hours and the time at the breast was shortened. The vomiting grew worse, until baby ceased to gain. The intervals between feeding were lengthened even more, and the baby was only permitted to nurse five minutes, every three hours. Vomiting became still worse. The little body became thin and the mother found her supply of milk was gone. The long intervals between nursing weakened the baby's powders of digestion, be- sides transforming the good milk into a substance unfit for the infant's power of digestion. Therefore the baby had been gaining in spite of the vomiting Avhich was not entirely serious of itself at the beginning. PROPER PERIODS OF NURSING There is one point where artificial feeding has the ad- vantage over the breast-feeding — in the intervals of 78 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY nursing. Too prolonged intervals often so disturb the quality of the human breast milk that they may transform a perfectly good milk into milk entirely unfit for the infantile power of digestion, besides drying the milk supply until baby is given indigestion from lack of nourishment. Too frequent nursing lessens the water and increases the total solids in human milk, causing indigestion; while too prolonged intervals result in such a decrease of total solids as to render an otherwise good milk too watery and unfit for nutrition, however well it might be digested. A mother should not nurse her babe too frequently and thus give it a too-concentrated food; nor neglect to nurse it often enough and thus give it a too-largely diluted food. Mothers that have a large supply of milk, yet fail to nourish their infant properly so that its stools are scant and thin, should try drawing off about one-third the milk before each nursing and let the babe have the balance. The fore or first milk is very watery ; the middle milk is a rich-appearing fluid; while the strippings, or last of the milk is very rich. In analysis there is a big difference between the fore milk and the strippings. Let the babe empty both breasts if need be. The majority of young infants desire to nurse every one and one-half hours. There are two distinct elements in infant feeding, digestive and nutrition — it being pos- sible for milk to be easily digested and not nutritious ; or again highly nutritious but difficult to digest. As- similation and digestion are two different things. If a child receives a too weak food or too rich food, indi- gestion will be the result in either case. Indigestion will sometimes take the form of habitual vomiting; or as the case may be, diarrhoea, when the indigestion is principally in the intestines. Nursing mothers should never drink malt or any drink containing barley, or intoxicating drinks, in order to increase the flow of milk. This makes the milk too acid and will frequently produce vomiting and diarrhoea. Grain drinks, wheat or rye parched and THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 79 groiiud and made into a drink like coffee will increase both the quality and quantity of human milk. LACK OF MILK SUPPLY When there is an abundance of milk, the baby will finish its nursing satisfied, with milk dripping from its lips. Often it will have difficulty in swallowing be- cause it will come so fast that it will choke the little babe at times. While it is at one breast the milk will flow from the other. When the infant starts to nurse the mother will feel the milk flow down in the veins, causing a painful sensation. The breasts will distend and become hard with the secretion. At frequent in- tervals between nursings, the mother will feel the milk coming in. Some mothers think that if they are able to squeeze out a drop or two of milk after baby is through nurs- ing, they must have milk ; but this is not a sign. When there is a large supply of milk the mother will know it without a doubt. Large breasts do not indicate that there is plenty. One young mother having large breasts naturally thought she had milk for her baby. No one had told her how to ascertain whether she had milk. She could squeeze out a drop or two after baby had tried to nurse, and so concluded that it must. have had enough. The stool was scant and thin; an enema or physic was given; but even then there was scarcely any passage. The mother made up her mind the baby must be exceed- ingly constipated. Still baby did not gain and became very cross, restless, and refused to sleep during the day. Finally the mother put baby on the bottle, giving it what its appetite demanded every two hours. Baby gained steadily, slept well ; and all traces of constipa- tion disappeared, the stool being full of substance. CHAPTER 22 MIXED FEEDING AND THE BOTTLE By the term "mixed feeding," is meant a combina- tion of nursing and artificial feeding from a bottle. 80 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY Mixed feeding may be resorted to whenever the milk supply of the mother is insufficient, though it agrees with baby. Or, when a Avet nurse is employed, if baby is given the bottle once or twice during the day, it grows accustomed to the bottle in case anything should happen. If the mother does not have a sufficient quantity, she should not reserve the milk in her breasts during the day for night nursing. It is unfit for any infants to use. Such practice cannot be condemned too strongly ; as many babies have been made seriously ill by such reservation. Stimulation to secretion of milk is produced by the nursing of the child; and when a mother has a small supply of milk, the baby should be compelled to empty both breasts at each nursing time ; and then pei'mitted to finish on the bottle. This method has proven very successful. The food given baby through the bottle must be made sweeter than ordinarily, as mother's milk is very sweet and it is natural for all babies to like sweet things. The baby may even refuse the bottle unless the food is sweet. Two heaping teaspoonfulspr more of white sugar to one pint of liquid and one-fourth of a teaspoon of salt, will make the food palatable and take away the sicken- ing sweet taste. Granulated sugar is best, because it will sweeten without giving the baby indigestion and green stools. It takes such a large amount of sugar of milk to sweeten sufficiently, that baby might have in- digestion. The hole in the nipple must be so that baby can get the food easily without hard sucking. Breast-fed in- fants will refuse to draw much on a rubber nipple. Nature sends down her supply of milk in such fashion that baby does not need to suck hard, and so baby may often refuse the bottle on this account. After baby has emptied both breasts, let it feed at the bottle until satisfied, for there is no way of telling the amount that was obtained directly from the mother, and baby must have enough to satisfy perfectly, or it will not thrive and prosper. Make certain that the THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 81 milk is kept at the proper temperature, for baby is accustomed to having it warm — not hot or cold — other- wise he will object to it. GETTING BABY TO TAKE THE BOTTLE After a baby has suckled at the breast for a few months, it is often difficult to get it to take the bottle. Success sometimes is obtained by making the arti- ficial food very sweet. Then again, much depends on the nipple. The hole must be so that the milk will flow through rapidly — preferable a soft nipple, one that will not collapse. Some babies w^ll take the Hygeia nipple ; and many babies will refuse absolutely to touch it. Put a little pure honey on the nipple and have the milk sweet and at the proper temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, so that baby will have no room to object on this score. An infant will sometimes get unusually hungry be- fore it will submit, but if the above methods are used, eventually it Avill give in, unless it is over eight months old; and then generally cup and spoon must be used. One important secret is to make the food sweet enough so that baby will take it. Baby W. was suckled until one year old, but never thrived as she should. At this time she became very sick ; and finally all hope of saving her life was aband- oned. She was suffering with tubercular meningitis. Although her mother was obliged to wean her, she re- fused all artificial food, the food being prepared as directed and containing a certain amount of sugar. The baby grew weaker and more hopeless. At last a nurse was obtained who understood babies. She began to prepare food for the little patient, and the mother re- quested that no sugar be added, as the baby did not like sugar. The nurse, however, put in a small amount. The baby took one or two swallows, then refused to take more. ''T told you she would not eat any sugar in her food," the mother declared. The nurse prepared a fresh sup- ply, Avith no sugar at all. Baby spit out the milk and would not even swallow it. The mother was in despair. 82 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY The nurse took a portion of the milk and made it very sweet, then took it to the baby. To the astonishment of the mother, she ate as if she was starved. The poor baby had almost been starved to death be- cause she wanted sweet, palatable food, and refused all other. THE HOLE IN BABY'S NIPPLE The hole in the rubber nipple is a very important feature, yet one that receives very little consideration. Nature never intended baby to suck, and suck and so wear out its jaws and make the little, tender mouth sore by having a hole in the nipple that no nourishment can pass through without the hardest kind of labor. When baby is suckled at the breast Nature sends down a supply of milk as soon as baby starts to draw or touches its mouth to the nipple. The milk flows fast and abundantly. Even in the animal kingdom this is true. Why then should it be necessary for hsihj to work like a trooper for its nourishment, when put on a bottle. It is an unnatural method. Furthermore, when the food in the bottle comes so slowly, the food cools, and the baby gives up in disgust. Take a common black or white-headed pin — a better size than a steel hatpin — and heat it over a flame until the point glows red; then very carefully burn a hole just using the point of the pin. Make the hole large enough so that baby may get its dinner of six or eight ounces in twenty minutes or less ; two ounces in five minutes ; four ounces in ten minutes. Some mothers will make the hole so large that baby will refuse to take the milk, foi^ it will run out of his mouth before he can swallow it; and no opportunity is given for any sucking. When food is warmed and put in a bottle, the warmed air in the bottle will force the milk out in a straight stream, and then, unless the hole is the proper size, the food will not come out Avhen it has cooled a trifle. This tends to make it very deceiving. PROPER FEEDING TEMPERATURE An infant frequently refuses to take cooled food. Cold food injures the digestive organs, as digestion THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 83 cannot take place properly until the stomach has first warmed the food. This overtaxes the stomach and causes indigestion. Too hot food is as injurious as food that is too cold. Diarrhoea is caused by food that is either too hot or too cold. A baby should take eight or ten ounces of liquid in about fifteen minutes. The bottle should be warmed and wrapped in a warm cloth. The proper feeding temperature is 98° F. The bottle should be warmed separately. Too hot feedings cause sore mouth, irritated stomach, and intestinal disorders, as too hot feedings are more dangerous than too cold. A condition may be created by one feeding, given too hot, that will take months of unusual care to remedy. Even hand-raised calves have been killed by feeding milk which was too hot, taking scours (diarrhoea) and dying. In each case the stomach and intestines became highly irritated. As few women can properly test the temperature of baby's milk, either getting the food too warm one time or not warm enough the next, every mother should use a thermometer, to be on the safe side. C H A P T E K 23 THE IMPORTANCE OF WEIGHING BABY A great mistake is made by many mothers who guess about their infant's progress. The importance of weigh- ing baby once or twice a week should be deeply im- pressed upon their minds. The rate at which a baby gains is a sure indicator of its health and safety. Baby's growth and strength are shown by the scales. When it steadily gains weight, it is a sign of health. Babies almost always lose from half a pound to three- fourths of a pound during the first week of life, because few people will give them any nourishment except water for the first three days. The child suffers from depres- sion of its nutrition, often receiving a handicap at the very beginning. There are cases where the person in charge did not believe in withholding nourishment be- cause Nature was tardy in sending a supply, and the baby was given a weak, easily-digested food after the 84 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY first twelve hours. The babies then did not lose any- thing during the first week, and gained three-fourths of a pound in the second week. After the first week a child should gain from one-half pound to a pound. If well-fed, one pound a week should be gained for the first six weeks, then one-half pound or three-quarters until the ninth or tenth week. After this a healthy, well-fed child will gain from one- fourth to one-half pound until about five months old. There are many instances where a healthy baby will not gain one week, and then will make up for lost time the following week. After a child is five months old the gain will be a monthly gain of about one or two pounds per month. When baby is very young, the gain should be a daily one, because of the great activity in the whole body. Baby should be weighed naked, and on scales that show the ounces. The hook scale with baby suspended to the hook in a napkin is not accurate, as it does not show ounces correctly, and unless held a certain way the index binds, and prevents the telling of baby's weight. Furthermore, these scales are not safe. ^Irs. S. was much concerned because she did not think her baby was gaining fast enough. The baby was being weighed on hook scales. As its head was hanging in an uncomfortable position outside the nap- kin, she supported the little head with her hand. The scales showed a loss of one pound and one-half, and the mother was nearly sick over it. As the baby seemed so much fatter, she was told to weigh ivdhj again, this time without supporting the head. The scales showed that baby had gained one pound and one-half, instead of losing it. If baby is being weighed regularly and does not gain or begins to lose, a mother will be warned and take proper steps at once to rectify the trouble before any- thing serious developes. If baby is digesting his food properly, he may need one of the following things, and probably all of them : A larger amount per feeding. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 85 More frequent feedings; a baby should be fed every two hours until six months old, or older. Stronger food; and very often more sugar. It requires a certain strength of milk or food to take a baby beyond a certain weight. One pint of milk diluted and modified cannot put flesh on a fifteen- pound baby. The milk part must be increased grad- ually, so as not to upset the stomach by giving too large an amount of protein to digest suddenly. The stomach should be brought up to it gradually so that it can all be handled. One quart of milk or more (diluted, of course), are required every twenty-four hours to cause a fifteen-pound baby to gain. A baby weighing seven and one-half pounds, normal and healthy, will weigh twice as much, or fifteen pounds, by the fifth month ; and at least three times as much, or from 22 to 25 pounds, at one year. Weight varies greatly, even among healthy babies of the same age. In some cases growth in weight is gradual and regular ; while in others it will take place by leaps, intermittently. If a child is weighed before or after a feeding, or before or after a bowel movement, there will be a few ounces difference in the child's weight. C H A P T E K 24 baby's exercise It is just as important for an infant to have exer- cise as it is for older children. The very young infant gets its exercise when it is turned over from one side to another. A healthy baby is in almost constant mo- tion when awake, moving arms and legs and twisting his small body about. It should be remembered that muscular action is essential to muscular development; and that the masticulatory movements (cooing and working the jaws), are but a part of the general gym- nastic exercise in Avhich the child indulges. An infant cannot walk, neither can it masticate food ; yet it will exercise both the muscles of locomotion and mastica- 86 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY tion, developing and educating them for their respect- ive functions when at a later period these shall become necessary No infant should be permitted to wear long dresses and skirts to weigh down its limbs. The weight of the long clothing confines its limbs and it is hindered from using them freely. Also, long clothes become damp and disagreeable. Some mothers are afraid to handle or nurse their babies lest they spoil them. They may even refuse to take up baby to dry it, instead putting on the dry nap- kin without removing it from its bed. Babies often become cross and do not thrive because they become so tired and the necessary exercise is not taken. It is a well-known fact that children raised in hos- pitals and infant asylums show the neglect of love and care. Any mother who wishes her infant to thrive must take the little one up in her arms occasionally, and hold it, but not too long, as that would tire it. The upright position over the mother's shoulder is an ex- cellent and restful one, with the baby's back supported by the hand. The little body and tender bones grow tired of lying down so much, and a change of position or change of beds is very restful. A baby should be turned over from one side to the other every two hours during the day and at least twice during the night. Even adults become tired of lying on one side for any length of time; and baby's bones are soft. If an infant lies more on the right side than on the left, the head will grow crooked. Neither should a baby lie on its back too much; not only is it liable to choke if any of its food comes up, but also the back of its head will be flat. When baby is four months old, it should sit up in a high chair with a small pillow at its back and a soft pad beneath. It should not be permitted to sit too long at one time just because it is good, for too long intervals may tire the little back too much. Never place a baby in a chair with the little legs dangling down and nothing to rest them on. Attach some tape, cloth or leather to a board and then fasten THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 87 it at the proper height to the high chair so that baby can place its feet thereon. The reason is obvious : The weight of the child's legs hanging doAvn retards circu- lation; and is very injurious to such an extent that children have lost the use of their limbs. The floor is the coldest part of a room and always has draughts. Baby should never be allowed to sit or tumble on the floor, even when a quilt is placed for him to sit on. Many a baby has taken pneumonia and died because they received heavy colds Avhile sitting on the floor. A play-box can be made for baby at little expense, and will help to keep baby away from draughts, while at the same time it can be moved from one room to another, or when weather permits taken outside on the porch or in the yard. The slat sides permit baby to draw itself on its feet and learn to walk around the sides. A thick comfort may be laid in the box for baby to sit on. The slats around the sides should be covered with cloth so that no splinters can stick in baby's fingers. The box is made with a bottom of medium weight lumber; and is placed on castors, permitting easy moving while lifting the box at the same time from the floor. If a soft mattress or pillows are placed in the box, bab}- may take its nap in it. During the summer a large piece of netting can be thrown over it to keep flies and other insects from bothering baby when it is asleep. A box Mty inches long by twenty-eight inches wide and twenty inches high makes a convenient size. 88 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY When baby is six and one-half months old, it should be placed in a walker for various reasons. Many babies, unless encouraged very much, are slow about walking, the little bones are weak and tire easily. The muscles for standing and locomotion need to be exer- cised in order to develop. Some say, ^'Oh, let Nature attend to that ; when baby is strong enough he will walk," which is true enough in some cases. Baby B. was two years and one month. She could stand niceh^ to a chair for a short time and take steps ; but she could not walk alone. The muscles of her limbs were soft and flabby. Friends all said she would walk when she was strong enough. The writer was consulted, as baby's health was poor. One of the first things advised was a Phoenix walking chair. In less than two weeks Baby B. Avas running about alone, the walker was dispensed with, the soft, flabby muscles were firm and the general health had vastly improved. A baby walker amuses baby, because it will go Avhen the child wants it to. It encourages exercise, besides teaching it to walk. A walker keeps baby out of the THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 89 dirt, and pins and buttons cannot be obtained so easily. Many babies have been cured of spinal trouble, infan- tile paralysis, by walkers, while those same things have been prevented by use of walkers. A Phoenix walking chair is recommended because it is the essence of com- fort, having a cloth seat, comfortable sides and back; and a large, roomy play table in front. A baby will be good in it for hours, affording the mother rest and relief. These walkers may be obtained from the Phcenix Walking Chair, 5225 Seventeenth Avenue X. E., Seattle, Wash. CHAPTER 25 CARE OF BABY S EYES As soon as the baby is born, its eyes should be cleansed with a boric acid solution. When the infant is given its first bath, place a drop of two per cent. solution of nitrate of silver in each eye. This will prevent blindness, if there should be any cause. One application is sufficient, and should not be repeated unless otherwise ordered by the physician in charge. For the first week the eyes should be cleansed with the boric acid solution. The eyes must be protected from strong light, whether artificial or natural, as it Avill cause baby to have sore eyes. Many children's eyes are weak simply because the sensitive nerves were ruined in infancy. Baby should not be permitted to look up at the blue sky, as it is very trying as well as injurious to the sensitive nerves. If adults would try it for a few moments, they would realize quickly the effect it must have on the more delicate nerves of a child. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on protecting baby's face when it is taken out, by parasol, buggy-top, 93 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY or bonnet. Many mothers fail to realize the import- ance of the care of baby's eves, and the injnrious effects of a too bright light shining into the little one's face. Mothers will wheel their babies along a street facing the sun without anything but a small hood on the back of baby's head, and baby squinting its poor little eyes. The mother of Baby S. was young. No one had told her that the sun shining into her baby's eyes would cause any damage. She thought sunlight was good for the baby, so baby had her sun bath each morning. The poor little eyes grew blind and for weeks and weeks no hope was held out to the despairing mother that her baby would eyer see again. The eje specialist who was treating the eyes at last said: ''The eyes are growing better, but this little girl can neyer go to school." When Baby S. was one year old she could see a little through specially prepared glasses. Blindless is often caused by looking at the sun ; and often by inherited syphilis. Cold often settles in baby's eyes. Pond's Extract is excellent for sore eyes. Boric acid solution when the trouble is caused by a cold is beneficial. When soreness persists, an eje specialist should be consulted. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 91 C H A P T E K 26 ADENOIDS THE PACIFIER Very youug children frequeutly are troubled with adenoids, brought on by continually sucking a 'Taci- fier." There may be, of course, different causes. In older children a repeated cold in the head and con- tinual snuffing will cause adenoids. Mothers should give their babies enough to eat, and then the child will not want a pacifier. A cold in the head should not be neglected. These two things, especially the pacifier, most frequently bring on adenoids or nasal obstruc- tion. Adenoids are tumerous-like growths of the tissues and glands, that develop high up in the throat and at the back. The symptoms are mouth breathing, an habitual open mouth, chronic cold in the head, and coughing. Xature intended that breathing should be done through the nostrils, and therefore mouth breath- ing brings evil results. The results of nasal obstructions may be felt in almost every organ of the body. So important is the proper discharge of the nasal function (nose breath- ing), not only to the organ involved, but also to the general welfare of the child that bad health and stunted growth of children suffering from nasal ob- struction are matters of every day occurrence, but un- fortunately too frequently overlooked. This is espec- ially true in early childhood, when growth and develop- ment are going on with rapidity and Avhen the demand for healthy respiration is more important than ever. The immediate effect of the removal of a nasal ob- struction, especially in children, is often marvelous. A child that has been stunted because of it, will, with almost magic rapidity, reach the full measure of its normal growth. Xasal obstruction sometimes affects the hearing. In advanced cases, the face of the patient is characteristic of the trouble. It is lacking in vigor and the intellect is impaired; it has a dull, listless look. Local treatment is absolutely of no avail. The only 92 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY remedy is removal, which, of course, is done by some good physician. The operation is neither severe nor dangerous. CHAPTER 27 THE CAT AND THE BABY A cat should never be allowed where there is a baby. While many cats appear to be trustAvorthy and harm- less, there is a natural disposition, masked when around adults, but manifested when alone with the helpless baby, which is dangerous. Cats are more or less deceitful and treacherous, especially when they smell a trace of blood, as they might easily should baby scratch itself with its finger-nails or with a pin. In nine cases out of ten, a cat will bite the injured spot if it can. Baby is far dearer and nearer than a cat, and it is best to be on the safe side for baby's sake. Many a baby has lost its life because of a cat. Felines like to curl themselves close to the face of an infant and have smothered babies to death; or have been known to sule, oysters, trout and pike. Vegetables : asparagus, cauliflower, mashed potatoes, mashed peas. Cereals: Farina, Cream of Wheat, rice well-cooked. ^ Fruit: baked apple, orange juice, strained diluted and sweetened ; strawberries, ripe, peeled peaches. Puddings: rice, junket, corn starch, sage, tapioca, custards, cookies, graham crackers, arrow-root crackers. Toast, prepared as follows : cut slices of bread thin ; toast quite brown ; butter ; pour over them about two tablespoonfuls of boiling water on each slice, to soften the bread; sprinkle some sugar, and pour over the prepared toast some of baby's milk or cream. Milk toast, prepared as follows : toast slices of bread quite brown; put some milk in a pan and when it becomes hot add thickening made either of flour or Dennos food, and a good pinch of salt (one tablespoon- ful of flour or Dennos will be sufficient for one pint THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 217 of rnilkj ; stir milk until done; put in toasted bread and remove from fire. Prepared toast may be eaten with sugar or with salt sprinkled. Children x>i'efer sugar. Re cautious about feeding eggs, as they are pretty rich. Babies' stomachs are accustomed to milk and lighter fare, and meats properly prepared are often better than eggs. There are cases of children absolutely refusing an exclusive diet of milk when about IS months old. Do not allow baby to be weaned from the bottle until cool weather, as they often lose their appetite like adults during warm weather. If the weather is cool and baby does refuse plain milk, it may be permitted to eat the following until two years of age, after which time the diet may be gradually increased: Beef juice; rolled dextrinized bread (See '"Receipts") placed in baby's milk and fed with a spoon; thin mush of Cream of Wheat; prepared toast; broths pre- pared as directed in "Receipts" ; graham crackers if baby is constipated; arrow-root crackers otherwise, for they are better. Beef juice should be given before any meat, to strengthen the stomach and prepare it for meat. Eggs should not be fed until after the stomach can handle the meat. The majority of children can take beef juice when one year old if they are normal and healthy. The Cream of Wheat should be made into a thin mush and fed with sugar and some of baby's prepared milk. The child may have the Cream of Wheat three times a day as the tiny particles permit of easy digestion. Toasted bread should be prepared as outlined above, buttered and softened with hot water and with pre- pared milk and sugar also included. Most babies will be satisfied with the above diet until two years of age, when meats, vegetables and fruits can be fed as directed. WHAT XOT TO FEED. Foods which should not be allowed children, or those suffering with indigestion, until they are able 218 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY to handle them, are included in the following list. When the stomach becomes strong, however, all foods are good and should not be altogether avoided merely because they are hard to digest. Easier foods should always be given the preference. The foods baby should avoid at first follow: Meats : veal and lamb, both of which tax digestion ; pork, which takes four hours to digest, contains much carbon and sometimes a parasite called trichina, which may be transferred to the human system and cause disease; goose; liver; heart; duck; all salt meats and sausages. Fish: mackerel, eels, salmon, herring, halibut, salt fish, lobster, crab and cod. Vegetables : artichoke, cabbage, celery, spinach and corn. Fruits: pulp of orange; raw apples; currants; rasp- berries ; apricots ; pears ; plums ; cherries ; pineapple. Cereals : corn ; oatmeal. Pastry: pie; rich cake. Drinks : any intoxicants ; coffee ; tea. Chocolate; pickles; cheese. Some mothers will permit their children to eat highly-seasoned foods with pepper, etc. ; salads, pickles and pie; and then wonder what is the matter with the children. Do not let a child have pepper, vinegar, etc., but rather good, sensible food, puddings, cookies and fruit. Allow it to have candy, but let it be the purest and best. Children often crave peanuts, but they do not chew them properly and consequently have trouble in digesting them. Peanuts are excellent food, but peanut butter is easily obtained and preferable. CHAP TEE 68. ADULT FOODS. The kinds of food we eat undoubtedly have much to do with our physical make-up. Unless our appetites have become depraved by habit, nature can be depended upon to make the proper selection for us. The object THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 219 of food is to furnish means for growth, repair, heat and energy. It has been said that "food i^roperly chosen, properly cooked, and properly eaten, is half the battle of life." Food plays an important part not only in maintaining health, but in modifying and curing disease. In considering the subject of food, it is well to un- derstand the method by which it is appropriated by the human system and converted into blood, flesh, bone and tissue; and how it is utilized in the generation of heat and force. Every one who has his welfare at heart or the welfare of offspring must study what food does, gastric digestion, intestinal digestion and es- pecially the assimilation of food. During life the fluids and solid tissues of the body are constantly undergoing change. Xew material in the form of infinitely minute particles of muscle, nerve, etc., is being produced, while the old and worn out atoms are removed with ceaseless activity. If an article of food is properly masticated and completely combined with oxygen in the human body, it yields up all the force which it can afford. But if it is not adapted to the wants of the body, it passes off with the other refuse matter. Dr. Osborne has said: ''If the combined advice of four or five physicians was taken as to what should not be eaten, there would be nothing left for the patient to eat and drink." Meat is an essential food, the proteid being required to keep up the body and furnish sufficient nourishment to the stomach. People who are affected with rheu- matism are advised frequently not to eat meat. The Esquimaux, who live on an absolute meat diet, fre- quently have rheumatism and yet get over it and eat meat just the same. Neither do the Esquimaux women have difficult labor when giving birth to children. In South Africa where the exclusive diet is plantains, in Japan where rice is used, rheumatism occurs just the same. It is not the meat, but the condition of the individual. The digestive organs are not performing 220 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY their normal functions, or there may be a lack of proper secretions. Coffee is thought by some to be injurious. A medium strength coffee, on the other hand, is very nutritious. Too strong coffee is what cannot be drunk. Coffee is about half nitrogen ; the rest fatty saccharine and mineral substance. It is therefore of much nitritive value, especially when taken with milk and sugar. No other substance so soon relieves the sense of fatigue. In the late Civil war, the first desire of the soldiers upon halting after a long march was a cup of coffee. Taken in moderation, it clears the intellect and serves as a negative food, since it retards waste. No individual can thrive on a one-sided diet. Meat is essential, but meat exclusively is not good. Vege- tables are also necessary, but a vegetable diet exclu- sively is not best adapted to man's needs. If a variety of vegetables, fruits and meats are not eaten so that every cell and tissue may be supplied with proper food, disease takes hold. The length of time required for digesting a full meal is from two to four hours. It varies with the kinds of food, state of the system and perfection of masti- cation. Mutton and beef possess the greatest nutritive value of the meats. Mutton is easier to digest than beef. These generally require about three hours for diges- tion, and should be minced, chopped or ground for children. The white flesh of fish is easier to digest than red flesh. Oysters are self-digestive when eaten raw ; cook- ing makes them less so. Oysters because of their character make blood faster than any food; and are particularly valuable for aged, anemic persons after a severe hemorrage or chronic discharges of any kind. Eggs are easier to digest when slightly boiled, cod- dled or raw. They are too rich to be eaten by young children under two years of age; and if fed to the young will frequently upset the whole digestive tract. Soups, excepting veal, are valuable for children after eighteen months of age. It is best Avhen it has become THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 221 cold, all grease has been removed, and then strained through cheesecloth, rewarmed and fed. Kaw milk digests under normal conditions in two hours. Cooked milk digests in an hour and thirty minutes. Beans, peas and asparagus are easily digested. Prior wrote: "Was ever Tartar fierce and cruel, Upon the strength of water gruel? But who can stand his rage and force, If first he rides, then eats his horse? Salads and eggs and lighter fare. Tune the Italian sparks' guitar; And, if I take Don Congreve right, Pudding and beef make Britons fight." It has been said that the Irish and the Hindoos would not have submitted so supinely to the rule of England had their diet, which consists chiefly of vege- tables, been more highly nutritious, like that of the British. Our bodies are made up of flesh, proteid, so an exclusive vegetable diet is not right. German's are healthy, they eat lots of meat. The women also give birth to offspring easily in most cases. CHAPTER 69. WHAT FOOD DOES. To many persons the study of physiology no doubt seems very dry. Involved in it are many scientific terms and transmutations which to the average reader seem puzzling and immaterial. A slight acquaintance with the digestive system, however, and the wonderful manner in which the food we eat is transformed into our life-blood and tissues, are well worth the consid- eration of any man, be he great or small. The scientific facts set forth in this chapter are intended to enlighten the reader somewhat along physiological lines. They have been based upon ''Hygienic Physiology," Steele's "Sciences" and Bunge's "Chemistry." 222 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY What Food Does : We can make no force ourselves. All our strength comes from the food we eat. Food is force, — that is, it contains latent Avithin it a power which it gives up when it is decomposed. This force is chemical affinity. It binds together the molecules which compose the food we eat. When oxygen tears the molecules apart and makes them up into smaller ones, the force is set free; it can be turned into heat, muscular motion, electricity, etc. The principle that the different kinds of force can be changed into one another without loss is called conservation of energy, and is one of the grandest discoveries of modern science. Of course, food does all this and more, but it first must be properly digested and assimilated. Kinds of Food Needed : In order to produce heat and muscular force, we need something that will burn, something with which oxygen can combine. Experi- ment has proved that to build up every organ and keep the body in the best possible condition, we require three kinds of food, — adults as well as children. First of these is nitrogenous food. As nitrogen is a prominent constituent of the tissues of the body, food which contains it is therefore necessary to their growth and repair. Since this kind of food closely resembles albumen, it is sometimes called albuminous. The term proteid is also used. The adult gets these different elements in the variety of food he eats, and the infant gets all of them in the cow's milk. The casein of fresh milk is rich in albumen, proteid or nitrogenous food. For this reason no child should be raised on any food the foundation of which is not fresh milk. Second is carbonaceous food. This is food contain- ing much carbon and consists of two kinds, th« sugars and the fats. The sugars contain hydrogen and oxygen in the proportion to form water, and about the same amount of carbon. In digestion, starch is changed to grape sugar and so is ranked in this class. The fats are like the sugars in composition, but contain less oxygen and are not in the proportion to form water. They combine with more oxygen in burning and so THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 223 give off more heat. Fat is essential to the assimila- tion of food ; no child should ever be given milk which has had the cream removed. The cream in the milk aids in the assimilation of the food and produces heat. Too much cream, as the top half of a quart of milk, or the addition of cream to prevent constipation, v^^ill cause indigestion and should not be used lest the stomach be upset. Sugar and starch aid in digestion, and are converted into fat. In Turkey the women of the harem are fed honev and thick gruel to make flesh. Fat and carbonaceous material both enter into the composition of the various tissues, and when by the breaking up of the contractile substances of the muscle their latent energy is set free, they become the source of muscular force, as well as heat. The tendency of albuminous food is to excite chemical action and hence the release of energy. The fats and carbonaceous food may be laid up in the body to serve as a storehouse of energy to supply future needs. Third is mineral matters. Food should contain water and certain common minerals, such as iron, sulphur, magnasia, phosphorus, salt and potash. About three pints of water are needed daily to dissolve the food and carry it through the circulation, to float off waste matter, to lubricate the tissues, and by evapora- tion to cool the system. It also enters largely into the composition of the body. (See "Value of Water.") 224 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY CHAPTER 70. GALL DUDDER DUODENUM - TRANSVERSt COLOM ASCENDING ..l- COLON CAtcun.. 4-f5T0MACn SMALL INTE5TI/^E -\DE5CENDINQ COLON VERMrrORMj APPtNWX SPHINCTER nU3Cl£5 • — |5»6MOID FLEXURE —I RECTUM ANOd THE ALIMENTARY TRACT. CHAPTER 71. GASTRIC DIGESTION. If the food we eat was cast directly into the blood, it could not be used. Chemists cannot see wherein the albumen of the egg differs from the albumen of the blood, yet if it were injected into the blood, it would be thrown out again. In digestion the food is modi- fied in various ways and fitted for the use of the body. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BALJY 225 This process is called assimilation, the final act con- verting our food into living tissue. The first process is the mixing of saliva with the food while it is being cut and ground by the teeth. Saliva is a thin, colorless, frothy, slightly alkaline liquid, secreted by the mucous membrane lining of the mouth and by three pairs of salivary glands, parotid, submaxillary and sublingual, opening into the mouth through ducts. These glands are not fully developed at birth, but are the first of the digestive organs to start toward a more complete development. Saliva softens and dissolves the food. It contains a peculiar organic principle called ptyalin, Avhich changes the starch in the food into glucose or grape sugar. One part ptyalin will convert 8,000 parts starch into grape sugar. Saliva has no chemical action on the fats or the albuminous bodies. Its frothiness 'enables it to carry oxygen into the stomach. The action of the ptyalin in the saliva commences with great promptness and sugar has been detected within half a minute after starch was placed in the mouth. The process con- tinues after the food reaches the stomach. Saliva prepares a small portion of food for absorp- tion at once, and so insures at the very beginning of the operation of digestion a supply of force-producing material for immediate use of the system. (Steele's Physiology.) Any mother can see the importance of this first step of digestion; and that if food is not properly chewed and thoroughly mixed with saliva, it will go into the stomach unprepared for digestion. The stomach has to churn and labor to do the extra work which should have been done by the teeth. The stomach is composed of three layers (1) the inner layer or lining called the mucous membrane, which secretes digestive juices; (2) the outer layer, smooth and well-lubricated, which prevents friction; (3) a stout muscular coat between the outer and inner layers which consists of two layers of longitudinal and circular fibers. When food is taken into the stomach these muscles 226 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY contract and expand to produce a churning motion called the peristaltic movement, which thoroughly mixes the contents of the stomach. At the farther end of the stomach these muscular fibers contracting, form a gateway called the pylorus, which guards the opening into the intestines and permits no food to pass from the stomach until properly prepared. When undigestible food is eaten, the stomach will work and labor until it becomes exhausted, the pylorus will then open, and the food will go through because the gate has become weary of denying egress constantly. It gives up in despair and lets everything through. The lining of the healthy, normal stomach is soft and of a pinkish hue; but as soon as food is admitted the blood vessels fill and the surface becomes bright red. Soon there is excreted from the gastric glands a thin, colorless fluid, the gastric juice. Gastric juice is distinguished from all other diges- tive fluids by its acid reaction. All along the alimen- tary canal (digestive tract), there is an acid secretion, than an alkaline secretion. The saliva is slightly alka- line, the gastric juice acidulous. Its acidity is prob- ably due to muriatic acid, lactic acid, or by the free hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric is claimed to kill certain bacilli, germs, and to prevent purefaction of food. The bacteria which produce lactic and butyric fermentation appear to be more resistant to hydro- chloric acid. In the normal, healthy feces, or stool, of man, species of bacteria are constantly found. Under pathological conditions, as in so-called ca- tarrh of the stomach, when the secretion of free hydro- chloric acid is suppressed and the amount of alkaline mucus yilded by the surface of the stomach is increased, the reaction, instead of being acid, may become alka- line and then all sorts of bacteria are able to grow. Lactic and butyric acids especially are formed in abundance. The contents of the stomach in a considerable num- ber of cases of disease have been examined by means of the stomach pump. It Avas found that the free hydrochloric acid was frequently absent in the gastric THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BA15Y 227 juice of the patients, while pepsin was always present. For this reason, diluted hydrochloric acid is frequently prescribed as a remedy in dyspepsia. — Bunge. The gastric glands separate hydrochloric acid from the alkaline blood. The blood contains free carbonic acid, which by influence of mass has the power of setting free a small amount of hydrochloric. The secretion of the free acid does not occur in all the glands of the gastric mucous membrane. The mucous membrane in the region of the pylorus yields an alka- line secretion which also contains pepsin. The glands of the remainder of the membrane yield an acid secre- tion which contains pepsin as well as hydrochloric acid. The pepsin in the gastric juice acts as a ferment to produce changes in the food. The flow of gastric juice is influenced by various circumstances. Cold milk, water or cold drinks of any description, anger, fear, grief, fatigue and anxiety will delay and even suspend the secretion of gastric juice as the blood is driven from the veins in the stomach and digestion is retarded. Too hot food or drinks have likewise bad efi'ect. Gastric juice has no efl'ect on fats and sugars of the food, its influence being mainly confined to the albuminous bodies, proteids, curd of milk or casin, lean meat, etc. The juices of the stomach sour and curd the milk before digestion can take place. All foods sour because of the acid reaction of the gastric juice. The juices of the stomach reduce the food to a grayish, soup}- mass. This acid contents of the stomach is called chyme. It then escapes through the pylorus into the intestines, where the chyme is acted upon by three new secretions, all of which yield an alkaline reaction. If the food is not properly chewed the stomach and gastric juice not only fail to reduce the food to this soupy chyme, but also the stomach is deprived of needed nourishment while digestion is prolonged. The undigested food causes more fermentation and gas than is normal. There is always a certain amount of gas forming during digestion, caused by the natural 228 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY fermentation of the food. The gases formed during digestion are called carbonic acid gas, hydrogen and marsh gas. In normal cases there are considerable quantities of gas causing dilation of the stomach and intestines. CHAPTER 72. INTESTINAL DIGESTION. The structure of the intestines is like that of the stomach. There is the outer smooth, serous membrane (peritoneum), and the lining of mucous membrane to secrete digestive juices; and the muscular coating to push the food forward. The intestines are divided into the small and the large. The first part of the small intestine opens out of the stomach ; the upper part is called the duodenum. Here the food is acted upon by the three new secretions which are alkaline in reaction, the bile, pancreatic and intestinal juices. The pancreas reaches development when the child has cut eight teeth (incisors). The bile is secreted by the liver, the largest gland in the body. Intestinal juice is secreted by the intestines. The secretion of bile is not the only function of the liver. The bile is of a dark golden color and of bitter taste. The alkaline bile neutralizes the acid contents of the stomach as they flow into the duodenum and thus prepares the way for the pancreatic juice. The pancreatic juice is a secretion of the pancreas, or "sweet bread," a gland about the size of the hand lying behind the stomach. It is alkaline and contains a ferment called trypsin. This changes starch to sugar and breaks up the globules of fat into minute particles. The pancreatic juice also effects chemical changes in all classes of food, and prepares them for absorption. The proteids are peptonized; starch is changed into carbohydrates; fats into glycerine and fatty acids. There is scarcely any anmial which does not possess a secretion with an action similar to the pancreatic juice, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 229 while gastric digestion is wanting in some animals. — Buuge. The importance of intestinal juice lies in the large amount of carbonate of soda it contains. Its function is to neutralize the acids of the intestinal contents; and to emulsify the fats with carbonate of soda. As the food absorbs the hydrochloric acid in the stomach, and is mixed with the minute particles of food by the constant peristaltic action of the stomach, the car- bonate of soda in the intestinal juice neutralizes the hydrochloric acid. It is curious to observe that while the gastric juice is decidedly acid, the fluids with which the food next comes in contact are alkaline. Effects are produced by the mixtures of the various secretions which are poured together into the digestive tube, that would not result from a mere acid or alkaline secretion alone. After these juices have acted upon the chyme, it as- sumes a milk appearance and is termed chyle (kile), and passes on to the small intestine. This is about twenty feet long and from an inch to an inch and one- half in diameter. As the chyle passes through the small intestine it receives secretions which combine the action of all previous ones. CHAPTER 73. ASSIMILATION OF FOOD. Assimilation or absorption of food is performed in two ways, by the veins, — lacteal; and by the villi. The veins and lacteal are separated from the food by a thin, moist membrane. Through the pours of this the fluid food passes rapidly. This is called osmose of liquids. If two liquids of different densities are separated by an animal membrane, they will mix with considerable force. There is a similar law regulating the interchange of gases through a porous partition, in obedience to which the carbonic acid of the blood and the oxygen of the lungs are exchanged through the thin membrane of the air-cells. Many confuse assimi- 230 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY lation and digestion of food, believing that digestion and assimilation are the same. Digestion, however, is one thing; assimilation is another. When the food is properly prepared or chewed and enters the stomach, the veins immediately begin to take up the water, salt, grape-sugar, and other substance that need no special preparation, substance Avhich saliva had previously prepared for immediate absorp- tion. This again shows the value of chewing properly and mixing with saliva ; for if the food had not been well-masticated this part of absorption would be missed or poorly done. The starch and the albuminous bodies are also absorbed as they are properly digested; this process continues along the whole length of the ali- mentary canal. In the. small intestines there are a multitude of tiny projection (villi), from the folds of the mucous mem- brane; more than 7,000 to the square inch, giving it a soft, velvety appearance. These tiny rootlets or cells, reaching out into the milky fluid, drink into their minute blood vessels the nutritious part of every sort of food. These have a selective power, certain villi absorb- ing certain food. If the food which they absorb is not in the chyle, they become starved for lack of nourish- ment and the body suffers. Bones, tissues and the blood cannot build up unless the proper materials are furnished to the lacteal and villi ; hence scurvy, rickets, and diseases of malnutrition. There is no absorption when undigestible food is eaten, or when a babe is fed improperly modified milk, for the obstinate curd does not vield the nourishment. CHAPTER 74. VITAL NECESSITY OF FRESH AIR. There are some things in nature to which we attach little importance, probably from the fact of their ap- parent simplicity. Pure air, pure water, good, whole- some, easily-assimilated food are essential to good THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 231 health. Our lives depend upon the exercise of prin- ciples which we neglect to study and understand. Nature's laAvs are invariable, and the time comes when evil results follow a disregard for these laws. There is no necessity of death between birth and old age. It takes plenty of good food,, properly masticated before entering the stomach, then digested and assimi- lated, to make good blood which, after being circulated through the body is unfit for further use until purified. It is through the medium of the air, with its life-giving oxygen, that the blood is purified. Not only is pure air of value in preserving a state of health, but it also is an absolute necessity. The red discs in the blood are the air cells; they contain the oxygen so essential to every part of the body. Wher- ever there is work to be done or repairs to be made,, there the oxygen is needed. It stimulates to action and tears down all that is worn out. A person living an outdoor life requires more food than one staying indoors. An outdoor life, plenty of good food, has cured many cases of disease. There should be an abundance of fresh air in our homes at all hours, day and night, as the lungs are constantly giving out carbonic acid gas. Night air is no more injurious than that which we breathe during the day; as the oxygen is just as essen- tial at night as in the day, and more so, as it is a well- known fact that nature builds up during sleep and tears down during activity. How necessary, then, to have an abundance of fresh air at night, as the blood must have the purifying of the oxygen in order to build up our bodies I Mothers should teach their children to breathe through the nostrils. If the child finds difficulty in that, take it to a physician for an examination. (See '"Adenoids.") There is a big difi:erence between mouth breathing and breathing as nature intended, — through the nos- trils, then the air is moistened and warmed before reaching the lungs. Teach the child to breathe deeply to develop the lungs and chest. A child brought up 232 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY to breathe deeply through the nostrils never will be stoop-shouldered or have a hollow chest, or take cold as easily, because the air is warmed before reaching the lungs. The whole body will show the effects of proper breathing. The lungs to be strong must be developed. When they are developed, no person will take cold easily. Many mothers will cover the face of a young infant and shut out every bit of air she can, for fear baby may take cold. An abundance of fresh air is essential to the youngest infant. Mothers must use discretion, of course, and harden baby gradually, and avoid draughts. Cold, moist air is injurious to a child. Accustom baby gradually; have the room well ven- tilated ; when baby is a few weeks old he may be put out of doors to sleep, his face and head shielded from draughts. Never put a baby outdoors to sleep on foggy or very windy days. Do not lay baby doAvn for its out- side nap unprotected from flies; or with its ej-es un- protected with parasol or buggy top. CHAPTER 75. USE OF WATER. The use of water in the treatment of disease Avas practiced 400 years before Christ. During the Middle Ages it fell into disuse along with many other rational treatments. From time to time men of more penetra- tion than their fellows tried to restore it to general use, but usually succeeded in rousing interest only for a short time. A German farmer named Priessnitz revived the Avater treatment with marvellous success in 1840. Nearly 1,600 persons visited Graefenburg to be treated by him, coming from all parts of the world. Schools AA^ere started in Europe and America. Most important of all is the application of water to the skin. The amount of blood at the body surface can be increased or dimin- ished ; the speed of the current can be altered ; and the blood itself improA^ed. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 233 In cases of fever, water is essential, botli internally and externall}^; and increases the flow of urine. A person suffering with an^^ disease should measure the volume of urine passed during twentv-four hours; and if at least three pints are not passed, enough water should be drunk to increase the amount to three pints or more. As some people do not care to drink plain water and find difficult}' in doing so, the juice of an orange or lemon mav be added, after sweetening. Water is essential in cleansing the system and in the digestion and assimilation of food. Few persons drink enough water. Fully one-third of the water we drink goes to the blood. A man weighing 154 pounds is 100 pounds of water, or twelve gallons. If an abund- ance of water was drunk, few would be troubled with constipation, or kidney diseases; the blood would be increased in volume and the circulation improved. In overcoming disease, an abundance of water must be drunk to float off the waste matter, increase circula- tion of the blood, and arouse activity in the kidneys and every organ of the body. As our physical body is com- posed principally of water, and the cells composing the body are actually marine organisms, — capable of ex- istence only when surrounded by a saline solution, — it may be seen that Avater lies at the very foundation of our conscious life and manifests itself in our wants. People today have strayed far from nature's way; and life is not only shortened, but we are heirs to dis- ease and ill-health. It is the simple things and ele- ments in nature that are the weightiest and have such bearing on our health and happiness. How few have made an intelligent use of water as a matter of habit in their daily lives I In the rush through life it is too much trouble, apparently, to attend to things which can be put off. The importance of water to our physical make-up is remarkable. Physiology teaches that nearly one and one-half pints of water pass from the body daily in the shape of perspiration, unknown during the cooler months of the year or inactivity; but more noticeable during activity and the warmer periods. Perspiration 234 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY resembles urine in analysis. The kidneys should pass off three pints of urine daily. Two quarts and more altogether are passed off, not to mention the important juices of the body, wherein water is likewise required. Xot only is the blood composed largely of water, but also the bile, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, saliva and other juices of the digestive system. Man may go without food for long periods; but deprive him of water and he dies quickh\ People get out of the habit of drinking the required amount of water; and the natural instincts are lost and perverted. As a result they can go without water undistressed. Nature resents the fact and is unable to furnish the proper amount of fluid she needs to carry on her wonderful work properly; and of course she takes it out of the body. The body and digestive organs become shrivelled, and we exist in an abnormal, un- healthy condition, heirs to all manner of disease be- cause the fluid was not supplied to float off the waste and poisonous accumulations of the system. Impover- ished blood, scant urine and constipation are natural results. Consider a moment. If one- third of the water we drink goes to the blood; if our bodies are so largely composed of water; if nature demands three pints to be passed off each day in shape of urine in order to conduce perfect health, as well as the amount which must be passed off as perspiration ; where does all this liquid come from if we do not drink at least two quarts of water a day? Our bodies are not made up of tea, coffee or beer; but rather nature's composition, water, which also has medicinal effects and aids digestion. No wonder we are sick and ailing, when nature has to take from our bodies daily her supply in order to work at all. We must give all that nature requires, and then we will be healthy, happy and of longer life. It is not a difficult matter to get the water habit; drink before breakfast, during meals, during the day and on going to bed. Every mother should get it and teach it to her children. The habit is formed easiest with the young, by adding the juice of half an orange THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 235 and then sweetening. Children especially should drink lots of water because of their rapid growth, to float off the waste matter; as reproduction and decay goes on much more rapidly with them than Ayitli the adult. Children under six months of age seldom like water; their food contains such a large percentage that nature does not require an extra amount. But after six months, when the water in their food is decreasing eyery thirty days, the child should be giyen water often, at least eyery two or three hours. During hot weather babies and adults both need a much larger supply of water to cool the system, and also because of the in- creased amount of perspiration. During warm weather offer baby a drink once an hour and also giye it water during the night, for the little one often becomes thirsty and restless. CHAPTER 76. WATER CURES. Few appreciate fully the yaluable uses of the cold water pack. There are some who are afraid of it be- cause it requires cold Ayater. Yet in cases of pneu- monia, croup, sore or congested lungs or in relieying a cough, there is no remedy or mode of treatment that can giye quicker or more satisfactory results. The cold water pack first of all equalizes circulation in the lungs and relieyes congestion. Then, Ayhen a heayy cold has settled causing pain and distress, and there is almost constant coughing, the pack will bring relief in from 15 to 20 minutes, while pain from the congested condition will be relieyed within an hour or so. Many cases of croup haye yielded to it in a short time. Tubercular cures haye been effected more quickly and the cough, if there is one, relieyed, where the pack has been used eyery night and a healthy cir- culation insured. The pack is made by taking one yard and one-half of soft cheese cloth or real soft old muslin and folding to the required size, so the pack will come up well on 236 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY the throat and across the chest and to lower edge of ribs. Dip this in cold water, — ice water is best — and press out most of the liqnid, being careful, not to wring too dry. Having it wet, but not dripping, apply it directly to the chest. Over the wet pack lay a large piece of dry cloth, folded into five or more thicknesses. This will prevent the clothing from becoming damp. In severe cases, or where the best possible results are required re-wet the pack in cold water every three or four hours. In the morning rub the chest briskly, and put on a chest protector made of several thicknesses of black taffeta silk, or a little alcohol may be rubbed on chest. This can be removed at night if the water compress is to be used. The black silk protector is not necessary unless there is tubercular trouble. It is best, however, in cases where cold is easily taken. INDIGESTION. In nearly every case of indigestion the stomach is the seat of a fermentation that necessarily prevents proper digestion. Xo stomach filled with wind or gas can properly care for its food. The gas must first of all be removed before further cures can be accom- plished. Gas can be removed by taking water into the stomach as hot as can be borne, about thirty minutes before each meal. From one to two cups are best, hot and not lukewarm, for lukewarm water frequently causes vomiting unless a little lemon or salt is added. Let the water be 110 degrees temperature or more, such as is commonly preferred in tea or coffee. In drinking the hot water it should be sipped. To each cup a generous pinch of salt should be added. This will not cause vomiting, but is exceedingly valu- able in treatment of constipation and indigestion, as it acts as a stimulant to the mucous membrane, to the absorbent vessels and glands, and thus becomes a tonic, promoting the appetite. It cleanses the system, wash- ing out the stomach, relaxing congested conditions there, and loosening up the mucus accumulations, dis- THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 237 solving them so that thev mav be carried out of the system. DRIXKIXG AT MEALS. Do not be afraid to drink water at meal time. While the food should not be washed down with water, as then thorough mastication is prevented, inasmuch as saliva contains certain elements necessary for complete digestion, nevertheless one may drink between mouth- fuls. The water which is drunk at meal time is quickly absorbed in the circulation, as no special process of digestion is required for it before absorption. Diges- tion is not retarded thereb}' unless the water is ice water, in which case the stomach becomes chilled. Cool water should be drunk. Many have believed that it is injurious to drink water, tea or coffee while eating, believing that the gastric juice was diluted thereby. As water is the basis of our digestive juices, this theory never amounted to anything, as it had no basis or established fact to rest upon and has therefore been exploded. Our fore- fathers drank plentifully while eating, none of these fads and theories being then in practice ; and they were healthier and lived longer than we do at the present time. In these days we have left nature's ways and are full of theories, indigestion, constipation and disease. Water is essential in the digestion of food; and to drink at meal time is exceedingly beneficial in aiding digestion and building up the body. Some people do not have a large amount of gastric juice, and water is a valuable aid to digestion. The digestive juices are increased in amount by water-drinking. This is shown by the saliva. When one becomes thirsty the mouth will feel dry and one will often say, "1 can spit cot- ton." The saliva has a thick, white, frothy appear- ance. A few drinks of water quickly remedy this con- dition. Even horses, when very thirsty, will froth at the mouth. Many persons become so dry and thirsty during a meal that the food will not ^o down ; vet thev will be 238 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY afraid to take a drink. Thirst is like liiinger ; the body demands it, and nature can be relied npon more safely than any theory of man. CHAPTER 77. VALUE OF THE BATH. The skin is an outlet for all excretions of the system. All useless matter is constantly thrown off from its external layer. In the purification of the system it is a well-known fact that a great many more impurities can be ejected through the pores of the skin than by any other means. There constantly passes a vapor, forming what is called "insensible"' iDerspiration. Ex- ercise or heat causes it to flow more freely, so that it can be seen. When men have gone for long periods without bath- ing, the pores have become clogged and the impurities have remained to poison the blood, the skin becoming scaly and of a peculiarly strong odor. There is con- stant reproduction and decay. When the body be- comes run down and thin, there are more impurities to be thrown off and there is less power to do this, as the dry, shrivelled cells and tissues are not able to carry on this function properly. The blood does not circulate so well, nor is it in condition to throw off the im- purities. The skin is called the third lung, because it gives off carbonic acid and absorbs life-giving oxygen from the air. One should bathe at least twice a week with Avarm water and an abundance of castile soap, so that the pores may be kept open to throw oft' all impurities, and so that the skin may absorb oxygen. A dash of cold water will send the blood to the vital organs, exciting them to more vigorous action and then returning to the skin, causing reaction and stimulation. Sea salt when added to bathing water is very beneficial, because it is stimulating. After the bath a good rubbing with a coarse towel is excellent. Should the bather be thin, a good massage with the hands is of good result. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 239 A tiibercnlar patient should bathe with warm water and castile soap twice a week. He should not get into the bath tub, however. The body should not be stripped so as to become chilled. Bathe one part at a time, an arm, for instance ; bathe, lather with soap freely, rinse with clear, cool water, dry thoroughly, rubbing briskly but lightly with a towel. Then rub the arm with alcohol, cover it, and batlie some other part. Every other day take a plain sponge bath in the same manner, but instead of soap use sea salt in the water. Before beginning the bath, drink two cups of cold water so as to send some of the blood to the surface. Do not clog up the pores of the skin with lard, olive oil, or talcum powder so that oxygen cannot be ab- sorbed and carbonic acid gas and other impurities thrown off. When a person has died of a contagious disease, the hands of the one who handles the dead body should be greased with lard or olive oil so that the large pores of the hands will not absorb poisons from the dead body. These are given out through the pores and are so readily absorbed by the pores of the hands of the living person. CHAP TEE 78. TUBERCULAR TROUBLE. The only rational explanation for tubercular trouble is chronic inflammation brought on by a cold; and de- fective nutrition, which impoverishes the blood. In nasal obstruction of long standing, chronic in^ flammatory changes are sometimes induced in the bron- chial and pulmonary mucous membrane, which are exceedingly difficult to deal with, even after the origi- nal cause is removed. This has doubtless given rise to the popular idea that catarrh is the forerunner of consumption. The vast majority of cases of chronic inflammation of the larynx originate in diseases of the nose ; and many a winter cough is allowed to go from bad to worse because of the failure to recognize this relationship. 240 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY In children who are disposed to become subjects of tubercular disease, the general character of the consti- tution often expresses itself in the physical conforma- tion. Sometimes the chest is narrow, or has a sunken appearance; sometimes the children are tall for their age and slightly made. The skin is often delicate and transparent-looking; the veins can be plainly seen; the face is oval and the features regular, often remark- ably good-looking. The complexion is usually clear, but not always; the face is sometimes covered with freckles. The nervous system is highly developed, and the general organization delicate. There are certain general symptoms which are com- mon to all forms of tuberculosis. In all of them nu- trition is found to suffer. The child or adult looks pale, loses spirits, becomes listless. In some cases the appetite is good; in others is capricious, and digestion is difficult and slow. The patient wastes with more or less rapidity ; the very life is sapped out ; he is feverish at night and often in the day ; is troubled with a fre- quent cough, in many cases a dry, hacking cough. A cough is usually one of the first signs to indicate any affection of the lungs. Nutrition is interfered with much more in some cases than in others, depending upon the form of the tubercular trouble. Kespiration (breathing), is usually increased in rapidity. Diar- rhoea is very common, and helps greatly to reduce the weight and strength of the patient. A careful watch must be kept over the condition of the boAvels, for all hopes of improving the nutrition of the body depend entirely upon the accuracy of the performance of diges- tive functions. Violent purgatives should be avoided. When the organs have been brought into a healthy state, cod liver oil and tonics become necessary. The oil, however, is injurious during any functional de- rangement of the alimentary canal, as there is not the strength to assimilate the rich oil ; rather it tends towards indigestion. TREATMENT. The principal object to aim at is the production of a healthier and purer blood. This requires a simple, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 241 digestible, nourishing and not irritating diet; together with plenty of fresh air. Medicines are almost worse than useless, for in every case where the patient gains in flesh a cure is efi:ected. The microbe or bacilli of consumption feeds only on putrid and decayed matter ; and is never found in healthy portions of the body. In order to expel this bacilli from the system, all the vital organs must perform their proper functions. One necessarily must begin with the digestive organs, which must be strengthened into proper action. The heart and lungs and skin likewise must be treated so that perfect circulation will be established. The food or diet must be regulated, and should consist of strong, blood-producing food. If directions here given are adhered to strictly, all cases of tubercular trouble in the first and second stages will be overcome successfully. Remember that a weak stomach cannot digest and assimilate strong food; neither can a strong stomach endure food that is too weak. Weak food cannot build a strong body. If the stomach has been weak for any length of time, and the body is much run down, the stomach has to be built up so that digestion will come easy, and strong food can be assimilated. Milk is one of the essentials of food for the tubercular patient and forced feeding. In the beginning of the treatment, during the first few weeks, let the exercise be very light, but let the patient staj^ as much as pos- sible in the air if the weather is nice. By resting in a hammock or on a lounge during the day and drinking all the milk possible the Avasting may be checked, the chief trouble in tuberculosis; and recuperation will set in. To establish normal circulation through the lungs and to relieve any soreness and the troublesome cough, use cold water pack as elsewhere directed. Keep the shoulders well back, and breathe deeply, infiating the lungs as full as possible at each breath. Exercise lightly with elastic back strap and light dumb bells to develop the muscles of the chest. Bathe two or 242 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY three times a week in lukewarm water. (See ^' Value of the Bath.") The diet to use in overcoming this trouble is given under ''How to Grow Fat, Also Overcome Disease." SPITTUM. It has become an established fact that tuberculosis is catching. Too much care cannot be exercised in regard to the spittum. The patient should never spit into a hankerchief or on the ground or walks. AVhen the spittle becomes dry the wind blows the fine particles along with dust and it is inhaled by others; thus the germs of tuberculosis are planted. The patient should be supplied with plenty of paper napkins, or toilet paper, to spit in. Have a waste basket to drop the paper in when used; dump the con- tents of the basket into the fire for immediate burning. If the patient goes out for exercise, some paper can be carried in the pocket, and when used it should be destroyed upon returning home. The patient should have an individual drinking cup, also knife, fork and spoon, as well as separate towel and wash basin. Too much care cannot be exercised. CHAPTER 79. VALUE OP HYPOPHOSPHITES. Chemistry teaches us the exact nature of the elements destroyed by disease, and thus give a clue to rational, scientific treatment. There is need for food structure for muscle, blood, nerve, bone and many tissues. The need is complex in its chemical nature. All the ele- ments of the tissues have been wasted; there is one element which because of its vital importance and wide distribution throughout the economy must be especially provided for. This is phosphorus. Before a patient can reach convalescence, the germ or virus causing the disease must be removed from the system. Normal healthy blood is antagonistic to germ life, while impoverished blood furnishes a favorable THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 243 condition for its development. Experience has proven that the remedy that fills the need is compound syrup of hypophosphites. This remedy imparts energy, resists the inroads of disease, and quickly enables the digestive functions to resume their normal power. There is no better tonic for the adult than Fellow's Syrup of Hypophosphites, taken one teasjjoonful in a wineglass of water before each meal and on going to bed. As some object to the taste, it may be disguised by taking the teaspoon- ful in two or more tablespoonfuls of pure orange juice. CHAPTER 80. LOSS OF APPETITE. Loss of appetite may be due to various causes. In some instances though the stomach be empty the desire for food may be lacking because of an abnormal con- dition which does not produce a craving. Then when an easily digested and assimilated food is taken there is a stimulus and we have what is termed a ''coming appetite." Nature seems to awake and the api3etite becomes excessive, as the starved body is craving to be built up. When it is built up to a certain point the excessive craving ceases. Many have said: "If I do not eat so much, I will not want or require so much." The reason is that a person will not be feeling then so well and therefore has lost appetite. The stomach naturally shrinks and the craving for food lessens; the body little by little becomes run down; sooner or later sickness or disease of some kind fastens itself on the body because the blood is impoverished. The appetite gradually be- comes smaller, on some days there being no desire for food whatever. The proper thing to do would be to take the case in hand at the very outset. Some remedy could be found to act on the liver, and a good cleaning out would soon restore the healthy appetite. A good bath, a brisk walk will often drive some of the sluggishness 244 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY from the system. Some hot water sipped just before meals, or a good lemonade, will revive and stimulate an appetite if used long enough. In case of disease, or emaciation of the body, when the appetite has gone and there is no craving for sen- sible food, — rather for candies, pickles, etc., — the only thing to do is to give a food that can be readily assimi- lated; for, in cases of this sort nothing can be accom- plished until the appetite is revived. Excellent results towards arousing the organism and producing an appetite have been obtained by the use of prepared calomel tablets, followed by the large dose of castor oil and bismuth to aid in overcoming indi- gestion and irritation. The calomel or castor oil is not repeated unless there is diarrhoea; then the castor oil without any calomel may be taken every other day. Lemons or acid fruit or pickles should not be eaten for three days after taking the calomel. The pre- pared calomel has soda in it; but it is best to be on the safe side. The third day after the calomel, an excellent appetizer is lemonade, because it keeps the liver active and serves to act on the glands along the digestive tract. It may be taken one hour before meals; and if lemons catinot be obtained syrup of citric acid may be made into a drink like it. When there is little or no appetite the milk should be diluted just as in case with a child three or four months of age; and prepared with Dennos to make sure it will be assimilated. Let the patient drink of the prepared milk, warmed and served with a tea- spoonful or more of honey in each glass every hour until a craving for food or stronger milk is produced. Then begin to strengthen the milk part by leaving out a portion of water each day. Give raw beef juice, raw oysters and cream of wheat. As the stomach be- comes stronger, rare steak, potatoes, etc., may be eaten. Many believe that dieting means the starvation schedule. The true meaning of dieting is the selec- tion of easily-digested foods for building up the body, and eating them in abundance. Many children when four or five years of age be- THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 245 come very thin and the walls of the abdomen are about one-half the thickness of those of a normal baby. The child may not complain, jet its body will be going down daily. After its appetite is capricious, desir- ing one certain article of diet. If the mother is wise, she will not permit the child to continue in this con- dition, or sooner or later disease and probably death will lay hold of the child. Let it be fed as directed elsewhere in this book and insist on its eating easily digested food. Give orange juice twice daily between meals. Massage the child's whole body every morn- ing, using a little olive oil or cocoa butter to prevent the skin from becoming irritated. Rub briskly, using a light stroke. The child's flesh will become hot if the strokes are quick and light. After the massaging, which should take about thirty minutes, bathe the body in lukewarm water and soap, to open the pores, after using the oil or cocoa butter. This massaging helps to build up the body, as the light friction brings the blood to the surface, arousing the cells to activity and to absorb the nourishment in the blood as well as throw off the impurities. It is frequently very difficult to get the child to drink lots of milk and eat abundantly of some of the foods; but sometimes a mother can succeed by promising the child some innocent pleasure, or something that it likes. Often a child will drink the milk if it is allowed to drink through straws such as are used at soda fountains. CHAPTER 81. HOW TO GROW FAT, ALSO OVERCOME DISEASE. There is much truth in the old saying, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." If people would sleep more, drink more water and eat more food, especially of the easily- digested and assimilated foods, there would be few thin people and but little sickness ; and everyone would grow old gracefully, hale and hearty. 246 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY Medicines almost universally fail to effect cures in cases of disease, especially where the patient is put on a scant diet. There are many prominent physicians who are abandoning medicines for simple, nutritious foods; and report more than ordinary success in the treatment of many forms of disease. Good nutrition (healthy digestion), is the only real preventative of disease. If disease had already taken hold of the body, the only remedy for complete recovery and health is mild medicine to assist nature in carrying out the poison from the system and then plenty of easily- digested food to build the system up. Those who have tried forced feeding in cases of stomach troubles have found it very efficient. Disease and weakness cannot get a foothold where there is plenty of good, rich blood to keep all parts of the body built up ; disease attacks the weak parts of the body. A strong stomach and an abundance of food will keep every organ healthy. When the stomach is weak and the body is thin, there is not flesh to conform to the bony structure. Build up the stomach and the body builds up likewise. If the body is kept up properly, — and there is no rea- son why it should not be so kept up, — people would not grow old so fast. "In youth repair exceeds waste, and hence the body grows rapidly and the form is plump. In middle life repair and waste are equal, and growth ceases. In old age, waste exceeds repair, and hence the powers are enfeebled and the skin lies in wrinkles on the skrunken form." — Steele. Under ordinary circumstances the foregoing usually takes place, but it is not always true and it has been proven that repair and waste may equal each other to ripe old age, when proper care is taken both in diet and rest. American people are troubled with weak stomachs and indigestion more than any other race. The Ger- mans, Swedes, Norwegians, etc., are the most ruddy and healthy. Those who first come to this country look healthy, ruddy and strong, with rosy cheeks, firm flesh and big appetites. After adopting the American ways THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 247 and customs, eating the three regular meals a day, soon the ruddy appearance leaves, they lose to some extent the healthy or abundant appetite. In their own country these people did not belive in dieting, but were noted for their heartiness, eating from five to six times a day. One Swedish man, who, when he came here was robust, enjoying the best of health, became thin after he had been here a number of years and was almost a nervous wreck. He took a trip to Sweden for his health. While there he fol- lowed the customs of his country, eating as often as his countrymen ate. He began to gain in flesh and in a short time found he had completely recovered his health. Forced feeding, eating all that one can of easily digested food five or six times daily to overcome indi- gestion, tuberculosis and many other disease has been tried with marvelous success. A weak, sickly man or woman has been known to become strong and healthy under this system. The thin person naturally, has been made plump, with good, sound, firm flesh. Stockmen, poultrymen, in every field have found that it pays to feed animals of all descriptions all they can possibly eat. Poultrymen will feed fowls all they want and then use a stuffing machine to make the chickens even more full. Forced feeding is like every- thing else, — it must be handled with common sease so that perfect results may be obtained. In this age of hysterical ideas, many essential foods have been cast aside because of some theory. Some refuse meat, others salt, still others sugar. No human being can go through life well and properly-constructed throughout without these things, particularly the life and strength-giving element, protein or meat. Strong food is required to make and keep strong bodies and stomachs. After a child is two years old it should have meat properly prepared at least once a day; it demands it and craves for it. The child has wisdom, it has the natural longings and the demand to fulfill these instincts. ^'Nearly all the evils supposed to result from exces- 248 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY sive meat-eating in either children or adults have been proven to be largely imaginary. Uric acid, for instance, has little or nothing to do with the amount of meat in the dietary, nor on the other hand, has it positive connection with the causation of gout; but is probably one of the symptoms of an underlying error of metabolism or chronic infection which causes both of these conditions. Meat or protein of any sort has nothing whatever to do with causing Bright's disease, or any other form of disease of the kidneys. Xine- tenths of these are the after-results of some previous infection, like scarlet fever, pneumonia, tuberculosis, typhoid and even common colds.'' — Dr. Woods Hiitch- inson. As starch and sugar produce fat and heat, all those wishing to gain in flesh should eat plenty of sugar (See "Sugar"), and starchy foods. In digestion the starches are changed to grape sugar before they are assimilated. In Turkey the ladies of the harem take honey with thick gruel to produce flesh, honey pos- sessing excellent values being strictly a product of nature. Honey and milk are always mentioned to- gether in the Bible. In thin bodies or any diseases, there is always a certain amount of weakness of the stomach and intes- tines, also an impoverishment of the blood. Success lies in the way the start is made and the method used to build up a strong stomach and body, overcoming all disease and creating a body with firm, healthy flesh to conform to the bony structure. A weak stom- ach cannot handle properly strong food, or there would be no more serious case of indigestion or relaxed and Aveakened stomach than there was before. The blood becomes more impoverished, hence the thinner, weaker body. Neither does a strong stomach thrive on a weak food, or the above results would likewise mani- fest themselves. When there is difiicult digestion there is absolutel}^ no assimilation ; the digestive organs are strained and overtaxed, and the stomach is weaker than before. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 249 Therefore the easih-digested foods are and must be used to build up the body rapidly. Wheu the patient is much troubled Avith acid stomach, or if there is much mucus or gas as in cases of indigestion and disease, the mucus and poisons should first be removed from the system so that the organs may work without being hampered more than neces- sary. Very satisfactory results have been obtained by the use of prepared calomel tablets, one tablet every fifteen or thirty minutes until six are taken. In three hours after the sixth calomel tablet is taken (See ''Use and Abuse of Calomel), take two or three tablespoonfuls of castor oil (See ^'Castor Oil"). The calomel acts on the liver, arouses it to activity; and the poisons are thrown oft'. The large dose of oil will thoroughly clean out all the mucus and poisons and is necessary. It should be taken one hour before eating, but neither it nor the calomel should be repeated. To heal all irritations and sooth the digestive tract as in cases of tuberculosis and other diseases fifteen or twenty grains (fifteen grains equals a half teaspoonful of the powder) of bismuth should be given; but if there is no dirrhoea, ten grains or nearly one-fourth of a teaspoonful of the powdered bismuth after each meal is best. It may be used eight or ten days, depend- ing on conditions. There must be a rebuilding or repairing of every organ of the body. First the blood must be enriched and built up so that it can repair the waste places; and an abundance of fresh air is needed To purify the blood. (See "Value of Fresh Air.") When the body begins to gain in flesh, there is an increased activity in every organ and tissue of the body and in the skin. A new lease on life is obtained ; reproduction and decay take place more rapidly; and more impurities are thrown off through the skin. (See "Value of the Bath.") The blood not only carries away the waste of the organs, tissues and cells, but also removes the impurities with which it was filled. The waste pro- ducts are cast out in four ways, through the lungs, 250 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY by breathing out carbonic acid gas, through the bowels, by casting out the waste feces, through the skin, where a thousand impurities are thrown off, and through the kidneys. Along with proper food comes water to dissolve the food and carry it through the circulation ; and to float off waste matter, to lubricate the tissues and cleanse the system as well as increase the flow of urine. Like- wise it cleanses the body as it opens the pores of the skin. The foods required either to gain flesh or overcome disease are first milk ; then cream of wheat ; fresh raw beef juice (directions for preparation given elsewhere) ; potatoes; vegetables; honey; eggs; raAv oysters; cus- tards and rice pudding; whole wheat bread; lemon or orange juice. Many on taking milk complain of biliousness; this is overcome by the use of honey and orange or lemon juice. If there is constipation the juice of one or two lemons daily in the form of lemonade is excellent to act on the liver and prevent biliousness. Some claim that one or two teaspoonfuls of honey strained will relieve headaches or biliousness when milk is taken freely. The honey is very beneficial, nourishing, sooth- ing, healing and fat-producing. Some have failed to get satisfactory results from milk such as they expected, because it was not prepared to suit their stomachs or taken often enough to pro- duce results. Any human being from the frailest, Aveakest infant up to those suffering with tuberculosis and other disease, the aged man or woman, the thin person who wishes to gain in flesh, can gain in strength, grow in flesh and health by the proper use of cow's milk. The necessary elements, or three kinds of food, — nitrogenous, carbonaceous (sugars and fats), and the minerals — which the adult obtains, are all in that perfect food, — cow's milk, which is freighted with soothing, healing, life-giving elements. It contains albumen, one of the most important of foods. Albu- men is demanded by the newly-born baby, and remains an indispensable factor in the diet as long as life lasts. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 251 It is a constituent of every important organ of the body and forms the principal ingredient of the blood. It will effect a cure when drugs are worse than useless. (See "Milk as Food for Infants"; "Milk as a Cure for Disease"; also "Discovery of the Real Substitute.") Under natural conditions cow's milk becomes acidu- lated by the secretions of the stomach and forms into such dense curds that they resist digestion. Digestion is difficult; and where there is any weakness of the stomach, it is prolonged and assimilation is arduous. As the rapid building up of the body is absolutely necessary in order to overcome tubercular trouble and other diseases, old age or a thin body, this essential food must be prepared so that digestion and assimila- tion can take place without taxing the feeblest system^ without effort, or without waste of energy anywhere. The curd of the milk must be completely broken up^ so that the milk when taken into the human stomach will remain uniform. There will then be no difficulty, and rapid building up will follow as a natural con- sequence. Dennos Food thoroughly and efficiently breaks the curd into tiny flakes. It also contains phosphates of wheat, so valuable; also cerealin, which changes starchy foods into grape sugar. In using Dennos the milk is brought to the boiling point, killing the germs of the milk. It might be added that cooked milk is much more easily digested than raw milk, besides being very soothing. When the patient is badly run down and emaciated in body, the full milk may be too strong, and must be diluted with water. Then when the body begins to gain and the stomach has become stronger, a little of the water may be left out each day until the full strength of the milk is being used. The amount of water to use in diluting the milk must be decided by each individual. Half milk and half water might be tried; and if suitable should not be strengthened for ten days or two weeks. Then gradually a little of the water may be left out. In some cases the milk may have to be diluted even more; in some cases not so 2o2 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY much. Let the feeding be prepared with Dennos as -directed with the food. The adult who wishes to gain in flesh and whose stomach is able to digest the full milk prepared with Dennos will of course lav on flesh much faster, because the stomach is stronger. Take the full milk and pre- pare in a double boiler, to prevent it from sticking; sweeten to taste; add some lime water when the pre- pared milk has become cold. When milk is prepared iN'ith Dennos it should be seasoned with sugar and salt ; and afterward can be made into an egg-nog or milk- shake with pineapple juice, cocoa, or custard. Oyster stew may be made, preparing Dennos without sugar, but adding salt, butter, Dennos and oyster juice. When it is done let the drink be removed from the stove and raw oysters dropped into the hot milk. In this manner the oysters are not cooked, and hence are self- digesting, and make blood faster than any other food. Prepared milk or plain milk should be taken warm, so as not to fatigue the stomach, by requiring it to take nerve force for warming the milk to proper tem- perature for digestion. Cold food retards digestion l)j driving blood from the veins in the stomach. No adult will gain unless a certain amount of milk is drunk daily. Start on three pints of milk a day. On rising in the morning, drink a glass or large teacup of the warm milk, and every two hours during the day drink a glassful. Best result are obtained when one or more teaspoonfuls of strained honey are taken with each glass. In a week or ten days begin to take more milk every two hours, perhaps one glass and a quarter. Keep on increasing the amount gradually until at least one pint is drunk every two hours during the day. In severe cases, drink milk once or twice during the night, where a more rapid gain is desired. Do not lengthen the time between drinks. As the stomach and gastric capacity increases and the body gains, the appe- tite frequently increases, but even where there is no desire for food, the milk should be drunk. Every morning for breakfast the patient should eat a pint of prepared cream of wheat — not in a heavy, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 253^ thick mush, but palatable and light, — Avith either cream or milk and plenty of sugar. Soft boiled eggs, coddled or poached eggs on crisp toast, bacon, and — if the stomach is strong enough — rare, jmcj steak, broiled or fried in a hot skillet without grease (grease causes indigestion), may all be added. Take raw beef juice (directions for making elsewhere) freely. Mut- ton, vegetables, peas, potatoes and asparagus may be eaten. A cup of hot water with a pinch of salt (See "Use of Water") may be sipped one-half hour before the regular meals. This will aid digestion and remedy cases of constipation. Once or twice during the day about sixty minutes before time for the milk, lemon- ade should be drunk. If lemons cannot be obtained, citric acid should be used, as it is made from the juice of lemons or limes and has a sour taste. Citric acid has the effect of lemon juice, stimulating the liver to activity and improving digestion and nutrition by stimulating the glandular secretion of the intestinal tract. It is valuable in cases of constipation. If the liver needs stimulation, but there is diarrhoea present, good results are obtained by diluting very weak the acid and taking in smaller doses. An ordinary dose of syrup of citric acid is one teaspoonful to one table- spoonful. Syrup of citric acid may be obtained at any drug store. Twice during the day beat up an egg and add to a glass of milk, first warming the milk and then adding^ the egg afterward. If desired, a teaspoonful of burnt brandy may be added, or any flavoring. Cod liver oil is excellent in building iip the body,, when the stomach has become strong enough to digest it. If taken during functional derangement, there is not the strength to assimilate it, and it but increases the indigestion. But when the stomach has become stronger, the oil is very beneficial. Begin with a few drops three times daily two hours after each regular meal. The stool should be examined for undigested oil. Place the stool in water and the oil will rise on the water if it has not been assimilated. If the few 254 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY drops are digested, add a drop or two more each day until a teaspoonfiil can be taken. In building up the body by means of a forced diet, remember a certain amount of outdoor exercise is essen- tial, else the system will become clogged, as it were. Whenever the body is run down, a good tonic is a big help to restore vitality. Fellow's Syrup of Hypo- phosphites is an all-round good tonic. (See ^'Value of Hypophosphites.") Tubercular people should take some good iron tonic. When the adult wishes to discontinue dieting as given above, he should not cease all at once, but in the same manner that the amount of milk was in- creased every two hours. Lengthen the time between the drinking of milk from two to three hours. Instead of one pint, take three-fourths of a pint; and so on until only half a glass is drunk; then leave off alto- gether, eating three good, hearty meals per day, eating plent}' of rare, juicy steaks, mutton, vegetables, etc. Always drink an abundance of water, that the volume of urine may be at least three pints per day. Salt, sugar and fresh air are always essential. Milk should be used to a certain extent every day of our lives. The things which will make us well will also keep us well if we use them properly. When the body has reached the required weight, it may be kept there indefinitely if the proper care is taken and the diet maintained for a certain length of time. Along with this diet plenty of exercise must be taken, so the digestive organs may be kept in good condition and the blood circulate properly. Deep breathing through the nostrils should not be omited, breathing through the nostrils warms and moistens the air before being taken into the lungs. By moistening the air in this way the moisture is then not taken from the lungs. Do not neglect to drink the required amount of water, so that circulation may be improved and to help carry off the waste products of the system through skin, kidneys, etc. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 255 CHAP TEE 82. COLDS^ BRONCHITIS^ PNEUMONIA. ^'No cold or fever in a child is so trifling that it should be neglected. Nine-tenths of all serious dis- eases and disturbances of childhood begin with the symptoms of a common cold. Common colds cause more damage to hearing than all the other diseases put together ; and many injuries to the heart, kidneys, liver and nervous system." Baby's cold should not be neglected, as serious re- sults have followed lack of care. Too many mothers regard a cold as something that will take care of itself. A child's chest should be well protected all through infancy and childhood, as bronchitis, pneumonia and croup carry off many children each year. It mothers would take proper precaution, many little lives would be saved. ''Prevention is better than cure." One of the best chest protectors is made from two or three thicknesses of black taffeta silk, shaped to the child's chest and fitted well up on the neck, worn next to the skin. This makes an excellent preventative of croup and colds on the lungs. If baby's nostrils are stopped up, from a cold, warm some olive or sweet oil, lay baby on its back, and let its head hang across your lap. With a teaspoon or medicine dropper let about five drops of the warm oil run into each nostril. Let baby remain in this position until it has breathed the oil well up into the nostrils. An infant's nose may be blowed by laying a clean handkerchief over its mouth, and the mother placing her mouth to the infant's mouth and blowing forcibly into the child's mouth will force the mucus from the nostrils. For a cold on the lungs or bronchial tubes, a cold water pack or hot application will bring relief; but unless it is mild, a physician should be consulted. Keep the bowels open. A bad cold always upsets the whole digestive tract; the passages Avill be a greenish color, accompanied by some mucus and often diarrhea. 256 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY There will be gas or wind in the stomach and intestines and often vomiting. Some babies will lose appetite, and occasionally will be colicky until the cold is cured. If baby is feverish give a drink of water often and bathe the body in tepid soda water. Do not make a habit of greasing baby's chest for a cold, or baby is apt to take a fresh cold. Do not let baby sit on the floor in winter, as there are drafts. BRONCHITIS. The majority of babies will have an attack of bron- chitis when teething. The dampening of the clothing covering the chest by the free secretion of saliva in drooling babies will cause this. Until the child has finished teething it should wear a bib over the under- skirt. This can be made of stork rubber sheeting, the edges bound with tape. As soon as the outside bib which most babies wear becomes damp, it should be changed. By the use of black taffeta silk, rubber bib and outside bib, babj^'s chest ought not to become damp. Black silk gives better results than other colors ; the black dye may possibly have something to do with it. Excellent results have been obtained by the follow- ing treatment for bronchitis : Give castor oil, one tablespoonful in teaspoon doses ten minutes apart, one hour before or after feeding, as oil given just before or after feeding causes vomiting. If the bowels are loose, or there is colic, give bismuth subnitrate after the oil has acted. (See "Sore Mouth" for directions how to give bismuth subnitrate.) If baby is colicky, weaken the food, but let it eat as usual if it desires to do so. Instead of greasing with lard or oil as is customary, put on a thick coating of anti- phlogistine next baby's skin on its chest as directed on the medicine. Change in eight hours for fresh coating. The warm antiphlogistine will bring relief and comfort, and lessen the coughing. In severe attacks, treat the child as given under "Pneumonia." THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 257 PNEUMONIA. In cases of piieumouia, or severe cases of colds, bron- chitis or soreness of the lungs, the following treatment has been successful. Children having chronic bron- chitis, profound stupor and inward spasms, or pneu- monia have found quick relief. The treatment consists of calomel prescription, hot hops, and careful treatment. The calomel prescrip- tion includes calomel one-half grain, carbonate of soda one grain, sugar of milk eight grains. This is to be made up into eight powders. One powder is given every half hour until all are taken. In two hours after the last powder, a big tablespoonful of castor oil in teaspoon doses five or ten minutes apart is given. After the oil has acted, one-fourth of a teaspoonful of bismuth is given in each feeding of milk. The calomel preparation acts on the liver, arousing it to action, throwing off accumulated poisons, arousing the functions to activity. Castor oil carries off the calomel and mucus, as well as poisons. The bismuth heals all irritations along the digestive tract. During the above treatment applications of hot hops are applied to the child's chest and lungs. This treat- ment relieves the congested condition through the chesty equalizes circulation, restores the action of the skin and organs of the body ; and besides being stimulating, relieves all soreness and tightness through the lungs. Take two separate pieces of flannel large enough to cover the chest and back; hollow out in ^he neck. Cover the flannel with a thick coating of hog's lard and turpentine. Take three tablespoonfuls of lard, three teaspoonfuls of turpentine, mix well together and spread on the two pieces of flannel. Put one piece of the greased flannel next to the chest and one on the back of the chest, letting the greased part lie next the skin. Pin the two pieces together Avith safety pins at the shoulder. This greased flannel is to be left on the chest and back until the treatment is finished, when it is to be removed. The greased flannel protects the chest from drafts in changing the bags of hops. 258 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY Have ready four bags of dry hops, each large enough to cover the chest well. Heat two bags of hops in a hot oven and place one bag on top of the greased flannel on the chest, and one on the back on the greased flannel. Over the bag on the chest place a fold of heavy flannel to keep in as much heat from the hops as possible. Change the bag of hops on the chest every fifteen min- utes ; the one on the back every thirty minutes. Keep cold, wet cloths on the top of the head and just over the forehead. Change or redampen often to keep as cold as possible ; bathe the face with cool water every fifteen or twenty minutes and offer a drink of cold water frequently. Place a hot water bottle at the feet. This is to draw the blood to the lower ex- tremities and keep it away from the head. Do not let cold air blow on the patient, or let a draft of air through the room. Keep up this treatment for two hours; no longer. Then sponge off the patient from head to foot with lukewarm water, having the room where the bathing is done nice and warm. When bathing the patient expose small portions of the body at a time, an arm, leg, chest or back. Dry thoroughly. Put on dry clothing, as the clothing worn during the treatment will be damp from perspiration. After bathing and drying, cover the chest and back by the means of black taffeta silk jacket, two thick- nesses, previously made. Give the patient some nourishment and generally a nice, long sleep will follow. When giving the above treatment the patient of course is in bed well covered if weather is cool. This treatment acts on the order of a bake oven treatment, by opening every pore in the body, and increasing the perspiration and circulation, and acting on the organs of the body. CHAPTER 83. VIRTUES OP CASTOR OIL. Castor oil is another excellent remedy if used prop- erly. Some object to it; but good results in cases of THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 259 diari-hoea or cholera infantum cannot be obtained with- out it. All babies under one year should have a table- spoonful as the proper dose. Children over one year may have from one to two tablespoonfuls. Give castor oil in teaspoonful doses, five, ten or fif- teen minutes apart. Never give just before or after feeding, lest vomiting occur. Give either one hour be- fore or after eating; the first is preferable; it cleans out the poisons without interfering with any partly- digested food, takes effect quickly and may pass the food out before digestion takes place if fed after eat- ing, even bringing away white milk. Many mothers may be amazed at the amount sug- gested, but this will give a satisfactory result, and it is absolutely necessary to get what is causing the trouble out of the system. The big dose will clean out the stomach and bowels alike, bringing away the poison ; and the oil is soothing and healing to the irri- tated stomach and intestines. A small dose of oil will move the bowels, but will not clean out, which is so necessary. It will gripe and move the bowels with- out removing all the poisons. The desired results are not obtained; merely a bowel movement. The table- spoonful dose will thoroughly and efficiently clean out, giving nature a chance to heal the irritations; and will not gripe like the small dose. When there is poison along the digestive tract, the movement brought by the oil will cause soreness, of course, of the buttocks, literally taking the skin off. After the oil is given and before it has time to act, grease well the buttocks with vaseline or cocoa butter, w^hich will in a large measure prevent the buttocks from being scalded. A tablespoonful will move the bowels about three times. If they move more, it shows that there is more poison and mucus to come away. The big dose of oil should be repeated the second day; then by the use of bismuth the irritation may be healed. 260 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY CHAPTER 84. BISMUTH SUBXITRATE. Bismntcli subnitrate is a lieavv white powder, is a mineral and does not dissolve. It is given either as a powder or in mucilage of acacia. It has a soothing influence on the digestive tract and is a valuable, harm- less remedy. It is used in nearly all cases of indiges- tion, stomach irritations, bowel trouble and diarrhoea. Calomel, castor oil and bismuth are all necessary for the successful treatment of cholera infantum and diar- rhoea. Bismuth alone will cure irritable stomach and intestines when given for sore mouth, if there is cause to believe the trouble is caused from the stomach; also will cure sore buttocks. It is best to give first a big dose of oil to remove mucus and all accumulations, so that the bismuth can act on the stomach and intestines free from the thick, heavy mucus which would otherwise prevent the bis- muth from taking effect quickly. Bismuth turns the stools drab or black when it takes effect, if not, it comes away in a white powder and does no good. After oil has taken effect it must be given in doses of ten grains or more (one-fourth of a teaspoon). Often bismuth fails to give results because the stom- ach* and intestines are heavily lined with mucus; but more often the dose given is too small to take effect quickly enough to check diarrhoea. Bismuth should be continued at least three days after all symptoms of trouble disappear ; for if a small spot is left in the intestines unhealed the trouble will break out again, as irritation spreads very rapidly over the mucus membrane. The dose : warm the milk, dampen the bismuth with some of it, and put in the feeding. Shake the baby's bottle often to prevent bismuth from settling, so that baby will get the bismuth, or the bismuth will settle in the bottle and baby will fail to get it, as it settles very rapidly. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 261 CHAP TEE 85. CALOMEL USE AND ABUSE. There are very few remedies which have the value of calomel, yet there are people who have become pre- judiced against this most excellent remedy, simply be- cause in times past and at the present time it has not been used rightly. Calomel is an active medicine, potent for evil as well as for good, still however good a remedy may be, it loses its value if not used correctly. Calomel acts on the liver and hence arouses activity in the organs of the body and does work no other medicine has ever accomplished. In cases of chronic diarrhoea, cholera infantum, etc., there is no remedy that can act as does calomel in saving the lives of children (when used rightly), lives which could not otherwise have been saved. In cases of meningitis, pneumonia, colds, teething, brain fever, inflammation of the stomach and bowels, and all cases of diarrhoea, it acts like magic ; a child can be brought out of a pro- found stupor by its use in a few hours. It can be given to young babies with excellent results in cases of regur- gitation, vomiting and diarrhoea. In the prescription here given the calomel is subdi- vided by soda and sugar of milk, and can be given with perfect safety to a baby a few weeks old or one of three or four years. The amount of calomel is very small, but gives satisfactory results if given by the following method.. One powder should be given every half hour until six are given. In severe cases of diarrhoea or cholera infantum all the powders may be given, but six gen- erally are sufficient. In two hours after the sixth powder, give one large tablespoonful of castor oil by teaspoon doses five or ten minutes apart, one hour be- fore or after feeding. No physic gives the results of castor oil. After calomel a physic must be given w^hich will clean out thoroughly both stomach and bowels, or the effect of the calomel will be lost and the remedy 262 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY had better not be given. In rare cases citrate of mag- nesia is often used where the child cannot possibly take the oil. When this is given, instead of waiting two hours after the calomel, as castor oil, wait three and one-half or four hours after the last powder, as citrate of magnesia is acid. Citrate is lemons, but magnesia is an alkaline. There is nothing that gives the results of castor oil. Orange juice or any acid fruit should not be given for two davs after calomel is taken so as to be sure and on the safe side, although soda is sup- posed to counteract effects. After the oil has acted, give bismuth subnitrate in every feeding until all irritations are healed. (See directions for giving castor oil.) When giving the cas- tor oil, if the bowels move more than three times, do not give the bismuth until the next day, and on the next morning repeat the oil. After it acts commence the bismuth. All mucus and poison should be out so the bismuth can take effect quickly. The stools should begin to turn dark the third day ; and will if large enough doses are given. If too small doses of bismuth are given there will be no appreciable effect. The prescription for calomel follows : Calomel, % grain; soda, 1 grain; sugar of milk, 8 grains. To be made into eight powders. Directions : One powder every half hour until six or the eight powders are given ; to be followed by castor oil. Xever give calomel unless followed by oil or a physic which will clean out accumulated mucus and the calo- mel. The neglect to give physic after calomel is the cause of ill results. The calomel will not give satis- factory results, where there is indigestion, diarrhoea and other troubles, unless bismuth is used after physic has acted. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 263 CHAPTER 86. IXFAXTILE PARALYSIS. Treatment of paralysis in children, from any cause whatever, can only be given in one way, that is by proper massage and exercise. Once or twice a day bathe the limbs with soap and warm water; then dry. Immediately apply warm crude cod liver oil, rubbing in a little at a time; and rubbing the limbs one by one quickly and lightly so as to bring the blood to the surface. Work the muscles of the legs with the fingers. Spend from ten to fifteen minutes on each leg. It will be tiresome Avork at first but it pays. Crude cod liver oil is better than any other kind. Leave the oil on the limbs from one treatment to an- other, then bathe to open the pores so that the fresh oil can be absorbed. A tablespoonful should be rubbed into each limb. A spring jumper which will permit the child's feet to touch the floor is one of the best exercises. Compel the child to jump by moving the jumper up and down yourself. Leave it in the jumper for at least ten minutes at a time. A walker should come next; soon the child will be able to bear the weight of its body on its limbs a little at a time. Keep up the massage until the child can use the jumper and walker freely. CHAPTER 87. MEASLES. Children under six months of age seldom have measles. From that time on to about fifteen years they generally have whooping cough, bronchitis, scarlet fever and chicken pox. When taking measles, they will often have chills, vomiting, fever and catarrhal symp- toms, cold in the head being accompanied by a cough. The fever increases until about the fourth day. An eruption appears ; first it is seen just beneath the skin ; 264 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY then the surface of the skin becomes covered with red eruptions. Eruptions remain at their height for a full day, then gradually fade away. The temperature grad- ually lessens. At the height of the disease the glands of the neck and features are swollen ; and the eyes are sensitive to light and affected with a profuse watery discharge. The whole digestive tract becomes irritated ; often there is diarrhoea. The stools are very offensive; the breath foul. The body often gives off a peculiar odor. If the eruptions do not come out well, put the patient in a warm bath; or soak the feet in a tub or boAvl of warm mustard water; wrap patient well in blankets and give warm drinks, then put to bed still wrapped in blankets. Put warm irons and hot water bottles around him; and cause a perspiration. Soon the skin will be covered with the eruptions. Gradually remove some of the covers and take away the irons and hot water bottles. It is essential in order to get the poisons out of the system, for the eruptions to come out well. Keep them ■out for three days, being very careful that the patient does not take cold. Measles will go in, and pneumonia or bronchitis generally results when cold is taken, and often prove fatal; but if cold is not taken, there is no need for uneasiness. Keep the patient in bed, and the room dark on ac- count of the eyes. More than one child has had to wear glasses after an attack of measles because the •eyes were not properly cared for. When calomel and castor oil are given the results are much better in throwing off the poison. The stools will be full of mucus. Give castor oil every other day, one tablespoonful as directed. Because of the inflamed conditions of the digestive tract, let the diet be one of easily digested foods ; but let the child eat the amount it wishes. For the diarrhoea or inflamed condition internally, bismuth subnitrate will give results. Do not allow the child to go out of doors during the first week after be- coming convalescent (well), for fear of receiving cold. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 265 CHAP TEE 88. HARNESS FOR PROTRUDING EARS. The beauty of many men and women is spoiled by ears which protrude from the head like wings. This defect could have been remedied during babyhood by a little harness made of soft w^hite tape, which is placed on baby's head at night and at intervals during the day. This harness holds the ears close to the head and will not injure the ears. Instead it aids them in grow- ing as they should. The little harness may be made at home and should follow the general lines of that shown in the above illustration. CHAPTER 89. INHERITED SYPHILIS. The dread disease of hereditary syphilis may first show itself in the child at three different periods: be- fore birth, at birth or after birth. If before birth, it occurs usually from the fifth to the seventh month of intra-uterine life. The child dies and is born dead before the proper time. If at birth, the symptoms are usually very severe. The child, although born alive is emaciated and may linger for a few days, but there is little hope. If after birth, it may be apparently healthy 266 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY but between a few weeks and seven months the symp- toms manifest themselves. Inherited syphilis in cases where it shows itself be- fore birth is a frequent cause of miscarriage. When labor has repeatedly occurred prematurely, the mother should go to her physician for proper treatment, that the lives of succeeding children may be preserved. When the symptoms appear at birth, the child usually looks shivelled. It snuffles and cries hoarsely. A few hours after birth an eruption generally appears and becomes filled with a liquid or corruption and bursts, leaving angry-looking sores. These eruptions are usually on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The infants generally die. Although appearing at birth, the symptoms are not always as marked as those just described; the child may be in fairly good flesh and recover. If the disease appears some time after birth, the child is born appar- ently healthy, often plump and seems strong, present- ing no symptoms by which the most practiced eye could detect the disease lurking in its system. Sometimes, however, there is something which seems to hint at the approaching outbreak although offering no distinct symptoms of the disease. After a time varying from two weeks to seven months, evident symptoms begin to appear. Frequent- ly there is an obstinate wakefulness at night, uneasy and fretful. During the day it is more composed. In almost all cases one of the earliest signs is snuffling. Soon the mucous membrane, lining the air passages, becomes swollen; but as long as the child breathes through its mouth there is not much snuffling. When it takes to breast or bottle, its difficulty of breathing through the nose is apparent. Each inspiration is accompanied by a snore. The skin of the syphilitic child is dry and often scaly. The cry is hoarse and pitched high. Diseases of the bones are common, but frequently the growth of the teeth does not suffer. A peculiar form of paralysis has been seen occasionally. The disease may be transmitted from parents to THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 267 children throngli influence of either father or mother. In the child the degree of severity of the taint is in proportion to the brevity of time which has elapsed since the first appearance of symptoms in the parents; and to the stage at which the disease had arrived when conception took place. The father may alone be suf- fering from the disease and may impart the taint to the child without affecting the mother. If the mother escapes direct infection by the father, she may bear syphilitic offspring without herself falling victim to the disease. All children born with unmistakable signs of in- herited syphilis should be put under care of a good physician; and the parents should be treated to avoid bearing any more children with the taint. This has been done quite successfully, even after the mother had conceived. The child has been treated through the mother, so that at birth the symptoms were not severe. CHAPTER 90. WORMS There are several varieties of worms found in chil- dren, — the small thread worm ; long, round worm ; long thread worm. The common tapeworm, the bookless tapeworm and the broad tapeworm are not as common in children as the other three varieties, wiien the chil- dren are under six years. The small thread worm and long round worm are the most common in children. The thread worm occupies the cecum (in large intestine), but passes readily into the rectum. The long, round worm inhabits the small intestines, but often passes into the stomach and other parts of the alimentary canal and has been passed at stool. All varieties of worms obtain admission into the human body at the mouth. The ova of the thread worm are introduced through fruit and other articles of food. All fruit should be washed and wiped before it is eaten. Drinking of impure, unfiltered water is the ordinary method where- by long, round worms are introduced. Persons living 268 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY in districts where shallow wells are common seem to be particularly^ subject to parasitic worms in the bowels. The bookless tapeworm obtains admission through such as pork, rabbit. No salt meat as bacon or ham should be eaten raw, but well-cooked. Some- times there are some worms present, but no symptoms appear until they become numerous. SYMPTOMS. The presence of worms is usually accompanied by an unhealthy condition of the alimentary canal ; which continues after the worms have been expelled. As a result nutrition becomes impaired and the child growls thin. Certain special symptoms are associated with different varieties of worms. The small thread Avorm or pin worm causes violent itching at the anus (entrance to the bowels). This is most marked toward evening. A common symptom is a desire to go to stool often, the child straining with- out any results. The irritation caused by the worms may cause diarrhoea. The long round worm causes pain more or less severe, situated in the neighborhood of the navel at one or two points in the abdomen. Sudden vomiting is apt to occur if the worm passes into the stomach. Some- times it is expelled by the mouth. It gives rise to very nervous symptoms, sometimes causes convulsions. The face of the child who is much affected by the round lA^orms becomes pale, the lower eyelids dark and some- times lead-colored; the pupils often dilated. There is itching of nose and anus. The upper lip often swells ; the breath has a foul smell. At night the child is restless; during sleep it starts, twitches and grinds its teeth, often awakening in a panic. There is often a dry cough. Frequently the stomach is swollen and liard. The appetite is capricious, having at one time a constant craving for food, at other times refusing to eat. Children often pass worms at stool, which by some is considered the only real proof of their existence in the body. Worms are seldom passed at stool unless THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 269^ there are manv in the body. In the treatment of worms, it is not sufficient to expel them from the body. for so long as the unhealthy condition of the alimentary canal exists, they may be reproduced again and again. First expel the worms : then restore the canal to a healthy condition. To expel worms different measures must be employed according to the variety of worms to be attacked. The small thread worm, which inhabits the lower bowel, is easily reached by an injection; and is therefore best treated in this manner. Give a tablespoonful of castor oil one hour before meals every second day until all trace of the worm has disappeared. Every night at bedtime give the child two injections, first with warm soap suds, then with the Qtiassia infusion afterwards. The suds will cleanse the colon so the Quassia will have a better effect. Lay the child on his right side, give slowly the warm injection ; let it retain the water as long as possible. When the point of the syringe is withdrawn, hold the buttocks tightly together by means of a dry cloth: this will help the child to retain the water. After the water has been expelled at stool, inject the Quassia infusion. This is made as follows : Quassia chips, one ounce : common salt, one tablespoon- ful : one pint water. Put the Quassia chips and salt in the pint of water and soak together over night. Then warm the water and inject after the warm suds has been expelled. Have the hips much higher than the head, always greasing the anus and the point of the svringe first, so that there will be no diffictilty in inserting the point. Hang the syringe low. or abotit four feet above the tloor. The most effective remedy for round worms is san- tonin, which is given best with calomel, followed next morning with castor oil to carry off' both the dead worms and the santonin. This is best given by a physician. After all traces of either variety of worms have dis- appeared the irritated condition of the alimentary canal is readily healed by the use of bismuth subnitrate. ten grains after each meal. Give the child a glass of 270 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY milk between meals and the bismuth after each glass of milk. The oil and bismuth will be effective in check- ing any diarrhoea. Feed easily-digested food and build up the body, so the worms will not breed again. CHAPTER 91. INFANTILE MYXOEDEMA OR CRETINISINI. Before Treatment. VERA^ AGE FIFTEEN YEARS^ BEFORE TREATMENT Infantile myxoedema or cretinism is a condition which usually occurs during the first year after birth. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 271 It may be endemic, or sporadic, the former occuring in districts where goitre is endemic; and almost in- variably in children whose parents have been afflicted with goitre. Usually about 75 per cent of these cretins are goitrous. Occasionally a child is born with a small goitre, and very rarely the goitre may be so large as to impede delivery. In these rare cases there is reason to believe that there is an ante-natal infec- tion of the fetus through the mother. In by far the largest number of cases, however, the goitre does not appear until the second year of life, that is, after weaning, when the infection is supposed to have been post-natal. After Treatment with Van Yleck's Extract. VERA, AGE SEVENTEEN YEARS^ TWO YEARS AFTER TREATMENT 272 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY The cause of sporadic cretinism has not been entirely settled. A certain number of cases may be due to the absence of the thyroid gland, but such a condition of good nature must be very rare. The presence of syphi- lis, tuberculosis, or cancer in the mother no doubt has a great deal to do with causing cretinism in the off- spring; first, in the resulting depraved condition that exists in the child; and secondly, in the tendency to the formation of an inflammatory condition of the thyroid gland. Kheumatism and alcoholism in the parents may be another factor in the case. The fact that cretinism is usually brought about by a post-natal thyroiditis, in which the gland's growth had either become arrested or partially destroyed, is shown by the following facts. First, children have been found whose development both mental and phy- sical was normal until a few months after some sick- ness. After that time they ceased to grow, and symp- toms of cretinism appeared. Secondly, in some cases even though the child had been fed on mother's milk cretinism developed, due to the fact that the mother's thyroid gland was very inactive while the child was nursing. After all, no matter what the cause may be, it is known that there is a lack of development, together with an inactivity of the thyroid, supra-renal and pitui- tary glands, whose secretions are so necessary to the development of the body, both physically and mentally. These three glands are known as the adrenal system, whose functions according to Dr. Sajous are inter- dependent upon one another. In cretinic children the thymus gland instead of becoming atrophied, often persists ; while the pituitary gland sometimes enlarges. These conditions are un- natural. The thyroid gland should functionate early, for at puberty there remains nothing more of the thymus gland, it having completely disappeared. The thymus gland has been called the "gland of mystery." It is a mystery no longer. Kesearches have clearly demonstrated that it is one of the fountains from which childhood receives the elements essential THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 273 to normal development. It is largest at second and third years of life. Then it slowly disappears, until the fifteenth year, when it is almost entirely gone. Traces, however, have been found of it even in old age. Cretinism is a chronic disease. There is a varying degree of mental and moral tor j) or, an arrested grow^th of certain bones and often a peculiar malformation of the head and body. In some cases there are charac- teristic phases of the disease at birth; but in the ma- jority there are seldom any symptoms until the child is about six months old. Then the following may be observed: The child is weak; its body is often fat and puifed out; the skin generally of a brownish or grayish tint; the head large; the fontanel and sutures are open; the eyes are languid and expressionless. Earely the child cries, and it appears indifferent to sound. The lips are generally thick, the nose short and broad, the neck short and thick, often presenting signs of goitre. Growth is slow, the teeth being cut late. A cretin rarely exceeds much over four feet; many are only three feet in height when reaching adult age. A cretin has a slow, waddling gait, the whole body being sluggish. Cretins are divided into two classes. The simple cretin has no intellectual faculties and is sometimes deaf, having no power of speech but making queer noises when anything is desired. The semi-cretin is able to learn a trade and do different kinds of work. There are some who have grown to full stature, but are said to be somewhat simple or foolish. Often a cretin of some intellect is called a dwarf. About two- thirds of all cretins are goitrous. The thyroid gland is not properly developed, or is absent. The disease was once thought to be incurable; but by experiments it has been found otherwise. Monkeys were first used, the thyroid gland being removed. They showed a decided effect, finally losing their minds and dying. Having ascertained thus the effect caused by the removal of the gland in monkeys, the thyroid of sheep was tried, placing it under the skin of several 274 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY patients suffering from myxoedema as an experiment. The patients showed immediate improvement. This, hoAvever, was only temporary and as a constant suc- cession of such operations was not feasible, some other method of supplying the thyroid had to be devised. There lived in Kansas City, Mo., a Mr. Van Yleck, who had a son who was a cretin. When the child was born, April 20, 1882, it was pronounced a fine, healthy child. He weighed thirteen pounds and . was well formed. The boy was the second child of strong, healthy parents, and gave promise of becoming a pow- erfully-built man. His development was rapid until the end of the second year, when there was a change and he ceased to grow. He was then two feet ten inches high; but from that time until May 19, 1895, eleven years later, he grew no taller. A change in his mental and physical- condition soon became apparent; he became dull and lifeless with sad, distressed expression; and his mind assumed a condition of imbecility. In the spring of 1895 he went into a decline which must have resulted in early death. His father consulted the best physicians, but none of them could encourage the slightest hope. The des- perate father obtained the raw thyroid gland of a lamb and gave his son one-fourth of a lobe in a raw state. The gland was given every third day. In ten days a marked improvement was noticeable. His puffed feat- ures and abdomen were reduced and he began to as- sume better shape. An obstacle was met which threatened to stop all future treatment. The raw gland nauseated him so that he refused to take it and when compelled to do so, immediately threw it up. Mr. Van A^leck deter- mined not to lose hope, but to find some means of con- tinuing the treatment for the sake of his boy. For several days he studied over the problem. He reasoned that the result of the gland must be due to some active principal contained in it, and he resolved to find it. By careful and patient experiments he obtained what he thought to be it. He gave his son half a grain of this three times a dav. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BA13Y 'Z i D The results were marvelous. He began to act like other boTS, and grew six inches in six months after having grown none in eleven years. He recovered his mental and physical strength. A father's love had promi)ted the study and determined investigation re- sulting in curing the boy of what all physicians had theretofore pronounced incurable. He not only brought his own son back to life, but conferred a boon upon thousands of others w^ho are afflicted; and health and happiness have been brought into many homes. The treatment of cretinism consists in the adminis- tration of the active principles derived from the glands of young, healthy sheep. These are nature's own phy- siological food, supplying the necessary elements for the proper development of both the body and mind. Such gland extracts are used as can supply the dis- eased glands which are responsible for the mental and physical perversion. In prescribing gland extracts, one must not only use the proper combination, but also products that are of a uniform and definite strength. The Van Vleck Gland Extract Company has an oflSce in Kansas City, Mo., and also one in Portland, Ore. There is a skilled physician in charge who studies each case and prescribes the use of the glands to suit the needs of the individual. CHAPTER 92. VACCINATION. In some states vaccination is compulsory. Children are not permitted to attend school until they are vac- cinated. Could there be a more glaring outrage per- petrated than this infringement on the rights of the people ? The American people is supposed to be a free people, yet loving fathers and mothers are compelled to submit the young forms of their promising children to this monstrous, repulsive practice, under the penalty that unless they comply, their children shall be denied the right of an education. 276 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY There are big financial interests involved in the manufacture of vaccine virus and it is a paying in- dustry. Some members of the medical profession en- dorse it because of the revenue — not all of them, or even a majority of them believe in vaccination for revenue, — but a large number of them do. You speak of pure blood to build up the body ; then inject into the blood this pus-filth I Samples of the virus or pus-filth have been examined and found filled with foul germs. Many who are vaccinated contract tetanus, or lock-jaw, blood-poison, and many other dis- eases. To inject this filth into the blood of a child is a crime. Directly in point is the following clipping from a current newspaper: FATHER OBJECTS TO VACCINATION. PASSAIC, N. J., March 13, 1912.— Because he re- fused to permit his young daughter, Dorothy, to be vaccinated, Health Commissioner George Michaels was arrested today on complaint of the board of education. He will make a test case of the matter. Health Commissioner Michaels said: ''My father died of smallpox after he had been vaccinated; my sister was made a cripple for life because she was forced to be vaccinated; and I will move out of the state before I will submit my child to such treatment." The vaccine people claim they can manufacture pure vaccine. Can rotten pus, taken from a pox sore, be pure ? They also claim that since vaccination has been made compulsory there have been few cases of small- pox. The truth of the matter is, smallpox is dying out like some of the other diseases which were so common years ago. But our blood is being poisoned and our lives wrecked by the outrageous practice. "When I was a surgeon in the army, during the Civil war, — the only woman surgeon in the army, — I found that vaccination brought many diseases. Erysipelas, skin diseases and others followed it. It is a thousand- fold worse for children to have diseases vaccinated into THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 277 them than for them to have smallpox," said Dr. Mary Walker before the New York State Legislature. Little Hettie was a beautiful, healthy child; there was no sign of any disease anywhere about her perfect body. There were some mild cases of smallpox in her vicinity and of course she had to be vaccinated. The vaccine virus took exceedingly well, but Hettie began to fail. It required months for her to get over the effects, but soon her parents noticed that her body was Avasting away. She continued to grow thinner and thinner; her hair began to fall as the flesh seemed to cling to her bones. Her eyelashes came out; her eyes became so weak she Avas compelled to leave school. In a few years she was a living, walking mummy in appearance. She flnalh' became totally blind; her life, which had been of such great promise, was com- pletely wrecked. WheneA'er she Avent out people glared at her and turned their heads. She liA'ed to an adult age, but neA^er was any better. There is probably not another case that will equal this one, but many \i\es have been ruined and many liaA'e died. In St. Louis alone a short time after com- pulsory A'accination, seA^enteen persons died of lockjaw. CHAPTER 93. DEA'ELOPMEXT OF THE BOY. It is not within the province of this book to touch but lightly on the subject of adolescence. Important as that period in life must be, still it belongs to a physical field peculiarly its own ; we will not trans- gress there but a moment. Let the parent remember that it is a period of grave and important changes, both physically and mentally, for both girl and boy. Let them remember that upon the outcome will depend much of the child's future happiness, the child's final disposition. Let them re- member that thousands of boys and girls reach the road of ruin every year during adolescence, usually be- cause the parents have been at fault. 278 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY Patience, self-control, and great love, — these will guide the parents through this trying period success- fully. Thrashings will not; loud words will not; fre- quent chidings will not. The period at best can only extend over a few years, and then from the chrysalis will emerge the handiwork of the father and mother. Let it be a noble man or woman. This thought, applicable to both girl and boy, is finely expressed in the following quotation from ''Edu- cation" : ''There is a period in the development of a boy when he is particularly sensitive to compulsion. It comes to most boys at about fourteen years of age, or in the years of early adolescence. It is as though the half- conscious man within them would throw off the method of childhood and assert its dignity as a free, independent agent. ''Woe to the teacher or parent who lays ruthless hands upon this new-born giant, and attempts to wrap it in the swaddling clothes of infancy. The boy has turned into a man in a night and intends to choose his OAvn way and do his own bidding. It is the period of "I will" and ''I won't," and a sullen, dogged spirit is lurking within, which the wise teacher or parent will hesitate to provoke. "But because man is something better than an un- reasoning brute, we may be very sure that along with and even deeper and more mighty than the dogged spirit back in the soul of that boy there is a heart of love and consciousness, or a conscience to which we may appeal with the utmost confidence. The newly- awakened giant can be won and led if he cannot be forced and driven. I '•What a long step has been taken when i)arent or teacher perceives these facts, and acts accordingly! Most problems of school discipline center here. Most successes and failures in day school and Sunday school are explicable in the light of this psychology. Most homes where there are adolescents and anarchy might become havens of peace and good will, if these facts were understood and the family life squared with them. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 279 '"Love is the greatest thing in the world. The domi- neering of one personality over another personality is one of the smallest and meanest. The personality of the adolescent boy is a real entity to be reckoned Avith. It has heard the command, "let no man despise thy youth." CHAPTER 94. THE SEX PROBLEM. In recent years there has been an awakening among fathers and mothers in regard to the instruction of their children in sexual matters. This is one of the wisest and best advancements that has taken place in this century. It is indeed time for people to lay aside false modesty and look the matter squarely in the face ; for the health and happiness of our boys and girls is- more to us than any preconceived ideas or undue fas- tidiousness. Future generations will be healthier and happier only if the parents of those generations, the boys and girls of today, are taught their true relationship and the science of reproduction. They will be called upon by their Creator to give an account of their bodies : they must be taught proper care. They must get the right perspective on matters of sex early in life, so that they may grow up wholesome and free from shame. Boys and girls will surely ferret out these things as best they can if they are not told ; and many a ruined boy and girl could have been saved if they had only known. Experience was their teacher: the lesson was learned too late to be of much benefit : but their parents must be held accountable. The great cry heard from those in middle life is^ "Oh, if I had only known about these things when I was young." Habits are easily broken in youth. Chil- dren are sent to school and taught almost anything desired. Boys are taught to work, study, and play, — all essential things, it is true; but of the marvelous reproductive powers of their bodies, or how to regard 280 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY them, they are kept in ignorance; thej are not even taught the names of these various organs; they are obliged to get them by stealth from doctors' books, quack medicine leaflets, or from the street gossip. They have a natural curiosity to know; our Creator meant for it to be known. When girls speak of possible motherhood they are hushed, as if speaking of something indecent. If they ask questions about sex or sex relationship, they are met with averted eyes and shame-flushed cheeks ; their questions are avoided, the subject changed. Some- times their parents go so far as to lie to them ; thereby undermining their faith in father and mother. There should, there must be a perfect understanding between parents and children. When parents meet the questions of their children with shame, how can a child be expected to come openly to them and make known sexual difficulties? There is one pitiful case worth remembering, of a boy four- teen years of age, who had been suffering greatly; he should have been circumcized when a child, but his mother either did not think it necessary or was ignor- ant. Things went from bad to worse; the boy was ashamed to tell his parents of his trouble. Finally he got into such a condition that he could not Avalk, and a physician was called; the boy was found to be in a bad condition; an operation was necessary. The suffering and injury that the lad w^ent through was heart-rending ; and the sad part was that it could have been avoided if his parents had only done their duty. There are many good books on sexual subjects. It is the duty of the mothers to read them and teach their contents to their children. When the boys and girls are old enough, they may read the books themselves. This is the only solution to the difficulty. Xo bride should ever be taught by her husband their sexual relationship. Her mother is the proper person, yet only too often is it otherwise. There is another consideration. Masturbation, and consequent idiocy, and other disastrous sexual diseases can only be prevented in most cases through the early THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 281 instructiou and love of the parents. The child should be taught from infanc}^ not to handle its reproductive organs; to be clean-minded, clean-hearted, and whole- souled. The Creator made both male and female and they were good in His sight. He surely had an all-wise purpose in His creation. CHAP TEE 95. RECIPES. Constipation: This remedy should not be given a child under two years of age. Take one pound of figs; one pound raisins ; two cups or one pint of New Orleans molasses ; ten cents' worth of senna leaves. Steep leaves in one pint boiling water until liquid is a dark brown. Grind raisins and figs in meat-grinder and place over the fire with molasses and senna tea. Let all cook together until it is consistency of jam ; then put in a quart jar. Dose: One teaspoonful at night before retiring. Cream of Tartar: It is said that cream of tartar will increase flow of mother's milk; also prevents dry- ing up when baby is sick. Take as much cream of tartar as will stay on end of teaspoon three times h day for tw^o w^eeks; then two times a day for two weeks; then once a day as long as desired. Cream of tartar is said to improve the quality of the blood. Cure for Earache: There is scarcely any pain so hard to bear or difiicult to cure as earache. This recipe has given good results : Take wine of opium (not laud- anum), one dram; oil of anise, ten drops. Put in ounce bottle and fill with oil of sweet almonds (sweet oil will answer). Directions: Shake well. Drop from three to five drops in a spoon and warm slightly then drop in ear. If not relieved, repeat dose in ten min- utes. A warmed flannel, or hot water bottle placed against ear give relief. Cure for Rupture: Take one dozen strictly fresh eggs ; boil in the shell for ten minutes so yolks will be 282 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY hard. Set off the stove and let eggs become cold. Remove yolks. Take twelve yolks, mash them with fork, put into hot skillet and stir constantly over hot fire until yolks become nearly black, when an oil will separate. Pour oil in bottle and cork. Every morning after baby's bath, rub rupture with the oil. In baby's band sew pocket and insert wooden button; or button padded with cotton placed in pockets of the band helps to hold rupture in. Croup: Place a cold water compress on chest, and well up under chin. (See "Water Cure for Colds.") In severe cases two drops of turpentine on a little sugar gives quick results; but turpentine is hard on the kidneys, so do not give more than two drops. Two teaspoonfuls of lard, as hot as can be swallowed with- out burning, is excellent. Nose-hleed — Sneezing: A very effective remedy for either sneezing or nose bleed is to take a piece of stiff paper like writing paper or piece of envelope, fold into a narrow strip about one-fourth inch wide and nearly two inches long ; press this strip up underneath upper lip between lip and gums. Allow to remain in that position pressed firmly up toward nose for at least half an hour. Foreign Siihstanee in Xose: Children often push olive seeds, peas, beans, etc., up into the nose, and parents are at a loss as to how to dislodge them. An efficient mode follows : Stop ears with tips of fingers and press finger against nostril opposite one which is obstructed by foreign substance. Having child open its mouth, mother may dislodge obstruction by taking full breath and putting her mouth to child's mouth, blowing with full force. Obstruction will fly out. The air passages or passages which air could pass out are stopped up, and air blown by mother into child's mouth forces out obstruction. Barley Water: When barley water is used for diar- rhoea, if lime water and some biTrnt brandy are added after it has become cold, better results are obtained than when plain barley water is used. Take one heap- THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 283^ ing desert spoonful of prepared barley, three teaspoon- fiils of sugar, one-fourth teaspoonful of salt; mix into a thin paste with a little cold water ; add three-fourths of pint of boiling water ; place on stove and cook for six minutes, stirring constantly. Cool by placing pan of barley water in pan of cold water. When cold, strain and add two ounces of lime water and two tablespoon- fuls of burnt brandy. Make twice daily, as barley sours quickly and will remain sweet only from six ta eight hours. Burnt Brandy: Take best grade of brandy, pour some into saucer. Take piece of brown paper, twist it and light with match; hold burning paper to top of the brandy in the saucer, and as soon as the brandy gets hot it will light, making a clear flame. Brandy will burn until the alcohol is out ; it is then ready for use. One or two teaspoons of the burnt brandy may be added to a cup of water, sweeten and taste. Do not give to baby too strong. Burnt brandy is excellent when vitality is low and infant needs a stimulant. Coddled Egg: Place egg in enough boiling water to cover it ; immediately remove from Are, so that is cools gradually. The egg thus slowly and thoroughly cooks. It should be left in water about six minutes. Beef Tea: One pound of lean beef; cut in small squares; allow to stand in one pint of cold water for one hour. Then heat not about 160°. Squeeze meat through cheese cloth by twisting hard; and season with salt. Beef Juice: Take one pound of round steak cut thick; heat a skillet hot; do not put in it grease of any kind; when the skillet is hot, lay in the steak, let it fry just a moment, then turn it over and let it remain for one or two moments. Kemove from fire. Juice may be pressed out by means of lemon squeezer or meat press. Season with a little salt. It may be warmed slightly by placing the cup in warm water. Do not allow juice to coagulate when warmed. Beef J Ulcere old Process: Beet juice made by cold process is more nutritious and economical than bv the 284 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY above formula. One pound of chopped or ground round steak; add one cup of cold water and pinch of salt. Cover and place in cool place for six or eight hours. Squeeze juice out by twisting in a large square of heavy cheese cloth. Glutton Broth: Take one pound of lean mutton, chicken or beef; take some cracked bone, cut in small squares; one pint of cold water. Heat gently, allow- ing to simmer three hours. Strain and add enough water to make one pint. When cold remove all fat. Warm and feed. Whey: Take one quart fresh milk; remove cream; add to skim milk one tablespoonful of liquid rennet or one junket tablet. Place milk in double boiler, warm slowly. When milk becomes solid, cut in all directions in small pieces. Warm to 150° ; stir while doing so. The curd which has been broken up will adhere in large chunks. Kemove chunks and there will be about twenty ounces of clear whey. Cool and put on ice. Dextrinized Bread: Cut bread into thin slices ; place in pan in the oven, leaving oven door open ; let bread remain for about five hours or until browned all through. Koll with rolling pin, until fine. This is excellent for baby to eat, in broth or milk; and more easily digested than fresh bread. Incontinence of Urine: Frequent urinating is caused by some irritation of the bladder, but occurs most fre- quently in male children. When foreskin is too long over glans penis, child should be circumcized. Any child suffering from incontinence of urine should be taken to a physician. The following recipe is excel- lent : Fluid extract belladonna, 30 min. ; compound tincture of cardamous, one-half oz.; enough water to make four ounces. Dose: Teaspoonful twice daily. Give one about 4 o'clock in afternoon and one at bed- time. After improvement reduce to one teaspoonful at bedtime. Burns — Scalds: Make a salve of castor oil or lin- seed oil and common baking soda and apply to the THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY 285 burn. Most even^one knows what relief is brought to a burned finger by the use of soda and water. Soda and castor oil give best resudts; when the oil is absorbed add more oil to the soda, it draws out the fire and gives quick relief. Olive oil is so quickly absorbed that it is not as good as castor oil. La Grippe: Lemons will break up a severe cold or grippe in about twentj-four hours when used as fol- lows : Take the juice of one lemon in a coffee cup of hot water and one teaspoonful of sugar every fifteen min- utes until six or eight lemons are taken. There will be a profuse perspiration. Be careful not to take cold afterward. DEC 10 1912