OUR BABIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3148, 18 February 1911, Page 4

OUR BABIES.

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Health of "Women and Children.

“It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” (By “Hygeia.”)

ADDRESSES OF PLUNKET NURSES AND SECRETARIES IN NORTH ISLAND.

Wellington.—Plunket Nurse M‘Donald, 73 Aro street. Tel. 2425., Hon. &ec., Mrs. M‘Vicar, 45 Majoribanks street, City. Tel. 2024. Auckland. Plunkct Nurse Chappell, Park street. Tel. 851. Office of Society, 2 Chancery street. Tel. 829. Office flours Tuesdays and Fridays, 2.20 to 4 pan. lion, sec., Mrs. W. 41. Parkes, Mannoto, Symonds street, Tel. 240. Napier.—Plunket Nurse Donald, Masonic Hotel. Tel. 87. Hon. sec., Mrs. E. A. W. Henley, P.O. Box 64. Tel. 147. New Plymouth.—Plunket Nurse Murray, Imperial Hotel. Tel. 123. Office, Town Hall, "Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 to 4 pan. Hon. sec., Mrs R. J. Matthews, Fitzroy. Tel. 104. __ Society’s Baby Hospital, Karitane 1985. Demonstrations on points of interest to mothers are given by the matron everv Wednesday afternoon, from 2.30 to 3.30. All mothers invited. Messages may be left at any time at the Plunket Nurses’ Offices or private addresses. The Society’s official sheet of instructions, written by Dr. Truby King, price 3d (postage tree), and all other information available from the boil, secretary of each branch. PLUNKET NURSES’ SERVICES FREE.

HARDENING A DELICATE CHILD

At the close of last week’s column I promised to give a sample case, drawn from many within my own personal experience, "illustrating the benefits of the ••hardening process” systematically and judiciously carried out during early childhood. My reasons for selecting this particular case are threefold —viz: (1) That the child was extremely delicate when she first came under our observation, over three years ago, and was steadily dwindling and becoming feebler, in spite ol the fact that the family wore doing their best and were quite unsparing in their devotion. The child was really receiving too much, rather than too little, attention —but the care was of the wrong kind. (2) The progress of the case stands recorded by a- series of letters covering the whole period, and these convex in simple, homely terms the progress made from time to time... (3) The relations are quite willing that tlie letters should be published, in spite of the fact that the details and circumstances and details render identification possible. Indeed, when communicated with on the subject, the grandmother ‘replied, with fine public spirit: “There is not the slightest objection to making the ease public; names can be mentioned if you think well. We are only too. glad 'if we can in anv way help the good works of the society.” THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH.

If all mothers and grandmothers were equally broad and liberally minded—equally willing to admit the mistakes of the" past, and change their point of view with the advance of human knowledge —the task of the society in spreading its “gospel of health” would receive a wonderful impetus. However, we have no reason to complain of lack of help from parents whose babies have been saved or benefited by conforming to the essential needs of child life as practically taught in the home, by the Plunket nurses and laid down m the Society’s publications. Wherever parents who have been convinced by their own practical experience oi the enormous benefit accruing to children from the simple, systematic- care recommended by tlie Society become helpful centres of light and leading for their district, they constitute *in effect •branches” of the Society. There are many such unnamed branches scattered throughout the length and breath of the Dominion, and we are only too glad to acknowledge the great service they are rendering in the cause we have at heart.

LETTERS OF A GRANDMOTHER. Before quoting the actual letters, I shall say a lew words bv way of introduction". It is quite unnecessary to give tlie names of tlie family or of the block in which they were living, The township was in Southland —we will- call it Ere whoa. HISTORY OF THE CHILD.

The child was brought by tlic grandmother to the Karitane Hospital in January, 1008. She was then over 2-1 years of age, but was pale, feeble, flabby and spiritless. During the first two years of life she had made good headway, growing well, talking, walking, and getting about in a normal way. Towards the end of the second year progress ivas less satisfactory. Gradually the child became irritable and capricious, lost lier appetite, and manifested increasing inactivity and listlessness. The parents were advised that there ivas irritation of the stomach and bowels', and as month after month went by with steady aggravation of tlic symptoms and"falling off in every direction, they did all they could to tempt the child to take sufficient food to keep up nutrition. Not only ivas the appetite very poor, but she became more and mere fastidious Do what they would, sufficient milk ivas not taken, and simple, wholesome foods such as bread-and-butter, tcast, or plain biscuits were refused. There appeared to be no alternative but. to further humor and “spoil” the child with sweet biscuits, sweet puddings, etc., which it took more willingly, than anything else. Tender this regimen there was a sad falling-off, but not so much in weight as in strength and activity. Being no longer able to run or even walk, she was wheeled about in. a go-cart, and when she stood up there was obvious knock-knee. There was no vomifin.o- or diarrhoea —no evidence of definite disease of any kind—nothing calling for the . use of drugs or strictly I medical measures in any direction. What; the child needed was simply “What Every Child Needs,

Whether Well or 111” (see pages 1 and 2 of the Society’s.; book),. and, for tho very reason that it was. idling, _an even stricter conformity' than ordinary _to these primary and inexorable requirements of Nature was of vital importance. WHAT WAS WRONG. The use of wrong food, uliduc freqiienr - of feeding, the giving of pieces between meals, irregularity of habits, lade of muscular exercise, lack of stimulation of the s'kin (and*. consequent slackness and absence of tone throughout the whole system)—these were quite sufficient to account for the. remarkable and progressive falling-off in condition which was causing such alarm and making the parents further “spoil” the child in the vain dFort to keep it from further wasting and going down hill. In such eases the absence of definite knowledge, tlie more affectionate and' devoted are the parents the more difficult it is to bring themselves to properly regulate and discipline the course of a child’s life (see “Forming a Character,” page 135 of the Society’s hook). Once a wide departure from the proper daily routine has been made, owiiv perhaps to some temporary indisuosition or illness (such as we may assume to have upset the child in question), a return to normal habits needs great tact, patience, and firmness on the' part of guardians. In the present instance, fortunately all these requirements were forthcoming, as soon as the relations 1 had been brought to realise what was essential. WHAT HAD TO BE DONE, The leading instructions to the grandmother were on tlie lines laid down in the beginning of the Society’s book. MEALS. Suitable e .meals of wholesome, plain food such as bread-and-butter, toast, rusks, milk (1 j pints a day), were to be given with perfect regularity only three, or, at most, four times in 24 hours. No “pieces” were to be permited between meals, and no “lollies,” cake, or sweet biscuits, etc, at any time. A drink of water might be permitted between meals, and no “lolspeeially thirsty. The use of wholesome, ripe fruit and suitable vegetables was to be encouraged at meal times. Tlie little meat allowed was to be underdone. Thorough mastication was to bo ensured as far as possible. This dietetic regimen was not to he arrived at suddenly, but !>v proper graduations, and needing some improvement in digestion the milk was to he partly modified. Dus warning was l given a- to.the harm liable to arise from any sudden, extreme chano-o of habits. It was explained that some weeks would have to he spent in attaining the prescribed goal, but that distinct vices as the taking of “sweets” and “pieces” between meals were to bo abandoned at once. EXERCISE. As the child could not walk, the first exercise had to be given in the form of “massage,” which fortunately a member of the family was able to carry out herself, as she 'had had some nursing experience. BATHING. Stimulation of the skin was to be initiated by first sponging the limbs only, cold bathing lor the whole body being gradually arrived at on the lines laid down in the preceding articles and summarised on page 71 of the Society s book. In this connection particular stress was laid on the paramount need for winning the child to resume the use of its voluntary muscles by making tho “exercise after bathing” take the form of an open-air game—such as tlie most primitive form of “hide and seek,” carried out in such a way as to indnbe the child not to dawdle, but to run with spirit from point to point of the route chosen for the morning excursion. (This may seem to be troublesome and exacting, but it must he born in mind that the relations were in earnest, and that thev were fighting for the child’s health and life. Moreover, they won the battle in the course of a single month!) GOING BAREFOOT. The time was midsummer, and it was advised that the child should be trained to walk barefoot. CLOTHING. The clothing next the skin was to be non-irritating (silk and wool), and tlie rest of the clothing was to be as light porous as possible, consistent with due warmth —loose, woollen materials, not cotton. Further, t-liere was to be absolute freedom from constriction of any kind—nothing to hamper the free play of the muscles and internal organs. PURE AIR AND SUNLIGHT. When first seen the child was over 21 years of age. and weighed 241 b. Exactly a month later, (viz., on Tebruary 10, 1908), the grandmother wrote: — I must tell you how my little grandchild is getting on. I am pleased to sav that she is much improved under the treatment recommended. She has nained 2flb in weight; her appetite is much better, and she • rests better at night. "Within nine months the child had increased in weight from 241 b to 34-)lb, and had attained above the average weight for her years, having gained m 10 months about three times the ordinary “weight increase” for twelve months from 2& to years of age. Or course she was “putting on flesh” and making up for lost time. Tlie scries of letters, which will appear in the next issue, will serve to show that the all-round improvement in health vigor, and happiness, was quite as remarkable as the gam m weight.