Maternity, infancy, childhood : Hygiene of pregnancy; nursing and weaning of infants ... / By John M. Keating.

  • Keating, John M. (John Marie), 1852-1893.
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Maternity, infancy, childhood : Hygiene of pregnancy; nursing and weaning of infants ... / By John M. Keating. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    lating, or some preparation of pepsin, as lacto-peptine, for instance, if taken before a meal will cause it to be retained. Should there be craving after an unusual article of diet at any time, the matter should be referred to the physician, and possibly the substance which na- ture seems to demand may be supplied by medicinal means, or the diet be so arranged as to include those articles which would at first seem questionable, as pickles, etc. DIET AND HYGIEXE. It is well that the patient should have regular habits from the very commencement of this condition, if pos- sible. I would not have it supposed, however, that she must be restricted to those subjects mentioned in the limits of this article. A few hints may be of advan- tage as suggesting the proper course to pursue. Upon awaking in the morning, a small cup of black coffee, cocoa, or chocolate should be taken before rising; she should then take a bath or sponging, to invigorate the system and restore circulation; if possible, she should then take a short walk before breakfast. One is frequently asked whether a bath is not contra- indicated at this time. By a bath we do not mean a plunge into ice-cold water. Cleanliness is never contra- indicated under any circumstances. It is as important to have a full action of the skin as of the kidneys or bowels. A bath of a temperature of 75°, taken in a warm room, followed by a gentle surface rubbing or a gentle massage to the limbs, would be of great service and should be insisted upon ; but if a bath cannot be taken, a rapid sponging of the body should not be omitted. There are some persons who find it suits them better to take a bath at night; this is not a mere matter of fancy, and I think can be safely left to the patient's judgment. As for hot baths, except those 'ised occasionally simply for the purpose of cleanliness,