[Report 1899] / Medical Officer of Health, Benwell-with-Fenham Local Board U.D.C.

  • Benwell-with-Fenham (England). Local Board.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1899] / Medical Officer of Health, Benwell-with-Fenham Local Board U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    improper artilicial feeding, bad hygiene and almost invariably we can count on putrefactive changes in the stomach and bowels, producing septic poisons, local irritations, intestinal inflammations and generally depraved systemic conditions. In relation to babies, their diet should be lighter in the hot weather. The vital forces are then lowered and the digestive apparatus impaired. The removal of fermentative septic and indigestible matter is the key to the treatment of these cases. The first announcement of trouble is vomiting and purging, this is nature’s endeavour to get rid of the trouble. If we help it in the right direction relief will follow, if Ave intercept nature Ave go Avrong; if a child is seen early a mild purgatiA’e and cessation from food may be sufficient. Unfortunately parents neglect first Avarnings, and only call in medical skill AAdien “ the first aid ” the parents themselves afford is proved to be ineffective—disaster ensues. The hygienic management of infants is of the greatest import- ance. Every mother should be instructed to afford— 1st.—Pure air to breathe. 2nd.—Proper diet at regular intervals. 8rd.—Boiled AA'ater to drink. 1th.—A clean bottle if artificially fed. 5th.—Absolute cleanliness. ()th.—No excitement. If every infant Avas kept under such favourable conditions, the resistance of the vital organism Avould prevent the groAvth and development of the noxious germs introduced. With reference to aliment, boiled milk must be the-food, to be diluted AA’ith Avater previously boiled, proportionately to age. SAA'eetened Avith sugar of milk. The proportions are— For a child under one month tAVO-thirds AA'ater gradually decreased to one-half at end of third month, and to one-fourtli until end of six months. After Avhich pure milk may be given. The most successful mode of preparing coavs milk is sterilization. Milk subjected to 212°, it will then be free Jroui (jeniis.