The Eyes.
The care of the eyes is a subject of such enormous importance that we must notice it a little more particularly. The following is from The Prescribed, by Dr. John H. Clarke:- “Immediately after birth the nurse must wash the infant’s eyes with the greatest possible care, removing all traces of mucus. For this purpose a fine linen rag, dipped in clean water, may be used. Beginning at the outer corner, the eyelids are gently wiped from side to side, until all traces of mucus are removed, and the eyelids remain perfectly clean. Sponges must never be used. As soon as the child’s eyes are thus washed, cleaned, and dried, the nurse is to wash her own hands most carefully in water with which some carbolic acid, Condy’s fluid, or other disinfectant has been mixed. If in the first few days after birth signs of inflammation appear – redness, swelling, and sticking together of the lids – the greatest care must be taken.
If from any reason the doctor cannot be in attendance immediately, the nurse must herself clean the eyes in the following manner:- A perfectly clean and very soft piece of linen is moistened with tepid water; any excess of water is then squeezed out. The muco-purulent discharge between the eyelids is wiped off very gently – without scrubbing or scratching; special attention being paid to the inner corner of the eyelid where the mucus particularly accumulates. After repeatedly rinsing the linen in clean water, the ball of the eye is gently raised by means of the thumb placed on the eyelid immediately above the lashes, but without making any undue pressure.
The muco-purulent matter which escapes is removed with the rag as often as it appears. In the next place, the lower eyelid is drawn down with the forefinger, and also wiped with great care. If the eyelids stick together, they must be moistened with water until separation takes place without any effort. The water used in cleansing the eyes must be perfectly pure; no milk or soap is to be mixed with it. Medical Treatment.- Argent.-nit.3, 2h.; after well washing, a drop of a solution of Argentum-nit. (two grains to the ounce) to be introduced into the eye.”
It is hardly necessary to say that whenever there is serious danger, and however careful and experienced the nurse may be, the services of a medical man should be secured without loss of time.
7. The Warm Bath.
The temperature of the water for a hot bath should be about 98o to 100o, or what can be agreeably borne by the back of the hand, and for a warm bath, about 90o; the temperature should be full maintained, by additions of hot water carefully poured down the side of the bath till the child is taken out. The bath should be given in front of a good fire, and a warm blanket be in readiness to wrap the child in directly it leaves the bath.
The warm bath, given for five or ten minutes, is of great value in many affections of children, especially in febrile disease; in spasmodic affections of the bowels, or bladder; in Prurigo, Tetanus, and in Convulsions. In the last-mentioned disease, a towel or sponge squeezed out of cold water should also be applied to the head for two or three minutes.
8. Clothing.
Besides adapting it to the season, the clothing should be loose, soft, light, warm, arranged to fit without pins, and to cover the legs, arms, and neck. After the separation of the navel-string, a belt, stays, etc., are unnecessary.
When a baby is divested of its long clothes, it is in danger of being insufficiently clad, the danger increasing when it can run alone and is more exposed to atmospheric influences. It cannot be too strongly impressed upon those who have the charge of children, that the practice of leaving parts of the body exposed which, it the case of adults, it is found necessary to clothe warmly, especially the lower limbs and abdomen, is a frequent cause of Colic, Diarrhoea, and perhaps more serious diseases.
Warmth is of prime importance for children of all ages, and especially so for newly-born infants. Warm clothing should cover the whole body. But in hot weather it is necessary keep children cool, for Diarrhoea and other summer complaints may be thus to a great extent avoided. Excess of clothing, night or day, is to be guarded against, and the use of flannel or wool in contact with the skin in unnecessary except in rheumatic children. The clothing, too, should be scrupulously clean, and all soiled and wet articles immediately changed. Caps are unnecessary; the aim should be rather to “keep the head cool and the feet warm.” In call cases the night clothing should be looser and less warm than that worn in the day. It is also important that the dress should not impede the free movement of the limbs, or exert pressure on the digestive, breathing or circulatory organs.
9. Sleep.
It is advisable that children should sleep apart from the mother or nurse, in a cot, care being taken that they are warmly but not excessively covered. Not only infants, but children of both sexes should, if possible sleep alone.
During the first few months after its birth a healthy infant spends the chief part of its time in sleep. Even up to about the third year a midday sleep is beneficial.
He should be fed, and put to bed, at stated hours, as regularity is of the greatest importance in all matters pertaining to children.
When the time for sleep arrives, infants should be placed directly into their cot awake; the unnecessary and objectionable habit of rocking or nursing them to sleep in the arms should never be formed. Neither should ordinary footsteps, speaking, or other moderate sounds be avoided, but the infant should be accustomed to sleep under such conditions.
All the so-called soothing remedies, syrups, cordials, spirits, or sleeping drops, should be strictly avoided, containing as they do, to a great or less extent, Opium in some of its forms. These sleeping mixtures inflict an incalculable amount of mischief on health, and largely swell infantile mortality. No medicines to promote sleep should ever be given except such as are prescribed in the section (40) on “Sleeplessness.” Dummy teats should not be allowed. They cannot be kept clean, and they are apt to spoil the shape of the jaws and possibly help to cause adenoids.
Pure fresh air is of extreme importance to children during sleep. Nurseries should be as spacious and airy as possible. The practice of shutting bedroom doors is objectionable, if the children can be protected from draught. A great advantage to health is secured by separate night and day nurseries; but when this is impracticable, the children should be out of the nursery a great deal, and every opportunity seized for promoting ventilation, by opening doors and windows at all suitable times. Ideal ventilation, at any rate in cold weather, is secured by the combination of a fire and open windows.
10. Open-air Exercise.
Children require fresh air and sunlight as much as plants and flowers do; and as the latter are colourless and imperfect if excluded from direct sunshine, so children who like in places where light does not abundantly enter are pale and feeble. In fine weather, an infant over a month old should be taken out at least twice a day; the only precaution necessary being that it should be sufficiently clothed. In warm, sunny weather, the more it is in the open air the better, if care be observed to protect the head from the hot sun. In short, a child should almost live out of doors during suitable weather. Plenty of exercise in the open air is necessary for a healthy development of the limbs and body generally. Suitable athletic games and exercises should form a part of the early education of all children, and these games and exercises should take place in the open air, except during inclement weather, when they may be carried out in spacious, well-ventilated rooms.
CHAPTER III
EXAMPLES OF DIETARY FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN, AT DIFFERENT AGES
IN consequence of the vital importance of the diet of children, for health, for growth and development, we deem it necessary to give detailed examples of dietary adapted to infants and other children at ages when they are most likely to be improperly fed, and when the consequences of such feeding are sure to tell disastrously; namely, 1st, from birth to six months old; 2nd, from six to twelve months 3rd, from twelve to eighteen months; and 4th, from eighteen months to two years, and upwards. As it is impossible to make one invariable rule applicable to the different constitutions of requirements of children, it is scarcely necessary to add that the quantities stated in the following arrangements are only approximative. But the amounts of farinaceous food stated will generally be found sufficient.
As the diet suitable for children suffering from disease is pointed out in the various following Sections of this Manual it is not described in the present Section.
11. For the First Six Months.
DIET 1.- We commence by stating emphatically that children who enjoy their inalienable right to maternal breast-milk, assuming this to be suitable in quality land sufficient in quantity, require no other food. The infant should be applied to the breast every two hours and a half during the day for above the first six weeks; afterwards only once in every three or four hours. But he should not be awakened from sleep at night to be fed. After about the first month or even earlier it will not be necessary to give the breast at all between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 or 6 a.m. the early commencement of this arrangement is very important, as it affords the opportunity for that regular, undisturbed repose, which contributes much to the well-being of both mother and child. It is important, too, that the infant should suck from each breast alternately. Regular habits of feeding may be soon acquired; it is a great mistake and the cause of wind, Colic, and other disorders, to give the infant the breast whenever it cries, or to let it be always sucking.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."