Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

66 THE CHARLOTTE MRDICAL JOURNAL.
fessional man who works at such a high water may be added. Gradually the child
tension that he has no time to maintain the is prepared to be independent of temporary
proper equilibrium between mind and body
—these and their like have little more right
changes that are apt to occur in the mother's
milk and that are apt to itiflu^nce the
to expect healthful children than those who child's health. It is also better prepared
break the laws of health in more immoral for the not infrequent emergency of necesways.
sary premature weaning. By the twelfth
"Like parent like child." The child of month the child should be independent of
a dyspeptic father or mother is easier prey the mother's milk. One year's lactation is
for the digestive disturbances of early child- long enough drain on most mothers, and
hood. The child of tubercular parents is most year-old children thrive better on a
an easier victim of respiratory troubles, carefully regulated diet exclusive of the
Hence we should teach parents how to mother's milk now quite uncertain and
counteract as far as possible any evil heredi- irregular in both quality and quantity,
tary tendency.
Xo matter how perfect the heredity, in
Parents should know the limitations of the
child's digestive system. They should be
order to maintain a healthful child its habits strenuously informed of the folly of allowin
regard to sleep, exercise, fresh air and ing the child to partake promiscuously of
feeding should he regular and correct,
Baby should have a quiet sleeping place,
whatever ma^' appear on the table. Even
one mouthful of an unsuitable food may be
removed from all likely noises and disturb- suiBcient to usher in a fatal dysentery or
ances. The peaceful sleeper should never cholera infantum.
be disturbed to gratify the curiosity of ad- Such contagious diseases as diphtheria,
miring friends and relatives, nor to satisfy scarlet fever, pertussis and tuberculosis
the whims of an over-attentive mother.
In this era of emphasis on fresh air and
should be carefully avoided. People should
know the dangers of dirt eating or even of
exercise the mere mention of these matters eating soiled fruit and berries and vegewill
sufBce. Of course the baby needs an tables without very careful cleansing,
equable temperature, but this should be The sooner we Americans can be edusecured
by regulation of clothing and arti- cated up to the safe and sane Chinese pracficial
heat rather than by smothering in a
close stuffy room. A child can hardly have
tice of preserving the health of our patients,
the sooner we recognize the full force of
the same degree of health and vigor in a heredity and hygiene as factors in the
low, hot, malarial climate that the same health of the nation far superior to potions,
child would enjoy in a more bracing atmos- pills and scalpels, the more credit will be
pliere. Nor does penetrating dampness or due to our usually good practical common
excessive cold of severe winter climates sense and the more liberal will be our conprove
conduci\e to the child's welfare, tribution to our nation's happiness and
While all cannot live in suitable climates prosperity; for we well know that the near
all the time they should have the benefit of future of the nation depends on the chilan
invigorating climate during special seasons,
as far as possible.
dreu of today,
Perhaps the most important and the most
difficult factor in child-life is proper feed- ^^ Suracon and Gynaecoloaist-Not an
ing. It needs no emphasis
Entity.
in this audience
—each of you doubtless make it clear to ^7 *-" J^^- Strong, M.D., Charlotte .Sanatorium,
every mother that,
Charlotte,
barring
N. C.
hereditary dangers,
it is her most solemn duty and should The history of medicine is of unbounded
be her greatest pleasure to nourish her off- interest to the student. Its evolution has
spring at her own breast. It is the rarest kept pace with the world's advancement
occurrence that a mother's milk is not the along all lines. Its early history was
safest diet for her infant. If it seems to shrouded in ignorance and superstition
disagree, try faithfully to correct it by regu- until disenthralled bv the spirit of freedom,
lating the mother's habits and diet before It has only been within the last half cen-
\-ou try the more dangerous experiment of tury that freedom of medical speech was
modified cow's milk or of the usually in- permitted. It evolved from the cant of the
excusable foods. Circumstances should Barbarous Age and the bigotry and intolergovern
the beginning of mixed feeding. I ance of the Middle Ages, to that of the
believe it is better to begin this cautiously scientific light of the Twentieth Century,
at an earlier period than is usually advised, until there is danger of evolving too far. I
The first addition to mother's milk should mean specialism.
be suitable cow's milk properly modified. I believe that specialists are a necessity.
This IS generally admissible by the fourth but the danger now seems to be that specmonth;
a little later rice-water or barley- ialism will divorce itself from general medi-