Better babies and their care

by Anna Steese Richardson

If the eruption does not yield to the bicarbonate of soda bath try sponging the skin with vinegar and water—that is, in the summer. The eruption may be partly due to wool in the underwear. Change it for muslin or linen shirts, and have the knitted belly-band over that, not next to the skin.

Eczema is a far more serious eruption. It is marked by inflammation and great itching. The skin seems to thicken; it becomes moist and shows fissures from which a serum oozes and forms crusts. It is most commonly found on the face and scalp, but it may also be found in the folds of the skin at various parts of the baby’s anatomy. It may spread or it may be confined to only a small area. In either case the child suffers great discomfort and is bound to be fretful and wretched.

As eczema generally springs from lack of attention to the diet and hygiene, it is not found among children cared for in an intelligent way. When it does make its appearance the mother and doctor must set themselves to the task of changing the baby’s diet. In the meantime, some relief may be given by the treatment of the skin. Water baths must not be given, but a sweet-oil rub is used for cleansing purposes. Ointments will not cure and they give little relief. One of the best recommended by physicians is Lassar’s Paste, which can be bought at any drugstore.

Eczema may be recognized but it cannot be treated successfully by the mother. She must send at once for the family physician and place the child under his care.

Chafing, which results from uncleanliness in handling the diapers, is not dangerous, but it is most irritating to the child and is responsible for much crying and fretfulness in the nursery. This inflammation appears most frequently between the buttocks, on the thighs, and in the folds of the groin. The mother should look to the cause: neglect to change the diapers promptly; washing the diapers with strong soap or washing-powders; lack of rinsing. The cure consists of changing the diapers promptly and washing them promptly and carefully. Relief is given by dusting the affected parts with talcum powder and boric acid powder, as for prickly heat.

If any eruption does not yield promptly to change of diet or clothing, and the simple remedies suggested, send for your physician. Never take chances on skin diseases.

While attending Better Babies Contests I have been amazed at the careless way in which comparatively intelligent mothers discuss worms and their treatment with patent medicines.

Young babies, either nursing or bottle-fed, are seldom subject to worms. They more often attack older children, especially country children who drink well water. The symptoms are bad breath, gritting the teeth in the sleep, irritation of the nostrils, which makes the child pick at his nose, loss of appetite, anemia, headache, and dizziness. Many of these symptoms often come from ordinary indigestion. The only way to decide what really lies behind the symptoms is to have the stools examined. The worms themselves will not be found in the stools, but the eggs can be detected by the aid of a microscope.

The most common form of worms is the thread-worm, which looks like small broken pieces of white thread, from one-third to one-half inch long. The roundworm and tapeworm are rarely found.

No mother should attempt to treat this trouble, either before or after she has learned that the child has worms. She must never administer patent medicines, but must turn her child over to the care of a physician, who will prescribe medicine.