Mother, Nurse and Infant / A Manual Especially Adapted for the Guidance of Mothers and Monthly Nurses, Comprising Full Instruction in Regard To Pregnancy, Preparation for Child-birth, and the Care of Mother and Child, and Designed to Impart so Much Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery, and the Proper Use of Medicines as Will Serve Intelligently to Direct the Wife, Mother and Nurse in All Emergencies.

by S. P. Sackett

The notion that puerperal fever and septicemia is produced by BACTERIA has now become an established doctrine, and has given rise to a rational treatment based thereon, especially for their prevention.

As prophylactic means may be mentioned, the use of a carbolic solution 1 in 30 which the practitioner or nurse applies before touching any case, the use of carbolized oil 1 in 8 for lubricating the fingers, catheter, forceps, &c.; syringing out the vagina with diluted Condy’s fluid, rigid attention to cleanliness in napkins, &c. The nurse should use antiseptics to only a very limited extent without the advice of a physician.

CHAPTER IV.
CARE OF INFANT CHILDREN.

Infants sometimes require treatment for ailments either slight or severe when the advice of a physician cannot be obtained.

The NAVAL is sometimes a little sore after the naval string comes away. It may be dressed by putting a little simple cerate or vaseline or carbolized cosmoline on lint or a linen rag, and applying it to the part affected every morning, and a bread poultice every night until it is quite healed.

A RUPTURE OF THE NAVAL is sometimes caused by much crying, and it may be occasioned by the nurse pulling on the cord to remove it before it will readily separate from the infant’s body.

The best treatment is a piece of adhesive plaster as large as the top of a tumbler, with a properly adjusted pad made of several folds of muslin fastened on the plaster, which will keep the bowels from protruding. The bandage or belly band can be put on over this.

If the infant have a GROIN RUPTURE the only proper treatment is to keep on it day and night if it cry much, a well fitting truss. In applying the truss be careful to return the rupture thoroughly, and endeavor to have it well adjusted or it will chafe and will not effectually cure.

If the child is TONGUE TIED so that it cannot apply its tongue to the nipple to suck, the frenum may be cut, but it will not be necessary to make more than a small nick or a slight cut in it.

Milk in the breasts of new born infants, or a serous fluid resembling it, is often found, and sometimes there is considerable swelling both of the breasts of male and female children. It is not the better way to apply plasters or to squeeze or press them, but the milk may be drawn out by putting an open top thimble over the nipple and drawing on it.