A change of air is sometimes advisable and essential, especially during the hot, humid weather of July and August. Much better results will be obtained by sending these children to the mountains than to the seashore.
Delicate children should always be clothed warmly, but not too warmly. The feet and legs must always be kept comfortable. Moderate exercise, short of fatigue, is necessary. A midday nap after the noon meal should be taken every day. The child should be undressed and put to bed for two hours and left there, whether it sleeps or not. This applies to delicate children of all ages.
The education of delicate children should be postponed until the health is restored. They should, however, be made to obey and they should be taught good habits. When school work begins it should be made light and easy. They should not go to school before the eighth year, and then not unless physically fit. They should not play at rough games or with rough companions, though it is not wise to shield them too much. Their habits and peculiarities should be studied and every possible effort made to direct them kindly and wisely so that they may contribute to their own upbuilding.
A systematic observance of these suggestions will save many lives and will aid very considerably in producing stronger men and women. Infinite patience, tact and self-sacrifice is necessary, but the results in every case justify the measures adopted.
Indiscriminate Feeding: Poor Appetite.—In considering many of the diseases of childhood the term "indiscriminate feeding" is used. An explanation of just what is meant by this will be of decided advantage. There are two fundamental essentials in the successful feeding of infants and children: regularity and suitable food.
A child whose feeding intervals are not regular and whose food is unsuitable is a victim of indiscriminate feeding.
The lack of observance of the regularity rule always leads to loss of appetite and indigestion.
Loss of appetite is a serious condition in a growing child and may give infinite trouble. Indigestion in a growing child is unnecessary, unfortunate, and frequently is the one factor that spoils an entire life. It is unnecessary, because it means and is caused by neglect on the part of the mother; it is unfortunate, because it always paves the way for any serious ailment that is epidemic or "in the air"; and it is important, because it very frequently weakens the stomach and renders it unfit for normal digestion for a long period, if not for life.
If for some reason a child's appetite becomes poor and it is not properly managed until the appetite is restored to normal, indiscriminate feeding is always the result.
The reason for the poor appetite may be because the child is kept indoors too long, or because it is being fed on unsuitable food, or is living in unsanitary surroundings, or many other reasons, sometimes trifling reasons, may cause it. When a child will not eat at meal time, the mother feels that it should eat sometime, so she encourages it to eat between meals, and because of a mistaken kindness she breaks the law of regularity,—a law that can never be broken without serious results following. A child in this condition becomes a disturber of the peace; the parents can do nothing with him; he insists on eating just what he likes and when he likes; and he chooses, as a rule, candy, cake, pastries, ice cream, tea, coffee. Indigestion follows, the child loses weight, is languid and listless and constipated.