Feeding the sick baby differs somewhat with the character of the individual disease, but in the outset of any and all diseases the intestinal tract should not be overburdened with food. At the approach of any illness, the food should at least be cut down one half; for instance, in the case of a serious acute illness accompanied by fever, not only should the strength of the food be reduced one half, but water should be given plentifully between feedings. It is better never to urge the baby to eat at such times—for the ability to digest food is very much reduced.
In cases of acute attacks with much vomiting and fever, all milk should be immediately stopped and rice water or barley water substituted. When vomiting ceases and the fever approaches normal and food is desired, begin with boiled skim milk in small amounts, well diluted with cereal water, and do not approach the normal amount of milk for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. In this way the weak digestive organs are not overtaxed and they gradually resume their usual work of good digestion. When a baby seems to have no appetite for food, lengthen the intervals from three to four or five hours, for feeding when food is not desired usually aggravates disease disturbances.
EXAMINING SICK CHILDREN
And now, above all times, the early seed sowing of teaching the child self-control, teaching him to gargle if he is sufficiently old enough, to open his mouth and allow observation without resistance, brings sure results. The great harm of making the doctor and his medicine a threat to obtain obedience also brings its harvest at this time; for the doctor, of all people, ought to be regarded as the child's best friend. When baby is sick, the doctor is needed, his daily visits must not be resisted, his medicines must not be feared—these and such other matters should be made a part of every child's early education.
Under no circumstances or conditions should we directly falsify to a child. Nothing is accomplished by telling a child it will not hurt when you know that it will hurt, or that the medicine tastes good when you know it is bad-tasting. Every physician can recall unnecessary disturbances in the office because a mother has allowed a child to acquire a wrong mental attitude toward the family physician.
One mother told her little girl in my office when I wished to make an examination for adenoids which necessitated my putting my finger back of the child's uvula, "Now Mary, the doctor won't hurt you at all, it will feel nice." I turned to the little girl and said: "Mary, it will not feel nice, it really won't hurt you, but it will feel uncomfortable." It was a grave mistake to tell her that it would feel nice. The child resisted, and, while the examination was successfully made, the greatest of tact had to be used in securing the friendship of the child after the examination.
It is far better when the throat is to be examined to wrap the child in a shawl or a sheet with his arms placed at his side, and for a member of the family to take him in her lap and hold him securely while the physician quickly makes the observation. And while we appreciate that sickness is not the time to introduce new methods of training, in instances where children have been spoiled, it is far better quietly and firmly to go about the task in a manner that you know can be carried through to a successful finish.
TREATMENT OF SICK CHILDREN
A sick child should be encouraged to lie in his bed much of the time, and the bed should be kept clean and cool. He should never be set up suddenly or laid back quickly. In the case of a broken leg, all rapid movements should be avoided. A simple story or a soothing lullaby, or the giving of a toy, will often divert attention when some painful movement must be made or some disagreeable task performed.
Both cleanliness of the body and cleanliness of the mouth are exceedingly necessary in sickness. In all instances of disease or indisposition, the mouth must receive daily care, for stomatitis or gangrene of the mouth often follows neglect. A listerine wash in proportion of one to four, or a magnesia wash, or the addition of a few drops of essence of cinnamon to the mouth wash will do much to prevent such conditions, as well as to relieve them.