We selected only a few cases to illustrate the above statement. Thousands
of cases occur every year that might be cited to illustrate these
principles. A mother cannot be too careful, and she should have the hearty
co-operation and assistance of her husband. We quote the following cases
from Dr. Pancoast's Medical Guide, who is no doubt one of the best
authorities on the subject.
1. A woman bitten on the vulva by a dog, bore a child having a similar
wound on the glans penis. The boy suffered from epilepsy, and when the fit
came on, or during sleep, was frequently heard to cry out, "The dog bites
me!"
2. A pregnant woman who was suddenly alarmed from seeing her husband come
home with one side of his face swollen and distorted by a blow, bore a girl
with a purple swelling upon the same side of the face.
3. A woman, who was forced to be present at the opening of a calf by a
butcher, bore a child with all its bowels protruding from the abdomen. She
was aware at the time of something going on within the womb.
4. A pregnant woman fell into a violent passion at not being able to
procure a particular piece of meat of a butcher; she bled at the nose, and
wiping the blood from her lips, bore a child wanting a lip.
5. A woman absent from home became alarmed by seeing a great fire in the
direction of her own house, bore a child with a distinct mark of the flame
upon its forehead.
6. A woman who had borne healthy children, became frightened by a beggar
with a wooden leg and a stumped arm, who threatened to embrace her. Her
next child had one stump leg and two stump arms.
7. A woman frightened in her first pregnancy by the sight of a child with a
hare lip, had a child with a deformity of the same kind. Her second child
had a deep slit, and the third a mark of a similar character or modified
hare lips. In this instance the morbid mind of the mother affected several
successive issues of her body.
8. A pregnant woman became frightened at a lizard jumping into her bosom.
She bore a child with a fleshy excrescence exactly resembling a lizard,
growing from the breast, adhering by the head and neck.
* * * * *
{304}
The Care of New-Born Infants.
[Illustration]
1. The first thing to be done ordinarily is to give the little stranger a
bath by using soap and warm water. To remove the white material that
usually covers the child use olive oil, goose oil or lard, and apply it
with a soft piece of worn flannel, and when the child is entirely clean rub
all off with a fresh piece of flannel.
2. Many physicians in the United States recommend a thorough oiling of the
child with pure lard or olive oil, and then rub dry as above stated. By
these means water is avoided, and with it much risk of taking cold.
3. The application of brandy or liquor is entirely unnecessary, and
generally does more injury than good. {305}
4. If an infant should breathe feebly, or exhibit other signs of great
feebleness, it should not be washed at once, but allowed to remain quiet
and undisturbed, warmly wrapped up until the vital actions have acquired a
fair degree of activity.
5. DRESSING THE NAVEL.--There is nothing better for dressing the navel than
absorbent antiseptic cotton. There needs be no grease or oil upon the
cotton. After the separation of the cord the navel should be dressed with a
little cosmoline, still using the absorbent cotton. The navel string
usually separates in a week's time; it may be delayed for twice this length
of time, this will make no material difference, and the rule is to allow it
to drop off of its own accord.
6. THE CLOTHING OF THE INFANT.--The clothing of the infant should be light,
soft and _perfectly_ loose. A soft flannel band is necessary _only_ until
the navel is healed. Afterwards discard bands entirely if you wish your
babe to be happy and well. Make the dresses "Mother Hubbard"--Put on first
a soft woolen shirt, then prepare the flannel skirts to hang from the neck
like a slip. Make one kind with sleeves and one just like it without
sleeves, then white muslin skirts (if they are desired), all the same way.
Then baby is ready for any weather. In intense heat simply put on the one
flannel slip with sleeves, leaving off the shirt. In Spring and Fall the
shirt and skirt with no sleeves. In cold weather shirt and both skirts.
These garments can be all put on at once, thus making the process of
dressing very quick and easy. These are the most approved modern styles for
dressing infants, and with long cashmere stockings pinned to the diapers
the little feet are free to kick with no old-fashioned pinning blanket to
torture the naturally active, healthy child, and retard its development. If
tight bands are an injury to grown people, then in the name of pity
emancipate the poor little infant from their torture!
7. THE DIAPER.--Diapers should be of soft linen, and great care should be
exercised not to pin them too tightly. Never dry them, but always wash them
thoroughly before being used again.
8. The band need not be worn after the navel has healed so that it requires
no dressing, as it serves no purpose save to keep in place the dressing of
the navel. The child's body should be kept thoroughly warm around the
chest, bowels and feet. Give the heart and lungs plenty of room to heave.
9. The proper time for shortening the clothes is about three months in
Summer and six months in Winter. {306}
10. INFANT BATHING.--The first week of a child's life it should not be
entirely stripped and washed. It is too exhausting. After a child is over a
week old it should be bathed every day; after a child is three weeks old it
may be put in the water and supported with one hand while it is being
washed with the other. Never, however, allow it to remain too long in the
water. From ten to twenty minutes is the limit. Use Pears' soap or castile
soap, and with a sponge wipe quickly, or use a soft towel.
* * * * *