782 PLAIN FACTS 



stead of being drawn in a cart, as there will be less 

 liability of its getting chilled. It should also be ex- 

 posed to the sun daily, or as often as possible. Care 

 should be taken to protect the infant's eyes from the 

 glare of sunlight. 



Nurses should use caution in carrying infants not 

 to hold them always upon the same arm. The neglect 

 of this rule sometimes results in deformity. Children 

 should not be urged to walk too early, or before the 

 limbs are sufficiently strong to support the body well. 



Teething.— During this troublesome period chil- 

 dren require special care, as the digestive organs are 

 more liable to become disordered than at any other 

 time. The child is often fretful and restless; and if 

 it escapes being treated for worms half a dozen times, 

 although innocent of harboring any such vermin, it is 

 unusually fortunate. Teething is generally held re- 

 sponsible for every disease which occurs during the 

 period of cutting the teeth. It is probable, however, 

 that the process of teething is really responsible for 

 only a small part of v/hat is charged to it. Lancing the 

 gums is seldom called for. The tissue covering the 

 teeth is not sufficiently tense to require cutting to allow 

 them to protrude. In fact they do not tear their way 

 out, but the tissue covering is gradually absorbed. 

 About the only occasion for lancing the gums is the 

 occurrence of infantile convulsions. Rubbing the teeth 

 with very hard substances is also questionable treat- 

 ment. All the rubbing required will generally be per- 

 formed by the child itself with the finger or thumb. 



Bowel Disorders. — There is always an enor- 

 mous increase in the mortality rates during the sum- 

 mer months, the result of the great prevalence of 



