79 
No. XIII.—DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
What is the mode of treating the new-born infant—as to 
the umbilical cord—as to clothing—as to suckling ? 
Give details regarding the artificial feeding of infants, 
when it is commenced, what food is employed, and how it is 
prepared. Are there any precautions used by natives in 
giving water, milk, fruit, vegetables, or cooked meat ? 
The clothing of infants ; give details as to binders and 
other articles of clothing or mechanism intended for support 
or constriction. 
What are the customs with respect to washing and clean¬ 
liness ? 
What is the average number of children in families 2 
Observations as to infant mortality should be made in as 
large a number of families as possible. General statements 
regarding mortality made on hearsay evidence are of little 
use. Information should be obtained regarding the important 
subject of variations in the rate of mortality during the 
different periods of infant life, and whether the variations 
are the same in children of European parents as in those of 
natives. 
Observations should be made as to the periods of dentition, 
and the ailments believed to be associated with dentition. 
The following classes of diseases in children should receive 
careful attention :— 
• The common ailments of infancy—respiratory and gastro¬ 
intestinal catarrhs, convulsions, laryngismus, skin affections, 
eye and ear affections, bone diseases, especially rickety en¬ 
largements of the ends of the bones, bendings of the long 
bones, beads on the ribs, thickenings of the bones of the head 
in connection with delayed teething and walking. 
It is convenient to remember that a healthy child at 
twelve months old has twelve teeth and begins to walk and 
talk. 
