Do not put too much clothing on the baby, especially in the

summer.

Keep the baby out of doors as much as possible.

Keep the windows open day and night in the summer. In the winter air the room two or three times every day.

Keep the flies out. If you have not screens, tack mosquito netting outside of windows. Flies carry disease.

If the baby frequently vomits his food, he needs to see a physician.

In case of diarrhoea give one or two teaspoons of castor oil; stop all food for at least 12 to 24 hours; give cooled boiled water without sugar, and immediately get your doctor.

Don't blame teething. or worms for your baby's illness. There is probably another reason.

Don't forget that it is easier, better and cheaper to prevent sickness than to cure it.

Never drug the baby. Soothing syrups are dangerous. If the baby needs drugs take him to see your doctor.

Follow the instructions of your doctor and nurse only, and not those of your neighbors and relatives.

Never without a doctor's orders feed a well bottle baby oftener than seven times in 24 hours-better six.

If the baby cries a great deal he needs to see a physician.

If the baby cries at other than feeding time, you may give cooled boiled water without sugar.

In hot weather the baby is thirsty, just as you are. Give him plenty of cooled boiled water.

Use a clean boiled nipple for each feeding, if artificially fed.
Use a clean boiled bottle for each feeding.

Always throw out the milk that is left in the bottle after feeding.

Always keep the milk on the ice until it is ready to use.

Know that many babies cry from over feeding as well as from hunger.

Be sure that the baby gets enough sleep; at least two naps a day.

BETTER BABIES.

We breed our stock with the greatest care,

Our cattle, swine and sheep.

The seed we sow is the finest seed

That the better grain we'll reap.

Our horses and mules, our flowers and fruit
Are improved again and again,

But what have we done in all the years
To better the breed of men?

For a deeper chest and a stronger limb
We've searched the country wide,

We have fed this food and have fed that food
And are still unsatisfied.

And we spend our gold with a lavish hand
On the worthless cat and dog:

But the sob and cry of the starving child

Is drowned in the grunt of the hog.

-State Grange Bulletin.

The Care of the Baby

(Fuller directions for the care of the baby are contained in the following circular which was prepared by a committee of the "American Association for the Study of the Prevention of Infant Mortality," and has recently been issued by the U. S. Public Health Service. We commend its careful study to everyone interested in the welfare of babies.-EDITOR.)

I. SOME IMPORTANT TRUTHS.

I. It is easier, better and cheaper to prevent than to cure disease.

2. Everything that protects the mother before her baby is born improves the health of the baby after its birth.

3. Many of the diseases observed in older children and adults begin in infancy.

4. Healthy babies make strong men and women.

5. The baby's food, home and surroundings play an important part in keeping it well or making it sick.

6.

7.

Mother's milk is the best food for babies.

Cow's milk which has become infected with disease germs kills many babies.

8. Extreme heat and impure air kill many babies in the summer, especially bottle-fed babies.

9. The health and happiness of the whole household are improved by everything done to protect the baby.

II.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CARE AND FEEDING OF INFANTS.

J.

Mother's Milk-Nature's Food.

The most loving act a mother can do is to nurse her baby. When the baby nurses it not only gets the best food, but is less liable to many diseases, such as "summer complaint," convulsions and tuberculosis. Out of every 100 bottle-fed babies an average of 30 die in the first year, while of the breast-fed babies only about 7 out of every 100 die in the first year.

2. Nearly every mother can nurse her baby during the first three or four months of its life, and if she can nurse it for 10 months so much the better.

3. There may be an abundant supply of milk after the first

few weeks, even if there is but little at first; the act of suckling. causes the milk to come into the breasts and increases the supply. It is very important that the baby nurse regularly.

4. If the baby is too weak to nurse, a healthy infant can be used to excite the flow of milk until the baby has grown strong enough to nurse. This should not be done without a physician's advice.

5. The only way to tell how much food the baby is getting is to weigh it before and after each nursing; for at least 24 hours. The clothes need not be removed, but the baby should be dressed in exactly the same way when weighed after nursing as before. (If the baby should soil its diaper after the first weighing do not change it until after the second weighing.) In case the baby is not getting enough breast milk, the quantity lacking should be made up by properly prepared cow's milk. Let a physician decide this. This may be only a temporary shortage on the mother's part, and with suitable care the milk will probably increase so that the baby wili eventually be satisfied with the breast only.

6. The following things influence the milk supply: Peace of mind is necessary for the mother; she must not worry; she should not get overtired. She should eat freely of her customary diet. The total quantity of fluids taken by her in 24 hours should not be less than two quarts; in hot weather more. Stuffing, however, is unnecessary and undesirable.

7. Consumption in the mother is practically the only disease that always forbids nursing. Paleness, nervousness, fatigue, pains in the back and chest or the return of the monthly sickness are not sufficient reasons for weaning, but when these symptoms are present or pregnancy ensues a physician should be consulted at once.

8. Shortly after birth boiled water, without sugar, may be given to the baby at regular intervals until the mother's milk supply is established. The baby, however, should be put to the breast at stated times, as often as the mother's condition permits.

Important Points to Be Remembered in Nursing the Baby.

It is always wise to make nursing as easy as possible for the mother and to give her opportunities for rest. Therefore, the sooner the baby is satisfied and gaining on three-hour or even four-hour intervals the better.

Convenient hours for nursing the baby are as follows:

(1) Seven nursings in 24 hours: 6 a. m., 9 a. m., 12 noon, 3

p. m., 6 p. m., 9 or 10 p. m., and once during the night.

(2) Six nursings in 24 hours: 6 a. m., 9 a. m., 12 noon, 3 p. m., 6 p. m., and at the mother's bedtime; or at 6 a. m., 10 a. m.,

2 p. m.. 6 p. m., 10 p. m., and once during the night.

(3) Five nursings in 24 hours: 6 a. m., 10 a. m., 2 p. m., 6 p. m., Io p. m., or later.

The baby should be offered cooled boiled water between feedings, especially during hot weather.

The length of time for a nursing varies with the individual and the breast. The average infant rarely nurses longer than 15 minThe important point is to satisfy the baby. If there is any doubt, let it nurse longer, but not more than 20 minutes. If it is not satisfied after 20 minutes, consult a physician.

utes.

It is customary to nurse only one breast at each feeding, and to use them alternately. If, however, the baby does not get enough from one breast, give it both.

It is important to keep the nipples clean; they should be washed before each nursing. Caked breasts or cracked nipples are the usual causes of breast abscesses, and although they may be harmful to the mother, they do not make the milk poisonous for the baby. In both instances consult a physician.

III. WEANING.

The baby should be completely weaned at the end of the first year. Up to this time breast milk should be given to the baby as long as it thrives. It is better, when possible, to continue nursing through the summer and to wean in the fall. It is better to wean in the summer than in the spring, if by doing so the baby can have breast milk longer.

Do not wean the baby suddenly; it should be done gradually by replacing one breast feeding at a time with a bottle feeding. Several weeks are required for weaning.

It is dangerous to wean a young baby. It should not be done for the convenience of the mother and should never be done without the advice of a physician.

Contagious disease in the mother does not mean that it is necessary to wean the baby. In case of severe illness, contagious or otherwise, a temporary weaning may be necessary for the mother's sake. A physician should decide this. As soon as the mother's condition permits the baby should be put back on the breast. The supply of breast milk can sometimes be brought back by putting the baby regularly to the breast for several days, even when nursing has been stopped for several weeks.

When the mother's milk is diminishing it is advisable to make up the lack with properly prepared cow's milk. This may be done either by following one or more breast feedings with enough modified milk to satisfy the baby or by giving one or more full bottle feedings in place of a like number of breast feedings.

The flow of breast milk tends to diminish when the baby nurses less than five times in 24 hours. When the baby is being nursed