interval may be made once in two, or once in three or four hours, as the case demands, or as the doctor directs. The tendency is to lengthen the intervals between nursings. The question as to whether the baby is getting enough food may be determined by weighing the baby at the end of every week or oftener. At first there will probably be a slight loss; after that there should be a steady gain in weight. If the baby cries a good deal or does not gain properly, it may be that the mother's milk is deficient in some particular, and it will be well to confer with a physician. She should never give up the attempt to nurse the baby, however, unless under exceptional circumstances and with competent advice. Even the smallest amount of maternal milk is worth while to the baby, and if only one or two nursings a day can be had, it is much better than nothing, especially through the first three months, which is far the most critical period of life. The attempt to nurse the baby will stimulate the flow of milk and this, with proper care of the mother's diet and general health, will often serve to establish this function, even when it seems almost hopeless. Meanwhile, the baby's food must be supplemented by cow's milk properly modified.

DIET FOR A NURSING MOTHER.

The diet for a nursing mother will, under ordinary circumstances, be the same as that prescribed during pregnancy; that is, it must be nutritious, laxative, and appetizing. She may follow her own wishes as to the choice of her food. The old idea that acid fruits and vegetables give the baby colic is probably not true, since all acids are changed in the process of the mother's digestion. However, if they or any other food or drink disturb the mother's digestion this may have an unfavorable effect upon the milk. It is necessary, therefore, to watch the diet very carefully and eliminate all articles that actually show themselves to be unsuited to the mother. If, in addition, a woman eats slowly, chews her food thoroughly, and, above all, refrains from worry there will be no reason to suppose that the maternal milk will not agree with the baby. Constipation should be guarded against as carefully during the period of lactation as during

pregnancy.

If the milk is scanty, the need for a more generous diet is indicated. Plenty of fresh milk, eggs, fresh vegetables, ripe fruit, and other plain, simple food are required. If the appetite is capricious, it will be well to eat lightly five or six times a day. It is necessary to reiterate the importance of a quiet state of mind for all nursing mothers. There is no one thing which more certainly and completely interferes with the secretion of the milk than any overwrought, nervous condition, and although in the presence of grave

causes for worry or sorrow it seems sometimes almost impossible to be self-controlled, the thought that the little life, perhaps, is dependent upon it will serve to give the mother the strength required. The mother should have pleasant exercise, out-of-door life, pleasure, cheerful society, and be surrounded as far as possible with the things that interest her. She should strive to have at least eight hours of sleep at night, and, if her rest is broken then, to make it up during the day when the baby sleeps. Plenty of fresh air and sunshine are always desirable.

There is usually a period after the nurse has gone and the mother is left to herself when the weariness resulting from her own somewhat feeble health, broken sleep, and the worry consequent upon taking care of the baby alone causes the milk to diminish in quantity. It is at this time that many a mother concludes that the baby is starving and is very apt to become discouraged and give up nursing as hopeless. This is a great mistake. It is usually true that the strain of this period is relieved, day by day, as mother and babe gradually become adjusted; her health revives and slowly but certainly things will grow more comfortable, and with this will come the milk. So that if the mother will only strive to carry herself and the baby past this epoch she will in all likelihood be able to nurse the baby quite successfully. At least every possible means to this end should be tried before weaning is resorted to. The return of the menstrual periods is not a sufficient reason for weaning, but pregnancy demands it, as the mother's strength will hardly be sufficient for this additional strain.

SEE THAT THE BIRTH OF YOUR BABY IS REGISTERED.

It may sometime be of the utmost importance to your child that there be in existence an accurate, legal record of his birth and parentage. It would be well to ask the doctor to make sure that your baby's birth is properly registered, or go to the register's office yourself and see that the record is made. It is suggested that a memorandum be made below of certain facts recorded in the birth certificate. For further information concerning the subject of birth registration, write the Children's Bureau, Department of Labor, Washington, D. C.

GLOSSARY.

Abnormal.—Irregular; deviating from the standard.

Abortion. The expulsion of the embryo during the first four months of preg nancy.

Afterbirth.-The mass of tissue expelled from the uterus after the birth.

Afterpains. The pains which accompany the involution of the uterus.

Anatomy.-The science which deals with the structure of the body.

Anemia. A deficiency of some of the constituents of the blood.

Anesthetic. A substance capable of producing temporary loss of feeling.
Antiseptic.—Preventing or counteracting decay.

Asepsis. Surgical cleanliness; freedom from disease germs.

Assimilation. The process by which living creatures absorb nutriment, so that it becomes a part of their substance.

Bacteria. Extremely minute cells, some of which are capable of producing

disease.

Birth canal.-The passage through which the child enters the world. It consists of the uterus and vagina, and is surrounded by the pelvic bones. Bladder. A thin, distensible sack acting as a reservoir for the urine between the time it is secreted by the kidneys and leaves the body.

Cell. One of the microscopic units composing the tissues of the body.
Confinement.-Childbirth; labor.

Constipation.-Inactivity of the bowels.

Delivery. The birth of the child.

Dietetic.-Pertaining to the diet.

Dilatation.-Expansion or spreading.

Duct. A tube which conveys a secretion from the gland.

Embryo. The offspring before it assumes the form and structure of the parent. Enema. Fluid injected into the rectum.

Eructation. The belching of wind from the stomach.

Evacuate. To empty.

Excretion. The process of throwing off waste products from the body.

Excretory organs.-The organs concerned in throwing off the waste products of the body. The lungs, skin, bowels, and kidneys.

Fetus.

The unborn child after the third month of development.

Flatulence. The distention of the stomach and intestines with the gases that arise from indigestion.

Function. The specific work of an organ.

Germinal cells.-The original unit cells from which the new structure takes its start. The germinal cell contributed by a mother is called an ovum; that given by the father is called a spermatozoon.

Gestation.-Pregnancy.

Gland. An organ which separates certain substances from the blood, and pours out a material, usually fluid, peculiar to itself.

Hygiene. That department of medical knowledge which relates to the preservation of health; sanitary science.

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Infection. The communication of disease by contact with anything carrying

disease germs.

Intestine. The bowel; the long membranous tube extending from the stomach to the rectum.

Involution. The process by which the uterus returns to its original size, shape, and position after childbirth.

Laceration.-A ragged wound.

Tearing of the perineum at childbirth.

Lactation. The secretion of mother's milk.

Laxative. Whatever relaxes the bowel and relieves constipation.

Ligature. Anything that is used for tying a blood vessel.

Mastication.-The act of chewing.

Menstruation.-The monthly flow in females.

Miscarriage. The termination of pregnancy prior to the seventh month.

Mucous membrane.-The lining of the alimentary canal and other cavities of the body.

Mucus. The secretion of a mucous membrane.

Nausea. Sickness at the stomach.

Navel. The point in the abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached.
Nucleus. The point in any cell that is its center of life.

Nutriment.-Nutrition. Food.

Obstetrics. That branch of medical science which deals with the care and treatment of women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Ovary. The organ which contains the egg cells or ova.

Oviducts. The tubes which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.

Ovum.-An egg; the germinal cell contributed by the mother.

Pathology. That branch of medical science that deals with diseased conditions, their causes, nature, treatment, etc.

Pelvis. The bony cavity formed chiefly by the hip bones.

Physiology. The science which deals with the functions of cells, tissues, and

organs.

Placenta. An organ through which communication between the mother and the child in the uterus is accomplished. One of its surfaces is attached to the wall of the uterus; the umbilical cord is attached at about the middle point of the other surface.

Pregnancy.-Being with child; gestation; being

"in the family way."

Prenatal.-Pertaining to the period of pregnancy; before childbirth.

Purgative.-Capable of moving the bowels.

Regurgitation.-The rising of some of the contents of the stomach into the mouth.

Secretion. The substance taken out of the blood by a gland.

Sediment. The materials that settle to the bottom when liquids are allowed to stand.

Sterilize. To render free from living germs.

Term. The expected date of delivery or childbirth.

Tissue. The elementary cells of which the body is composed, as bony "tissue," muscular "tissue," etc.

Toxemia.-Blood poisoning.

Umbilical cord.-The tube which carries the blood between the placenta and the navel of the child in the uterus.

Uterus. The womb; a hollow muscular organ designed to receive, protect, nourish, and finally expel the product of conception.

Vagina. The canal through which the child passes from the uterus into the outside world.

Womb.-The uterus. The organ which shelters the unborn baby.