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Ninety Four Years Ago.... REPRODUCED FROM THE NURSING JOURNAL OF INDIA, MAY, 1911

Posted on: Friday, 20 May 2005, 03:00 CDT

BEGINNINGS II - MOTHERS AND BABIES

This is a plea for the "simple life" for the baby! In these days of extolling the "simple life" with exhibits of meals of nuts and raw fruit, little furniture, less luxury, no cooking and no servants, we do not hear much about the baby, and where does it come in? No doubt if this ideal were realised, the worthy mother would have more time to devote to the baby : but what is she to do for it ? How occupy herself with it? Should not it also learn to acquire from its cradle a desire for the simple life? Most certainly it should, and whether it is destined to assimilate the fads of its parents or of others, or to lead a highly civilized and society life later on, 'it would be in all respects the better for the simple life in its early days.

A baby ' s wants are few and simple - they may be summed up in four words: Warmth - Food - Sleep - Air. Give them a plentiful supply without overdoing the first and second and they will be happy and healthy. The third and fourth I hardly think can be overdone - a child will not sleep if it does not need to, and if it has not sufficient fresh air will surely be cross and will not sleep - but often and often would like to, were it allowed.

Thanks to a more rational understanding of the matter of clothing, we do not now swathe yards and yards of stiff binding round the soft little new-born baby "to keep it's back straight," nor wrap its chest in a cold linen shirt, and over a couple of cold linen draperies, place a waterproof pilch to "keep it warm and dry" (as if a poultice could keep any baby dry and warm for long!), nor many yards of flannel petticoat and white skirts to drag on its poor little toes; still there are many matters to which the attention of mothers might be called to with advantage, and add to the comfort of the small mite in this respect.

THE SMILE CURE

From America come many new cults, all interesting because of their originality, though few are likely to gain many followers in this country. Nevertheless they are worthy of attention, containing as they do a substratum of sound common sense and the fascination of fresh ideas.

One of the latest of these cults is the "Smile Cure," which is said to put to flight all the harassing worries and minor ills from which human beings suffer. Special smiling exercises are recommended for regular practice every day before a mirror. After a few weeks of this training we are told that there will be a marked change for the better in our lives; our whole outlook will be brighter and more hopeful, and our health and circumstances wonderfully improved.

At first one feels inclined to smile in downright earnest at the absurdity of it all. We can see ourselves going about with a strained smirk on our faces, until even our dearest friends come to loathe the very sight of us. For of all affected individuals the most irritating is the one who sports an everlasting smugly complacent smile! It is put on in the morning, and there it remains all day, without even the glimmer of a thought or emotion altering it in the slightest degree.

But the kind of smile advocated by this ingenious American theory is not of that nature at all. It is the real thing, working from the mind inwardly, until it cannot help revealing itself outwardly. The endeavor to look pleasant will serve as a reminder that our thoughts must be bright and hopeful too; and so unconsciously we adopt a more cheerful outlook. This is the gist of the new cult.

WANTED, as SISTER for FEMALE WARDS, a TRAINED NURSE (3 years' Certificate); Pay Rs. 60 - 4 - 80 with furnished quarters and servants.

Apply with copies of certificates and testimonials to -

LADY SUPERINTENDENT

Civil Hospital, Secunderabad.

Copyright Trained Nurses' Association of India May 2005

Source: Nursing Journal of India

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