Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/534

 MEDICAL 510 value of play. Let her remember that the children who play games enthusiastically, who romp and enjoy life noisily, are all the time educating their muscles, developing their lungs, and gaining vitality and health. Teach a child how to run, how to play ball, how to derive the greatest good from such games as lacrosse and rounders. Even in a limited space the child need not be prevented from obtaining regulated physical culture. Such a simple device as hitting a tennis ball against the wall foi two or three minutes once or twice a day provides useful exercise for the muscles. This should be done for a short time with the right hand and then with the left hand, because ambidexterity should form part of the aim of physical education. The child's left hand is terribly neglected in most instances, but gradually we are being educated so as to understand the importance of training both hands. Leap-frog is another exercise and game combined which the small boy enjoys immensely. In summer-time garden games are plentiful, and all sorts of interests can be devised for the children of those who are fortunate enough to possess even a small back garden. Give the little ones an hour of garden work every day, divided into two periods of half an hour each. Teach them to weed, to rake, to pick dead flowers, to pluck the fruit, to water the flowers, and you are making them more useful and more healthy members of the community. Exercise in the Nursery In winter a certain amount of exercise must be obtained indoors during the wet and cold weather, and these exercises should be sys- tematically carried out, so that the child may have the muscles gradually developed without the risk of fatigue and strain. Musical drill is another splendid method of supplying physical culture to children during the dark winter afternoons. Teach them first how to march and keep step with the music. Then let them do the following simple muscular exercises to a musical accompaniment. The child CHILDREN'S It is only within recent years that even the ■^ medical profession have come to know that rheumatism in its slightest forms is one of the most serious diseases of childhood. Ten years ago a child with fleeting rheumatic pains was said to be suffering from " growing pains," and very little attention was paid to the matter. There is no such thing as a " growing pain." Growth of bone and muscle is unconscious and painless. " Growing pains " are invariably rheumatic. " But why make a fuss about so slight a form of rheumatism ? " the non-medical person very naturally inquires. " The child will grow out of it and be none the worse afterwards." That is just the point. He may be none the worse, it is true, but we expose a child to too great a risk if we neglect any signs of rheu- matism. In the first place, the child is allowed to go about as usual, exposed to damp and cold. In his rheumatic condition he runs every chance of contracting rheumatic fever. Secondly, the complications of rheumatism are very serious. Even the slighter forms are often attended by heart mischief and chorea, or St. Vitus dance is a possible result of untreated rheumatic affections. What signs should put a mother on her guard and lead her to take special care ? Rheumatism in childhood often begins with sore throat, and every case of sore throat in the nursery asso- ciated with pains in the joints require immediate must stand with the heels together, the hands hanging, the body erect, and should rest the tips of the lingers gently oi the shoulders. Fig. 4. Bending until the finget'tips touch the toes 1. Throw out the arms until they lie hori- zontally and level with the shoulders. Bring the tips of the fingers to the shoulders again. Repeat six times. (Figs, i and 2.) 2. Stretch the hands perpendicularly above the head, and bring the finger-tips back to the shoulder position. Repeat six times. (Fig. 3.) 3. With the hands above the head, bend the body at' the waist until the finger-tips touch the toes. Repeat six times. (Fig. 4.) 4. Swing the arms at full stretch round the head. These four exercises develop the muscles of the arms and upper part of the body and spine. In the next article will be described, with photo- graphs, the best exercises for the legs and hips, including barefoot exercises, crouching, trotting — all suitably adapted to the needs of young children. But it must not be forgotten that games and exercises should be carried out in a well-venti- lated nursery, so that the child is having a liberal allowance of fresh air. RHEUMATISM attention Regard all growing pains with sus- picion, ii any rise of temperature, headache, or signs of illness appear send for a doctor at once, as professional care is necessary in all cases of acute rheumatism. A child with symptoms of acute rheumatism must be put to bed between blankets and given a milk diet until the doctor arrives. How can we prevent rheumatism in the nursery ? The rheumatic child who is subject to joint and muscle pains, who readily suffers from sore throat or nervous twitchings, must be guarded from damp and chill. Damp feet and damp clothes will only too readily bring on a rheumatic attack in any child with the rheumatic tendency, and every fresh attack may injure the heart. The diet is important. Simple, easily digested food is particularly necessary. Butcher's meat should be strictly limited, and plenty of milk provided. Such a child must wear woollen clothing next to the skin. If at any time he gets overheated and perspires much, or comes in " wet through," he should be well rubbed down and dressed in dry clothes. Any chilliness or fever must be treated by a hot bath, and by putting the child into a warm bed, and providing hot drinks of milk and gruel. llie subject of Rhettviatisin will be more fully dealt with in another part.