The GOSPEL TRUTH

THE TRAINING OF CHILDREN ....OR,

 HOW TO MAKE THE CHILDREN INTO

SAINTS AND SOLDIERS OF JESUS CHRIST

 By

 WILLIAM BOOTH

GENERAL OF THE SALVATION ARMY

 1888 - SECOND EDITION

 

 CHAPTER XXXIV:

HINTS ON THE WATER TREATMENT.

BY MRS. BOOTH.

 

OF course this is not intended as a treatise on Hydropathy, but only a few simple directions for mothers in treating their children in those diseases of childhood which, if badly treated, often leave consequences of a serious nature.

Some considerable experience and observation with respect to the ailments of children have quite satisfied us that there is no system of treatment so effectual in curing those diseases and in preventing such consequences.

The neglect of the skin, in dealing with diseases, is a strange evidence of want of thought and common sense in the great majority of people. When we remember that there are in the skin of every human body seven millions of pores, the main purpose of which is to drain away from the body that which nature cannot use in sustaining or building it up, we need not be surprised that when, for months together, these pores are to a great extent blocked up, the blood becomes charged with impurity, and that the whole system is consequently deranged.

When the people generally, learn the value of God's precious, beautiful gift of water, both internally and externally, there will be far less suffering, and much greater happiness and length of life.

We have frequently been astonished at the prejudice which persons have manifested against any kind of application of water to the whole body, but as the knowledge and experience of the beneficial results following the free use of water increases, this prejudice will, we trust, pass away, and such persons will not only prolong their own lives, but save the lives of many of their children, to become workers in The Salvation Army.

 

COLD BATH.

Perhaps one of the most valuable applications of water, is the simple cold bath every morning, for children or adults, who are strong enough to bear it. This is cleanly, invigorating, and a sure preventative against taking cold.

In the case of people who have not the convenience of a bath, it can be easily managed by having a large tub in which the person can sit down, and a large sponge or piece of flannel with which he can sluice the water over him. A thick, common brown sheet is the best thing to dry with. It can be wrapped round the body so as to prevent taking a chill from the coldness of the atmosphere.

WET SHEET PACK. (For fevers in general.)

 

When the child becomes feverish, fretful, and restless, or manifests other symptoms of approaching sickness, a Wet Pack, properly given, can do no harm, and in almost every case will do incalculable good.

The best way to apply this, is as follows:--

Spread three or four blankets on a bed, so that the child can be laid down the centre, and the ends folded over him. Then for a young child, tack two towels together; and for an older one, a small sheet that will reach from the neck to the ankles, Wring this tightly out of cold water, or if the child is very delicate, out of tepid or warm water, and spread the towel or sheet on the top of the blankets.

Then undress the child as quickly as possible, and lay it on its back on the towel or sheet, lifting the arms, so that one end of the sheet can be wrapped round the body under the arms. Then lay the arms down, and bring the other end of the sheet over the arms. Then, as quickly as possible, wrap first one side and then the other of the first blanket, tucking them in tightly round the shoulders and along each side, and so on, till all the blankets are wrapped in.

In cases of much fever, a cloth wrung out of mustard and water-(about a dessert-spoonful of mustard to a quart of warm water)-should be put to the soles of the feet (which should be wrapped in a separate piece of flannel). Then draw the edges of the blankets well over the feet, putting a hot bottle or brick outside the second blanket, or near enough to warm the feet without burning them.

Then put on the outside a down quilt, or a couple of pillows, or a double blanket, or warm rug, over all, to keep the warmth in.

In cases of threatening of fever the throat should be packed separately, before putting the child in the other pack, by a strip of calico or linen, doubled into four, wrung out of cold water, wrapped round the throat, with a piece of flannel put over it. When in the pack, cloths wrung out of cold water should be applied to the head, and sips of cold water may be given to drink, or, in case of faintness, a little warm milk.

The child may be kept in the pack from three quarters of an hour to an hour - and a quarter, according to the severity of the symptoms.

When the time has come to take the child out, have ready by the side of the bed a hip bath, or tub, containing a pail of warm water, in which a couple of towels tacked together, or a small sheet, should be immersed. Then unwrap the child as quickly as possible, and let it sit down in the bath; lift the towel up out of the water and put it round the child's neck like a cloak, and rub it quickly over with the hand outside the towel. Then have a dry sheet or towels ready, and slip the wet towel off and the dry one on. Dry the child well, put on its night-dress, and put it into bed for a time.

In cases of great weakness, make the length of time in the pack half an hour, and rub over on the bed with a wet towel wrung out of tepid water, instead of the bath.

In cases of

SCARLET FEVER

this may be repeated twice a day (in the forenoon and about five o'clock in the evening), until the eruption is well out; after which, sponging over with warm water daily, and a Pack every other day, will suffice to complete the cure.

In measles and other eruptive fevers the Pack once a day will generally be sufficient.

We have found this treatment most effectual with our own children, having nursed seven of them at one time through scarlet fever and measles with no other treatment, save a little Homoeopathic medicine, and in no case was any evil consequence of the disease left behind.

SMALL-POX.

The much-dreaded malady of small-pox is by this same treatment reduced to an ordinary and easily curable disease. The Pack twice a day from the beginning will of itself cure the most malignant cases; and such has been our experience and observation with respect to the water treatment in this disease, that we should have no fear of being able to save nine out of every ten people who die of it.

If any of our people whose children or friends are attacked with this disease, will carry out these instructions, and give the patient plenty of Cream of Tartar, putting about two teaspoonsful to a pint of water, with sugar to taste, to drink, they will prove by experience the truth of our opinions.

RHEUMATIC OR GASTRIC FEVER.

Give the same kind of Pack, only add a little mustard-about one ounce to half a pail of the water that the sheet or towels is wrung out of. Our experience is against all beef tea or other animal soups or broths in these diseases-milk and farinaceous foods are best.

For IRRITATION IN TEETHING, and other slight feverish symptoms in infants,

A BODY PACK

is often very helpful and comforting.

This is a pack exactly like the other, but only of the size to apply to the trunk of the body, and does not include the arms and legs, and of course the child must be wrapped in with small blankets or flannels instead of large ones. For

SORE THROATS

and all kinds of throat affections, the Wet Compress is invaluable.

This consists of three or four folds of wet cloth, wrapped round the throat and covered with three or four thicknesses of flannel, so as to prevent the air getting in at the edges. The cloth should be re-wet as soon as dry, and kept on until the inflammation is gone.

On removing the Compress the throat should be well sponged with cold water to prevent the patient taking cold.

In severe cases, a gargle composed of a teaspoonful of Condy's Fluid to a pint of water will be very advantageous. For

INFLAMED EYES

from cold or feverishness, put on a wet pad composed of four thicknesses of linen wrung out of cold water and bound round with a napkin when the child goes to bed. This may be re-wet during the night if necessary, and when taken off in the morning, the eyes should be well bathed with cold water. All cases of

DIFFICULTIES OF THE BLADDER OR URINE,

in little children, will be greatly relieved and often cured by simple warm sitz baths. This may be managed by a small round tub, such as half a butter tub (which can be bought at any provision store for about ninepence), put on a small stool or hassock, half-filled with comfortably warm water. Let the child sit in the water from five to ten minutes, putting round its legs a shawl or small rug to keep the air from it. This may be repeated as often as the child complains of uneasiness, only taking the precaution to sponge it over with cold water when taken out, to prevent taking cold, together with a good drink twice a day of linseed tea.

We have known this give relief and cure little children whom doctors have said must undergo operations.

In all these cases great care should be taken with the DIET. The child should not be allowed to take any salt food or other highly seasoned food; in fact, the more it is confined to bread, milk, and vegetables, the better it will be.

For cases of simple DIARRHOEA over teething, or other temporary causes, a Body Bandage will often be found beneficial, made just the same as a throat bandage, only large enough to cover the abdomen, and bound on with flannel.

In bad cases, this may be wrung out of slightly warm water, two or three times a day, and the child kept as quiet as possible, and fed on milk, hasty pudding made of flour and milk, and similar things.

For confined bowels, the same kind of a bandage put on every night, and taken off in the morning, will often prove of great service in the case of children.

Sponge over with cold water when the Compress is taken off in the morning. In

RHEUMATIC FEVER

Chronic Rheumatism, Common Cold, and Influenza, the

LAMP BATH

is an invaluable remedy.

A proper lamp for this purpose can be got for 2s. 6d., but where that cannot be had, the bath can be given in the following way:--

Take a small earthenware jar, such as a marmalade or jam pot; put into it about three-pennyworth of methylated spirits of wine, which can be bought at the oil shops at 10d. a quart. Put about half a teacupful of cold water into a plate or large saucer, then set the jar with the methylated spirits in it, in this plate or saucer, and put the plate with the jar in it on the floor, under a Windsor or some wooden-bottomed chair, putting four or five doubles of old blanket or thick flannel on the seat, to prevent too great heat coming through.

Then undress the patient and let him sit down in the chair. His feet should be put in a tin or basin of hot water.

Have two or three blankets, or a blanket and a quilt, ready. Put the blanket round the patient's neck and over the back of the chair, reaching from the neck to the ground, and coming all round the chair and foot pan. Pin this blanket round the neck in the front.

Then over that one put another round in front of the patient, pinning it at the back, to keep the hot air from escaping. Pull the bottoms of the blankets as far out from the chair all round as possible, and there will be no danger of their catching fire.

The blankets must reach to the ground; and if one is not large enough, tack two together. This will form a complete tent round the person.

When this is done, light a match and set fire to the spirit in the jar under the chair. This will burn steadily until all the air inside the blankets is thoroughly heated, and the person will begin to perspire freely. He may be kept in, after he begins to perspire, from ten to twenty minutes, according to the severity of the symptoms.

If the heat becomes too intense, lift up a corner of the blanket now and then to let the cold air in. Cold water cloths on the head and sips of cold water may be of use, as in the Pack.

When ready to be taken out, have a hip bath or tub with tepid water, with a sheet in it, similar to that prescribed in the former Pack. (The best way to put out the light is by smothering it, not blowing it out.)

If this bath is given with ordinary care, there is not the slightest danger, while it would relieve many a poor sufferer and save many a valuable life.

A VAPOUR BATH

may be given in exactly the same way, only substitute half a pail of boiling water instead of the lamp, and half a hot brick taken out of the fire. Put the latter into the water when the patient is seated, to keep the water boiling, and produce plenty of steam. If there should be too much steam, open the blankets as before, and let a little out. The treatment on coming out should be the same as after the Lamp Bath.

SOAKING THE FEET IN HOT WATER.

A mistake very commonly made is to put the feet in water as hot as the patient can bear, and then to let it gradually cool. This often does more harm than good. The water ought to be of a moderate heat at first, and a kettle of boiling water should be kept near, so that the attendant can keep adding a little, so making the heat of the water greater when the feet are taken out than when they were put in. Mustard added to the water is also a great advantage.

On taking the feet out they should be well dried, and warm wool stockings put on if the patient is going to remain indoors; but if he has to go out he should plunge his feet quickly into cold water before wiping, taking them out again immediately; but the safest plan is to go to bed.

HOT FOMENTS.

Very few people know how to give hot foments properly. We have frequently seen them being applied with the water running out of the edges of the flannels, dribbling down into the bed, making the sheets and everything wet, cold, and miserable round the patient.

The proper way to give a foment is to have a piece of flannel, of not less than four folds, torn to the proper size to cover the part.

The water, or mustard and water, should be as hot as the person wringing can possibly bear. The flannel should be folded straight before it is put in, and not put in all of a lump. Then it should be lifted out into a coarse towel which should be wrung as tightly as possible with the flannel in it. This should be quickly taken out of the towel and put on the part and covered with hot dry flannel-a piece of old blanket folded is good, or, better still, a mackintosh bottle about one-third full of hot water.

This is a very good plan, seeing that, with a hot bottle over it, there is no necessity to re-wet the flannel, and this saves fatiguing the patient by constant change. The hot foment should be continued till the pain is relieved, and when taken off, a warm dry flannel should be put over the part.

For inflammations of all parts of the body this is invaluable, and may be repeated as often as the pain returns. In cases of bad colic, or even

CHOLERA.

we should recommend the hottest sitz bath the person can sit in. The water to come right up over the bowels, and a good strong dose of cayenne pepper in hot water, say as much as would lie on a threepenny piece, in a tumbler of hot water, should be drunk; to be repeated every half hour, or until further advice can be obtained.

ABSCESSES AND GATHERINGS.

Hot water poultices; hot foments. Poultices of linseed meal and bread, and keeping them always moist and hot are the best applications.

In the case of gathered fingers, and where people are obliged to use their hands, strips of linen wrung out of cold water, wrapped round and covered with an bottle, are better than poultices, only they need to be re-wet as soon as they are dry.

In cases where gatherings and whitlows do not heal, hold them in a lotion of hot water and Condy's Fluid (about a teaspoonful to a tumbler of water), as often as possible.

MUSTARD PLASTERS.

We find that chili poultices are far better than mustard, answer the same purpose, and do not make the skin sore afterwards. Ground chilies are to be bought at the chemist's or herbalist's or hydropathic establishments, but in case they cannot be obtained the ordinary cayenne pepper may be used.

Make a hot bread poultice, spread it out, and sprinkle the chilies or the cayenne pepper moderately over the face of it, then cover it with a piece of thin muslin and apply it to the part.

This may be kept on an hour or two and repeated frequently without producing any soreness of the skin.

For WEAKLY CHILDREN who perspire at night and are generally delicate, water for the bath in the morning should have just the chill taken off it, and a slightly warm bath at night will often help sleep. Such children should, if possible, always sleep alone and on a small soft mattress - never on feather beds, and the covering should be light and warm. Thick, heavy quilts are very injurious to young, delicate children.

In conclusion, we would recommend our people with families to procure two pairs of small grey blankets for bath purposes, which can be bought for about 5s. 6d. a pair. They will more than pay their cost in saving the bed blankets.

Brown mustard, suitable for packing purposes, and not half the price of ordinary mustard, can be had by ordering at most stores, or at hydropathic establishments. In using this kind of mustard, however, rather more must be used to the quantity of water.

FRESH AIR.

In all kinds of delicate health or sickness, fresh air is of the greatest value. Open your windows as much as possible, only avoid putting the patient in a draught. Thousands of children are made invalids by being put to sleep in too close sleeping rooms.

 

 

 

 

  Back to Training of Children Index Page