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Children's Limbs

Sources: Papers On Health

Frequently a failure of some kind shows itself in

the limbs of some children. Usually it appears as either bending or

inability to walk at the proper age, or both together. To use "steel

boots" and kindred appliances is to ignore the true nature of the

trouble, and most likely to increase it. What is wanted is proper

growth in the limb. To secure this, the nerve system of the spine must

be stimulated, and there is no b
tter stimulus to be had than

"massage." When any substance is rubbed on, it is almost always the

rubbing, rather than the substance, which has the good effect. Hence we

recommend rubbing with simply good olive oil. For an infant, the back

must be massaged very gently, taking care not to hurt the child in any

way. It should be applied especially up and down each side of the back

bone, where there is a softer region, full of important nerve centres.

The limbs may also be gently rubbed. A genial heat should be raised in

all the infant's body by these means, and, if rightly done, the child

will eagerly wish for it again. Half-an-hour a day may be given to

this. It is well to persevere for a long time, and never give up hope.

Many a weak-limbed child has grown up a strong, healthy man or woman.

See Massage.



The food in such cases should be good ordinary food. We have never been

able to see the good of cod liver oil that is so generally recommended.

It seems to us a most unnatural thing for a human being, young or old.

Cream and butter will supply a far more easily assimilated fat at much

lower cost. We may also say that honey is more wholesome and fattening

than malt extract, and costs only one-fifth of the price.



The feeding of children on corn flour, often made with but little milk,

is a fruitful source of rickets. The same may be said of white bread,

the flour having been largely deprived of its food salts. Giving

children lime water, with the idea that the body can convert it into

bone (as a hen makes her egg shells out of old mortar) is an entire

mistake. The human system cannot use such inorganic material. The men

of best bone, so far as we can judge, are those who have been nourished

in great measure on good oatmeal.



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