Mothers' Role In Combating Diseases Of Children
The especial province of the mother is the prevention of
disease, not its cure. When disease attacks the child, the
mother has then a part to perform, which it is especially
important during the epochs of infancy and childhood should be
done well. I refer to those duties which constitute the maternal
part of the management of disease.
Medical treatment, for its successful issue, is greatly
dependent upon a careful, pains-taking, and judicious maternal
superintendence. No medical treatment can avail at any time, if
directions be only partially carried out, or be negligently
attended to; and will most assuredly fail altogether, if
counteracted by the erroneous prejudices of ignorant attendants.
But to the affections of infancy and childhood, this remark
applies with great force; since, at this period, disease is
generally so sudden in its assaults, and rapid in its progress,
that unless the measures prescribed are rigidly and promptly
administered, their exhibition is soon rendered altogether
fruitless.
The amount of suffering, too, may be greatly lessened by the
thoughtful and discerning attentions of the mother. The wants
and necessities of the young child must be anticipated; the
fretfulness produced by disease, soothed by kind and
affectionate persuasion; and the possibility of the sick and
sensitive child being exposed to harsh and ungentle conduct,
carefully provided against.
Again, not only is a firm and strict compliance with medical
directions in the administration of remedies, of regimen, and
general measures, necessary, but an unbiased, faithful, and full
report of symptoms to the physician, when he visits his little
patient, is of the first importance. An ignorant servant or
nurse, unless great caution be exercised by the medical
attendant, may, by an unintentional but erroneous report of
symptoms, produce a very wrong impression upon his mind, as to
the actual state of the disease. His judgment may, as a
consequence, be biased in a wrong direction, and the result
prove seriously injurious to the welldoing of the patient. The
medical man cannot sit hour after hour watching symptoms; hence
the great importance of their being faithfully reported. This
can alone be done by the mother, or some person equally
competent.
There are other weighty considerations which might be adduced
here, proving how much depends upon efficient maternal
management in the time of sickness; but they will be severally
dwelt upon, when the diseases with which they are more
particularly connected are spoken of.