Show II TALES OF CHILDHOOD I By DR LOYAL CRANE 1 THE NERVOUS CHILD IN SICK SICK- SICK SICK-I NESS Irritability and suggestibility are aret t the e two outstanding traits displayed by the nervous child In sickness By Irritability I mean not only that he frets and fusses more than the situation would seem to call for tor but also that physical condition condition condition con con- is far more readily upset by minor infections and petty bruises than would be the case In a child of ot more more vigorous and robust nervous nervous nervous ner ner- constitution As a result the slightest ill may be le e magnified by bythe bythe bythe the nervous child until it assumes the proportions of ofa a major disease V V Furth Furthermore by virtue of ot his great suggestibility the nervous child is Very Tery readily Influenced by bythe bythe bythe the attitude of those who wait walt upon his sickbed Gloomy countenances countenances countenances coun coun- and dark forebodings may actually produce in him the anticipated an an- symptoms whereas a alight alight alight light an and cheerful attitude may with equal facility dispel all the signs of Illness within a surprisIngly surprisingly surprisingly brief period Wherefore let those whose task I it is to care for tor the nervous child when Illness strikes remember that though they must keep close watch of his symptoms the great co corn com plants which their charges regularly regularly regularly regu regu- make are usually of ot but lit littie little little lit lit- tle tie serious consequence and that under no circumstances must they permit themselves to appear in the least perturbed by all the little ones one's carryings on and crying For Forit or it is with the tho nervous child that the nurse or mother literally has the outcome of the childs child's illness In her own hands If It she herself herselt be becomes becomes becomes be- be comes upset and conveys her fears to her patient it is quite probable that both the seriousness and duration duration duration dura dura- tion ot of the illness will be In Increased Increased increased In- In creased whereas where 8 it lies equally within her power to to so minimize his illness by her demeanor that the child literally forgets his com complaints come plaints plaint and is well To draw the line between what should and what should shoud not be neglected or ignored is the essential essential essential essen essen- problem in the sickroom of ot the nervous child Only experience can give the answer answel But It Is well for her who has the problem before before before be be- fore her to frequently ask herself herselt What hat will help this child most to bandage and massage this little sprain and thus center all his at attention attention attention at- at upon his little hurt until he magnifies it to th the skies or simply to make light of it and treat It as though It really didn't amount to anything at all It tal takes es a a. clever nurse to do both at the same time But But it can be bedone bedone bedone done arid and therein lies the secret of ot the proper care of the nervous child In sickness Copyright 1925 by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate |