Bringing up the normal child / editor: Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D.

Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bringing up the normal child / editor: Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to the child but sometimes fears are thus started which last through life.” Dr. Barker urges that instead of thus stimu- lating fears, the wise parent will endeavor to teach the child to be courageous and not to have fear of being alone, or of the dark, or of thunder and lightning. Certain fears, common to child- hood, he says, are easily overcome, especially through the example of courage set by parent, nurse or teacher. There are cases, however, in which the fears are a symptom of disease. Thus a young girl brought to Dr. Barker be- cause of an unaccountable, persistent, and dis- tressing fear of “burglars in the house,” was found to be suffering from exophthalmic goitre. “On removal of a portion of the thyroid gland by Dr. Halsted the child rapidly improved and on last _ report was only occasionally troubled by the fear; it seems probable that she will soon be entirely free from it. Children who suffer from ‘night terrors’ often have adenoid growths in the naso- pharynx; on removal of the growth by a slight. operation the ‘night terrors’ disappear.” Bear these cases in mind if your child is un- duly timid. Do what you can to allay its fears by precept and example. And if the fears persist, consult a physician. [13]
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