The nursling; the feeding and hygiene of premature and full-term infants / [Pierre Budin].

  • Budin, P. (Pierre), 1846-1907
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The nursling; the feeding and hygiene of premature and full-term infants / [Pierre Budin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/454 (page 14)
    H to be said, between 30° and 320 C. For my part I consider this much too high, save in certain exceptional cases, such as that of the infant weighing 950 grams, which you saw in the ward. At the Charity when we were placing infants in incubators at 300 C., we often saw them covered with sweat, crying and restless. Their movements were directed to getting rid of their clothing, and we frequently found them lying naked. The temperature was obviously too high, so I reduced it, and I no longer allowed it to rise to more than 250 or 26° C. When I took charge of the Maternite, I was much astonished to see that the weaklings in the glass and iron incubators, although the thermometers registered 30° C., did not seem to be at all incon- venienced. On observing more closely I saw that each thermometer was placed directly above, and at a short distance from the hot- water reservoir ; it was exposed to the action of radiant heat. On moving it to the other end of the compartment in which the infant is contained I found it registered only 250 or 26° C. This seems to me to be a temperature which is sufficient, except in rare cases, so I have adopted it as my standard for general use. I consider that the function of an incubator is not so much to provide heat for the infant, as to prevent its losing in too great quantity, that which it, itself, generates. When a nursling attains the weight of 2280 to 2300 grams, if the room in which it is kept be sufficiently and regularly heated, we allow the temperature of the incubator to fall gradually to 240, 230, 220, 210, and 200 C., after which we dispense with the incubator. Ought weaklings in incubators to be clothed or not ? One of my colleagues, having observed that by their movements they tend to rid themselves of their coverings, now leaves them quite naked. But if, perchance, the renewal of the hot water at the proper time be neglected, the infant would become very quickly chilled. It is preferable, while not restricting their movements by swaddling, at least to clothe them lightly, so as to conserve their warmth and yet leave them absolute freedom. Further, it is beneficial, especially at the beginning, when infants are very puny, to try to increase their circulation by massage. The infant is undressed and placed in front of a bright fire ; the fleshy parts of its limbs are lightly rubbed and kneaded, and its joints gently moved by hands previously immersed in hot oil, or moistened with alcohol. These manipulations are continued for about five