al well-being of the normal child. As the child grows older
and is able to engage in muscular efforts of various sorts, these
"crying exercises" should naturally decrease in frequency and
severity. When baby cries, see that the abdominal band is properly
applied, that rupture need not be feared.

THE BIRTH CRY

The sound most welcomed by both doctor and nurse is the cry of the
newly born child, for it shows that the inactive lungs have opened up
and the baby has begun to use them, for all the time baby was living
in the uterine room he did not breathe once, the lungs having been in
a constant state of collapse; and not until now, the very moment the
air comes in contact with his skin, do the lungs begin to functionate
as he emits his first lusty holler.

ABNORMAL CRYING

The cry is said to be abnormal when it continues too long or occurs
too often. It may be strong and continuous, quieting down when he is
approached or taken up; or it may be a worrying, fretful cry, a low
moan or a feeble whine. And now as we take up the several cries, their
description, cause, and treatment, we desire to say to the young
mother: Do not yourself begin to fret and worry about deciding just
which class your baby's cry belongs to; for help, knowledge, and
wisdom come to every anxious mother who desires to learn and who is
willing to be taught by observation and experience.

THE HUNGER CRY

The continuous, fretful cry, accompanied by vigorous sucking of the
fists, both of which stop when hunger has been satisfied, is without
question the hunger cry.

If this cry is constant with regular feedings, then the quantity of
the food must be increased, or the quality improved. The tired,
fretful hunger cry must not be neglected; the cause must be removed,
for it points to malnutrition.

THE CRY OF THIRST

One day when lecturing at an Iowa chautauqua, I remained in the
beautiful park for the noonday meal. It was a warm day and the tables
in the well-screened dining tent were filled with mothers who, like
myself, preferred the cool shade of the park to the hot ride through
the city to the home or hotel dinner. At my table a baby was pitifully
crying. The mother had offered the little child seated in a small
uncomfortable go-cart, milk, bread, and a piece of cake--all of which
were ruthlessly pushed aside. My little son, then only four and a
half, said "Mamma, maybe the baby's thirsty," and up he jumped,
hurried to the mother's si