THE QUESTION OF CIRCUMCISION

THE QUESTION OF CIRCUMCISION

 It is wise to consider ahead of time the question of circumcision if your baby turns out to be a boy. Circumcision consists in cutting off the "sleeve" of skin (foreskin) covering the penis, because this skin may encourage the collection of a cheese like substance (smegma) that can cause irritation or infection. It is a simple procedure in little babies. You may wish to have it done for religious reasons, or you may prefer to wait and see whether the doctor recommends it. If your doctor thin] it should be done, have it done early, as soon as he suggest.

 IMMUNIZATION

 It should go without saying that every child deserves to be immunized against the dangerous diseases for which protective inoculations are now easily available. And yet, even now, every year in this country many hundreds of lives are lost because of such preventable diseases as small- pox, diphtheria, tetanus, and measles. Your family doctor or pediatrician can provide these injections. They are also available free, or at very little cost, so lack of money must not keep any child from having protection. 

Any hospital, public health department, court or health officer can provide information about this. Beginning at about the age of two months, your baby's physician will want to undertake an inoculation program. Today, in addition to such protective shots as those for diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, small- pox, and typhoid fever, which have been available for many years, there are equally valuable newer' ones-basic new triumphs of preventive medicine-including inoculations for polio, mumps, measles, and German measles.

Still others are under development and new methods of administering vaccines, of combining many of them, for the convenience of child and parents are constantly being worked out. Your physician, aware of this and following the guidance of official bodies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, will make available the latest and most effective and convenient inoculation program. By all means, follow his advice.