w IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // Am ^^ ^^ #3 1.0 I.I !^ 1^ 12.2 i^ 1^ lilii^ 1^ 11 2.0 1.25 JA IIIIII.6 6" VI. .,^ <^ / # >^. ^^ f^ >> 7 z!^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation # <,1>^ V ^V\ sA'vuuw' ^ » * f. t « '% ADVICE TO A MOTHER 7 ox THE MANAGEMENT OF HEIi ClIILDREX AND ON THE TREATMENT ON THE MOMENT OK SOME or THKIU MORK PUKSSINa Ju ,jes.,^ BT PYE HEJfKr CIIAVASSE , i^BLLOW OF TlfR- TOFytKK.v'a , BIKMINOHAM, 'Lo, children and the fruit of H.a «.o u OAUiDlAN COPYfilGHT EDITION. TORONTO- WILLING A WILLIAMSON 10 & 12 KING STREET EAST mo. Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year on« thousand eight hundred and seventy nine, by Willing & Williamson, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture. PEEFACE. Tins Book Las been translatad into French, into C.orman, into Polisn, and into Tamil (o^o of iho a.>guage3 of India); it has been extensively p„b. ■shecl m America; and is well-kno.n wherever the jinghsh language is spoken. The T-,velfth Edition-consisting of twenty tt.«- sand copies-being exhansted in less than tr.ree years, the TuiurEOTi. Editiox is now publrs!..,d. One or two fresh questions have been a,,.cec' and ZIm ' two or tnree new para,.aphs .av. TYE H£>,-P,Y CHAVASSE. 214, H. GLET Road, Edgbastok, BiRMiNGHAji, June, 18r& '^ CONTENTS, PRKriMrNAHT CoN'VEUS.VTION AuHTtoN . . • WAN,\(iKMK\T OF- THK N'AVir Navi:i, Kri-rfiiK-GRoiN JjVi'irus < lOTIMNO . J'IKT , * ■ • VArriNATION AND IIE-VACc'iKaTION 1 XKKCISK . .' * • .**I.F.KI' . * ■ • TlIK J5r,Ar>OEIJ AND TUB Tio'wyto ' An.MKMS. I)isr.\i>K, KTO ' CoNCLflUSQ HliJURKS u'.\ I.NKAN-Cy TAUT I.-LVFA.VCr. < "^THINO . TiiK KvnaERj l-VKKCISK Amitskments KlJt CATION . Second Dentition liWEASE, ETC. Wakm Baths W.-K™.A.An.,cATio.« v.uiT ir-ciiiLoriooD. Ablution, tto. j SIavagement of the IlAlli ! ''I.OTHINQ . [Diet ,iAlK ANDEXE'iCISB* * 'J^M^SEMENT8 J-1)I CATION . * * ; JIoisEnoLD Work for Gipi •? * iCHOICE OP PHOFKS.ION OB TuADK |»N THE Teeth AND bpsfs ' J'iKVENTjoN op Disease. ETC Concluding Rkjiabm . ' ■HEX . •*" • . PAHT III.-BOYUOOD AND GIRLHOOD. pAaB 1 3 10 II m 44 bn »;<> r,i b1 9n 90 07 lU no 134 U9 142 147 147 • 3.) I * • • • 2:!» ' • • . 3^4 • t . 2«» y.-sg 25» 2fi« 267 270 274 28d 281 38S 287 2?« 81t p • • • • W ADVICE TO A MOTHER. PAIiT I.— INFANCY. tn/anl and luckling.—l, SAMrKL. A rott with all its stcfettst Ivaves yet folded, -WxiKGVi. Marit breathiwj Miniature! — CuLicuiuaB. PRKUMINARY CONVERSATION. 1. I msh to con.^ult i/oti on mmnj {iufjrcts apperfaintng to the mcmaf/emrnt and tha care of children : jcill you favour me with your adrlce and counsel / I shall be happy to accetle to your request, and to jive you the fruits of my experience in tlie clearest manner I am able, and in the simplest languaj^je I can connnand — freed from all technicalities. I will endeavour to guide you in the management of the healtli of youi offspring ; — I wiU describe to you the sympton a of the diseases of children ; — I will warn you of approaching danger, iu order that you may promptly apply for medical assistance before disease has gained too firm a footing ; — I will give you the treatment on the moment of some of their more pressing illnesses — when medical aid cannot at once ba procured, and where delay may bo death ; — I will in- struct you, in case of accidents, on the iimnetUate employment of remedies— ^wh(;re procrastination may bo dangerous ; — I will tell you how a sick child should be nursed, and how a sick-room ought to be managed ; — I will use my best energy to banish injurious practices from the nursel-y; — I will treat of the means to preveut 3 ADVICE TO A MOTUER. 1 I disoiicje where it be possible ; — I will sbow yon tbo way to preserve the health of the healthy, — and how to strengthen the delicate ; — and will strive to make a medical man's task more agreeable to himself, — and more beneficial to his patient, — by dispelling errors and pre- judices, and by proving the importance of your stridhj adhering to his rules. If 1 can accomplish any of these objects, I shall be amply repaid by the pleasing satisfac- tion that I have been of some little service to the rising generation. 2. Theib you consider it important that I nhould he. made acquainted loith, arid be well informed tq)on, the siihjeds you havejiiot named ? Certainly ! I deem it to he your imperative duty to study the subjects well. The proper management of children is a vital question, — a mother's question, — and the most important that can bo brought under the con- sideration of a parent ; and, strange to say, it is one that has been more neglected than any other. IIow many mothers undertake the responsible management of children without previous instruction, or without forn- thougbt ; they undertake it, as though it may be learned either by intuition or by instinct, or by affection ! The consequence is, that frequently they are in a sea of trouble and uncertainty, tossing about without either rule or compass : until, too often, their hopes and treasures are shipwrecked and lost. The care and management, and consequently the health and future well-doing of the child, principally devolve upon the mother ; " for it is the mother after all that has most to do with the making or marring of the man."* Dr Guthrie justly remarks that — "Moses might have never been the man he was unless he had been nursed by his own mother. How many celebrated men have owed their greatness and their goodness to a mother's training ! " Najxileon owed much to his mother. " ' Tlie late of a child,' said Napoleon, 'is always the work of I Good Words, Dr W. Lindsay Alexander, March 1801. INFANCY. —ABLUTION. 'ay to 5 a Lore pre- dhj beso sfac- Lsing 'd he I, the ity to lit of —and e coll- ie tliat many nt of t foro- earnod Tho ea of er rulo res are lliealth tevoive lat has nan."* It have Innrsod have [other's lork of 01. his mother ; ' and this extraordinary man took pleasure in repeating, that to liis mother he owed Ids eh;vation. All history confirms this opinion The eharacter of the mother influences the children more than that of tlie father, because it is more exposed to their daily, hourly observation." — Wonia)t'{^ Mission. I am not overstating the importance of the siihjec- in hand "svhen I say, that a child is tlie most vahi;d)le treasure in the world, that " he is the precious gift of God," that he is the source of a mother's greatest and purest enjoyment, tliat he is the strongest bond of ail'ec- tiou between her and her husband, and that ** A babe in a house is a well-sprinrr of ])leasure, A messenger of peace nnd love." — Tup2)er, I have, in the writing of the following pagee, had one object constantly in view — namely, health — ** That salt of life, which does to all a relish jjive, Its standing ])leasuve, and intrinsic wealth, The body's virtue, and the soul's good fortune — health.** If the following pages insist on the importance of one of a mother's duties more than another it is tliis, — that the mother herself look ivcll into everything '>u'Haimno only a tub filled batli, liately 3I well 111 -pits, in take I'om it, ly over served, o your 3Ug\dy ?, first ^()il)inj^ and being 111'*" hy and [to this ear — a times it Its that Ivelered. |e back, pubbed, ivt such indeed it may bo necessary to use a sponge and a litllo warm water frequently during the clay, namely, each time after the bowels have been relieved. Cleanliness is one oj the (jrand incentives to health, and therefore cannot bo too strongly iHsisted upon. If more attention were paid to til is sul)joct, children would bo more exempt from chafings, " breakings-out," and consequent sufTering, than they at present are. After the socoud month, if tho babe be delicate, the addition of two handfuls of table- salt to the water he is washed with in tho morning will tend to brace and strengthen him. With regard to tho best powder to dust an infant with, there is nothing better for general use than starch — the old-fashioned starch made of v:h eaten flour — reduced by means of a pestle and mortar to a fino powder ; or Violet Powder, which is nothing more than linely powdered starch scented, and which may be ])rocurod of a'^y respectable chemist. Some others are in tlio habit of using white lead ; but as this is a poison, it ought on no account to be resorted to. 9. If the imrts about the groin and fundament he excoriated, what is then the best application ? After sponging the parts with tepid rain water, holding him over his tub, and allowing the water from a well-filled sponge to stream over the parts, and then drying them with a soft napkin (not rubbing, but gently dabbing with tho napkin), there is nothing better than dusting the parts fre(]^uently with finely powdered Native Carbonate of Zinc-Calamine Powder. The best way of using this powder is, tying up a little of it in a piece of muslin, and then gently dabbing tho parts with it. Eemember excoriations are generally owing to the want of water, — to tho want of an abundance of water. An infant who is every morning ^vell soused and well swilled with water seldom suirers either from excoria- tions, or from any other of the iiutiktous skin diseases. Cleanliness, then, is the grand preventative of, and the best remedy for excoriations. Naaman the Syrian wa^ 8 APVICE TO A MOTm?R, ordered "to wash and be clean," and he was healed, " and his flesh came again like unto Ibe flesh if a little child and he was ck'an." Tbis was, of course, a miracle ; hut bow often does water, ■without any special intervention, act miraculously both in i^reventing and in curing skin diseases 1 An infant's clothes, napkins especially, ought never to be washed with soda ; the wasbing of napkins with floda is apt" to produce excoriations and breakings-out " As washerwomen often deny that they use soda, it can bo easily detected by simply soaking a clean white napkin in fresh water and then tasting the water ; if it be brackish and salt, soda has been emjiloyed."* 10. Who is the proper pet sun to wash and dress the label The monthly nurse, as long as she is in attendance ; but afterwards the mother, unless she should happen to have an experienced, sensible, thoughtful nurse, which, unfortunately, is seldom the case.f 11. Wltat is the best kind oj npron fo'r a mother ^ or Jor a nursey to wear, while washimj the infant? Flannel — a good, thick, soft flannel, usually called bathcoating — apron, made long and full, and which of course ought to be well dried every time before it is used. 12. Perhaps you vnll Idndly recapiiidate, and give me furthei' advice on the subject of the ablution of my babe. Let him by all means, then, as soon as the navel-string ♦ Communicated by Sir Charles Locock to the Author. + **The Princess of Wales might have been seen on Thursday taking an airing in a brougham in Hyde Park with her baby— « the future Kinsj of England — on her lap, without a nurse, and accompanied only by Mrs Bruce. The Princess seems a very pattern of motliers, and it is whispered among the ladies of the Court that every evening the mother of this young gentleman may be seen in a flannel dress, in order that she may properly wash and put on baby's night clothes, and see him safely in bed, It is a j)retty subject for a picture." — Pall Mall Qatdte^ INFANCY. — ABLUTION. lealed, a little irse, a special and in Lcver to s "witb. ngs-ouL L, it can a white sr ; if it hcss the ndance ; ippen to >, which, othcTy or J called 'hich of lore it is md give of my [el-string Thursday Vr baby — luTse, and \s a very les of the lentleman J properly ly in bed, has separated from the body, bo bathed either in his tub, or m his batli, or vi his large niirsery-hiisin ; for if he is to be strong and hearty, in the water every morning he must go. Tlie water ouglit to be slightly warmer tlian new milk. It is dangerou: for him to remain for a long period in his bath ; this, of course, holds good in a ten- fold degree if the child have either a cold or pain in his ])owels. Take care that, immediately after he comes out of his tub, he is well dried with wnrm towels. It is well to let him have his bath the fu-st thing in the morning, and .before he has been put to the breast ; let him be washeJ before he has his breakfast ; it will refresh him and give him an appetite. Besides, he ought to have his morning ablution on an empty stomach, or it may inter- fere with digestion, and might produce sickness and pain. In putting liim in his tub, let his head be the first part washed. We all know, that in bathing in the sea, how much better we can bear the water if we first wet our head ; if we do not do so, we feel shivering and starved and miserable. Let there be no dawdling in the wash- ing ; let it be quickly ov^er. When he is tboroughly dried with warm dri/ towels, let him be well rubbed with the warm hand of the mother or of the nurse. As I previously recommended, while drying him and while rubbing him, let hini rej)0se and kick and stretch either on the warm flannel apron, or else on a small blanket placed on the lap. One bathing in the tub, and that in the morning, is sufficient, and better than night and morn- ing. During thj day, as I before observed, he may, after the action either of his bowels or of his bladder, re- quire several spongings of lukGwarm water, for cleanliness is a grand incentive to health and comeliness. Eemember it is absolutely necessary to every child from his earliest babyhood to have a bath, to be immersed every morning of his life in the water. This advice, un- less in cases of severe ili.'ess, admits of no exception. Water to the body — to the whole body — is a necessity of life, of health, and of happiness ; it wards oil disease, it braces the nerves, it hardens the frame, it is the finest 10 ADVICR TO A MoTnnn. toiiii! in tlio world. Oli, if every motlinr would follow to the very letter this eounsel how much niisury, how much ill health might then Lo averted ! \\v MANAGEMENT OF THE NAVEL. 1 ?. Shnuhl flic, yuivpl-sfriiirj he wrapped in sinoed rarj ? There is nothinj^ hotter than a piece of fine old linen rap,', nusinffed ; when singed, it frcc^uently irritates th(3 infant's skin. 14. How ought the navel-string to he lortqipcd in the rag ? TidvC a piece of soft linen rag, abont three inches wide and four inches long, and wrap it neatly round the navel string, in the same manner you would around a cut linger, and then, to keep on the rag, tie it with a few rounds of whity-hrown thread. The navel-string thus covered should, pointing upwards, he placed on the belly of the child, and nuist be secured in its place by means of a llannel belly-band. 15. IJ after the navel-string has heen secvred, hleeding should {in, the ahsence of the medical man') occur, how nifuit it lie restrained ? The nurse or the attendant ought immediately to take olY the rag, and tightly, with a ligature composed of four or five whity-brown threads, retie the navel-string ; and to make assurance doubly sure, after once tying it, she should pass the threads a second time around the navel- string, and tie it again ; and after carefully ascertaining that it no longer bleeds, fasten it up in the rag as before. Bleeding of the navel-string rarely occurs, yet, if it should do so — the medical man not being at hand — the child's after-health, or even his life, may, if the above directions be not adopted, be endangered. 16. WJten does the navel-string separate from the child? From five days to a week after birth ; in some cas(\tlu'i< bv/are ihri/ arc jnif an I If she were U'ss particular^ icould it nat inaLe him viore tianhj ? A nurse cannot ho loo particular on this heaih A hahe's clothes ought to he uell aired the day hefonj they are put on, as they should not he ])Ut on warm from tlu^ iire. It is well, where it can ho ilone, to lot him have clean clothes daily. AVhere this cannot he allbrded, tht! clothes, as soon as they are taken oU' at niglit. -iight to ho well aired, so as to free them from the j)erspiration, and that they may he ready to ])ut on the following morning. It is truly nonsensical to endeavour to harden a child, or any one else, hy putting on damj) clothes ! 26. What is your 0})inion of caps fur an infant i Tho head ought to ho kept cool; ca})s, therefore, are unnecessary. If caps ho used at all, they should only he worn for the first month in sumuKT, or for the first two or three months in winter. If a babe take to caps, it requires care in leaving them off, or he will catch cold. "When you are about discontinuing them, ])ut a tlunner and a thinner one on, every time they are 'changed, until vou leave them off altogether. But remember, my opinion is, that a child is better witJiout caps; they only heat his head, cause undue perspiration, and thus make him more liable to catch cold. If a babe docs not wear a cap in the day, it is not at all necessary that he shouhl wear one at night. He will sleep more comfortably without one, and it will he better for his healtlu Moreover, night caps injure both the thickness and beauty of the hair 16 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. !ii 27. Have ynii any remarks to malce on the clothing of an infantj when, in the winter time^ he is sent out for exercise f Be sure that he is well wrapped up. He ought to have under his cloak a knitted worsted spencer, which should button behind ; and if the weather be very cold, a shawl over all ; and, provided it be dry above, and the wind be not in the east or in the north-east, he may then brave the weather. He will then come from his walk refreshed and strengthened, for cold air is an invigorating tonic. In a subsequent Conversation, I will indicate the proper age at which a child should be first sent out to take exercise in the open air. 28. At icluit age ought an infant " to be shorteiied ? " This, of course, will depend upon the season. In the summer, the right time " for shortening a babe," as it is called, is at the end of two months ; in the winter, at the end of three months. But if the right time for " shortening " a child should happen to be in the spring, let it be deferred until the end of May. The English springs are very trying and treacherous ; and sometimes, in April, the weather is almost as cold, and the wind as biting as in winter. It is treacherous, for the sun is hot, and the wind, which is at this time of the year frequently easterly, is keen and cutting. I should far prefer " to shorten " a child in the winter than in the early spring. DIET. 29. i4rj you an advocate for 'pidting a hahy to thft hreaat soon after birth, or for waiting, as many do, until the th ird day f The infant ought to bo put to the bosom soon after birth : the interest, both of the mother and of the cliild demands it. It will be advisable to wait three or four hours, that the mother may recover from her fatigue, and, then, the babe must be put to the breast. If this be done, ho will generally take the nipple with avidity INFANCY. — DIET. 17 ing of it for rht to which T cold, ad the y then s walk Drating ate the out to med ? " In the as it is •, at the Qie for spring, English letinies, wind as is hot, f|ucntly fer "to spiing. to iJiA until »n after le child lor four fatigue, ^t. It ic witli It might be said, at so early a period that there is no milk in the hosom ; hut such is not usually the case. Tliere generally is a little from the very beginning, which acts on the baby's bowels like a dose of purgative medicine, and appears to be intended by nature tc cleanse the system. But, provided there be no milk at first, the very act of sucking not only gives the child a notion, but, at the same time, causes a draught (as it is usually called) in the breast, and enables the milk to How easilv. Of course, if there be no milk in the bosom — the babe having been applied once or twice to determine the fact — then you must wait for a few hours before applying him again to the nip2)le, that is to say, until the milk be secreted. An infant, who, for two or three days, is kept from the breast, and who is fed upon gruel, generally becomes feeble, and fre(iuently, at the end of that time, will not take the nipple at all. Besides, there is a thick cream (similar to the biestings of a cow), which, if not drawn out by the child, may cause inflammation and gathering of the bosom, and, consequently, great suffering to the mother. Moreover, placing him early to the breast, moderates the severity of the mother's after pains, and lessens the risk of her flooding. A new-born babe must not have gruel given to him, as it disorders the bowels, causes a disinclination to suck, and thus makes him feeble. 30. If an infant show any disindinaiion to sucl% or if he appear unable to apply his tongue to the nipple, what ought to he done 1 Immediately call the attention of the medical man to the fact, in order that he may ascertain whether he be tongue-tied. If he be, the simple oj)eration of dividing the bridle of the tongue will remedy the defect, and will cause him to take the nipple with ease and comfort. 31. Provided there he not milk at first, what ought ^Jien to he done ? Wait with pfitiencp ; the M\^ (if fte mother have no 18 ADVICK TO A MOTHER. milk) will not, for at least twelve hours, require artificial food. In the generality of instances, then, artificial food is not at all necessary ; but if it should be needed, one- third of new milk and two-thirds of warm water, slightly sweetened with loaf sugar (or Avith brown sugar, if the babo's bowels have not been opened), should be given, in small quantities at a time, every four hours, until the milk be secreted, and then it must be discontinued. The infant ought to be put to the nipple every four hours, but not oftener, until he be abb to find nourishment. If after the api)lication of the cliild for a few times, he is unable to find nourishment, then it will bo necessary to wait until the milk be secieted. As soon as it is secreted, he must be applied with great regularity, alti'ma'dy to each breast. I say alternatdij to each breast. This is most important advice. Sometimes a child, for some in- explicable reason, prefers one l)reast to the other, and the mother, to save a little contention, concedes tlio point, and allows him to have his own way. And what is frcij^uently the consequence 1 — a gathered breast ! We frequently hear of a babe having no notion of sucking. This " no notion " may generally be tra(;ed to bad management, to stuffing him with food, and thus giving him a disinclination to take the nipple at all. 3"- Hoiv often should a another suckle her infant ? A mother generally suckles her baby too often, having him almost constantly at the breast. This practice is injurious both to parent and to child. The stomach requires repose as much as any other part of the body ; and how can it have if it be constantly loaded with breast-milk? For the fivcX month, he ought to be suckled about every hour and a half ; for the second month, every two hours, — gradually increasing, as he becomes older, the distance of time between, until at length he has it about every four hours. If a baby were suckled at stated periods, he would only look for the bosom at those times, and be satisfi<'-d. A mother is frequently in the habit of giving the child INFAN'CT. — DIET. 19 t]»e breast every time ho cries, regardless of the cause. The cause too frequently is that he has been too often ruckled — his stomach has been overloaded ; the little fellow is cousequently in pain, and he gives utterance to il by cries. How absurd is such a practice ! We may as well endeavour to i)ut out a fire by feeding it with fuel. An infant ought to be accustomed to regularity iu everything, in times for sucking, for sleejjing, &c. No children thrive so well as those who are thus early taught. 33. IVJirre the mother is moderatei-y strong, do you advise that the infant shuidd Jiave any other food than the breast ? Artificial food must not, for the first five or six months, be given, if the parent be modH'ately strong, of course, if she be feeble, a little food will be necessary. ]\Ianv delicate women eniov l)etter health whilst suckling than at any other period of their lives. It may be well, where artificial food, in addition to the mother's own milk, is needed, and before giving any farinaceous food whatever (for farinaceous food until a chilli is six or seven months old is injurious), to give, through a feeding-bottle, every night and morning, in atldition to the mother's breast of milk, the following Milk-Wattr-and-Suijar-of-Milk Food : — Fresh milk, from onk cow ; Wiiiiii A\ atev, of each a (juarter of a pint, Sugar-of-niilk one tea-spoonful. The sugar-of-milk should first be dissolved in the warm water, and then the fresh milk mibniled should be mixed with it. The sweetening of the above food with sugar- of-milk, instead of with lump sugar, makes the food more to resemble the mother's own milk. The infant Avill not, probably, at first take more tlian half of the above (piantity at a time, even if he does so much as tliat ; but still the above are the ])roj»er proj)oi'tioiis ; and as he grows older, he will I'ec^uiiu the whole of it at ft meai 20 ADVICE TO A MOTHEH. 34. VHiat foody tohm a hahe is six or seven months old^ is the hest substitute for a mothers milk? The food that suits one infant will not agree with another. (1.) The one that I have found the most generally useful, is made as follows : — Boil the crumb of bread for two hours in water, taking particular care that it does not burn ; then add only a little lump-sugar (or brown sutjar, if the bowels be costive), to make it ])alatable. AVhen he is six or seven moi.ths old, mix a little new milk — the milk of one cow — with it gradually as he becomes older, increasing the quantity until it be nearly all milk, there being only enough vraLor to boil the bread ; the milk should be poured boiling hot on the bread. Sometimes the two milks — the moti^er's and the cow's milk — do not agree ; "when such is the case, let the milk ])e left out, both in this and in the foods following, and let the food be made with water, instead of with milk and water. In other respects, until the child is weaned, let it be made as above directed ; when he is weaned, good fresh cow's milk must, as previously recommended, be used. (2.) Or cut thin slices of bread into a basin, cover the bread with cold water, place it in an oven for two hours to bake ; take it out, beat the bread up with a fork, and then slightly sweeten it. This is an excellent food. (3.) If the above should not agree with the infant (although, if properly made, they almost invariably do), " tous-les-mois " may be given.* (4.) Or Kobb's Biscuits, as it is " among the best bread compounds made out of wheat-flour, and is almost always readily digested." — Routh. (5.) Another good food is the following: — Take about a pound of Hour, put it in a cloth, tie it up tiglitl}', place it in a saucepan ful of water, and let it boil for four or five hours ; then take it out, peel off the outer rind, and * *' Tous-les-mois " is llie starch obtained from the tuheroug roots of various specifts of canna, and is imported from the West Indies. It is very similar to arrow-root. I suppose it is called **tuoii-l68'moiii," mi it in goQil tP he et^tea aU t|i@ yoav roU44> INPANOY. — DIET 21 with most runib care sugar ,ke it mix a lually it be "boil lot on •'s and ) case, foods nsteud til tbe when iously CCS of water, it out, ,veeten should made, ay he g the and is ahout r, place [our or Id, and luberous le West is calle4 the inside will he found quite dry, which grate. (6.) Another way of prci)ariug an infant's food, is to hake Hour — biscuit flour — in a slow oven, until it be of a light fawn colour. Baked flour or '^ht, after it is baked, to be reduced, by means of a rolling-pin, to a flue powder, and should then be kept in a covered tin, ready for use. (7.) An excellent food for a baby is baked cninibs of bread. The manner of preparing it is as follows : — Crumb some bread on a plate ; put it a little distance from the fire to dry. When dry, rub the crumbs in a mortar, and reduce them to a fine powder ; then pass them through a sieve. Having done which, put the crumbs of bread into a slow oven, and let them bake until they be of a light fawn colour. A small quantity either of the boiled, or of the baked flour, or of the baked crumb of bread, ought to be made into food, in the same way as gruel is made, and should then be slightly sweetened, according to the state of the bowels, either with lump or with brown sugar. • (8.) Baked flour sometimes produces constipation ; when such is the case, Mt Ajipleton, of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, wisely recommends a mixture of baked flour, and prepared oatmeal,* in the proportion of two of the former and one of the latter. He says : — " To avoid the constipating efi'ects, I have always had mixed, before baking, one part of prepared oatmeal with two parts of flour ; this compound I have found both nourishing, and regulating to the bowels. One table-spoonful of it, nnxed with a quarter of a pint of miUc, or milk and Avater, when well boiled, flavoured and sweetened with white sugar, produces a thick, nourishing, and delicious food for infants or invalids." He goes on to remark : — ** I know of no food, after .repeated trials, that can bo so strongly recommended by the profession to all mothers in the rearing of their infants, without or with the aid of the breasts, at the same time relieving them of mucL • If there is any difficulty in obtaining prepared oatin&llt Robinson's Scotch Oatmeal will answer equally as well. 22 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. drain injT and flraj^f^jing whilst nursing with an insufficiency of milk, as baked Hour and oatninal.* (9.) A ninth food may bo mado with "Farinaneons Food for Infants, prepared by Hards of Dart ford." If Hard's Farinaceous food produces costiveness — as it sometimes does — let it be mixed either with equal parts or with one-third of Kobinson's Scotch Oatmeal The mixture of the two together makes a si)len(lid food for a baby. (10.) A tenth, and an excellent one, may bo mado with rusks, boiled for an hour in water, which ought then to be well beaten up, by means of a fork, and slightly sweetened with lump sugar. Great care sliould be taken to select good rusks, as few articles vary so much in quality. (11.) An eleventh is — the top crust of a baker's loaf, boiled for an hour in water, and then moderatelj'^ sweetened with lump sugar. If, at any time, the child's bowels should be costive, raw must be sub- stituted for lump sugar. (12.) Another capital food for an infant is that made by Lemann's Biscuit Powder, f (13.) Or, Brown and l^olson's Patent Corn Flour will bo found suitable. Francatelli, the Queen's cook, in his recent valuable work, gives the following forni'da for making it: — "To one dessert-spoonful of Brown and Poison, mixed with a wineglassful of cold water, add half a pint of boiling water ; stir over the fire for five minutes ; sweeten lightly, and feed the baby ; but if the infant is being brought up by the hand, this food should then be mixed with milk — not otherwise." (14.) A fourteenth is Xeaves' Farinaceous Food for Infants, which is a ^>jally good article of diet for a babe ; it is not 80 binding to the bowels as manv of the farinaceous foods are, which is a great recommendation. le folIiMvinff is a cood and nourishing food for (15.) * British Medical Journal ^ Deo. 18, 1858. t Lemann's Biscuit Powder cannot be too strongly recom- mended : — It is of the finest quality, anil may be obtained of lieinann, Threadneedle Street, London. An extended and an extensive experience confirms me still more in the good opiuiuu I have of this food. INFANCY. — DIET. 23 )dfor a baby : — Soak for an hour, some best rico in cold water; strain, and add fresh water to the rice; then lei it simmer till it will pulp through a sieve ; put the pulp and the water in a saucepan, with a aimp or two of sugar, and again let it simmer for a quarter of an hour ; a por- tion of this should be mixed with one-third of fresh milk, so as to makef it of the consistence of good cream. This is an excellent food for w^eak bowels. AVhen the baby is six or seven months old, new milk shoidd be added to any of the above articles of food, in a similar way to that recommended for boiled bread. (16.) For a delicate infant, lentil powder, better known as Du Barry's " Kavalenta Arabica," is invaluable. It ought to be made into food, with new milk, in the same ■way that arrow-root is made, and should be moderately sweetened with loaf-sugar. Whatever food is selected ought to be given by means of a nursing bottle. if a child's bowels be relaxed and weak, or if the motions be offensive, the milk must be boiled, but not otherwise. The following (17) is a good food when an infant's bowels are weak and relaxed : — " Into five large spoonfuls of the purest water, rub smooth one dessert- spoonfu ] of fine flour. Set over the fire five spoonfuls of new milk, and put two bits of sugar into it; the moment it boils, pour it into the Hour and water, and stir it over a slow fire twenty minutes." Where there is much emaciation, I have found (18) genuine arrow-root* a very valuable article of food for an infant, as it contains a great deal of yi^rcli, which starch helps to form fat and to evolve caloric (heat) — both of which a poor emaciated chilly child stands so much in need of. It must be made with equal parts of water and of good fresh milk, and ought to be slightly en'eetened with loaf sugar ; a small pinch of table salt should be added to it. recom- liieil of liivl an [liuiuu * Genuine arrow-root, of first-rate quality, and at n reaso^.-ble price, may be obtained of H. M. Plumbe, arrow-root merchant^ 8 Alie Place. Great Alie Street, Aldgate, London, E. 24 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. Arrow-root will not, as milk will, give hone and muscle ; but it will give — what is very needful to a deli- cate child — fa^: and warmth. Arrow-root, as it is princi- pally composed of starch, comes under the same category as cream, butter, sugar, oil, and fat Arrowroot, then, should always be given with now milk (mixed with one- half of water) ; it will then fulfil, to perfection, the exigencies of nourishing, of warming, and fattening the child's body. New milk, composed in due proportions as it is. of cream and of skim milk — the very acme of perfection — is the only food, which of itself alone^ vnW nourish and warm and fatten. It is, for a child, par exctllence^ the food of foods ! Arrow-root, and all other farinaceous foods are, for a child, only supplemental to milk — new milk behig, for the young, the staple food of all other kinds of foods whatever. But bear in mind, and let there he no mistake about if^ that farinaceous food, be it what it may, until the child be six or seven months old, until, indeed, he her/in to cut his teeth, is not suitable for a child ; until then. The Milk-water-salt-and-sugar Food (see page 29) is usually, if he be a dry-nursed child, the best artificial food for him. I have given you a large and well-tried infant's dietary to chose from, as it is sometimes difficult to fix on one that will suit ; but, remember, if you find one of the above to agree, keep to it, as a babe requires a simplicity in food — a child a greater variety. Let me, in this place, insist upon the necessity of great, care and attention being observed in the preparation of any of the above articles of diet. A babe's stomach is very delicate, and will revolt at either ill-made, or lumpy, Of burnt food. Great care ought to be observed as to the cleanliness of the cooking utensils. The above directions recjuiro the strict supervision of the mother. Broths have been recommended, but, for my own part, I think that, for a young infant^ they are objectionable ; INFANCY. -r-DIET. 25 |e lo It. If Is they are apt to turn aciil on tlio stomach, and to cause flatulonco and sickness ; tliey, sometimes, disorder tho bowels and induce ,t,'rii)in^ and purging. Whatever artificial food is used ought to he given In means of a bottle, not oidy as it is a more natural \\i\y than any other of feeding a baby, as it causes him to suck as thouf^h ho were drawing it from the mother's breasts, but as the act of sucking causes the salivary glands to press out their contents, which materially assist digestion. ^loreover, it seems to satisfy and comfort him more than it otherwise would do. One of the best, if not the best feeding bottle I have yet seen, is that made by ^lorgan Ih'others, 21 J>ow Lane, London. It is called " The Anglo-French Feeding l)0ttle." 8. JMaw, of 11 Aldersgate Street, London, has also brought out an excellent one — " The Fountain Infant's Feeding Bottle." Another good one is *' Mather's Infant's Feeding Bottle." Either of these three will answer the purpose admirably. I cannot speak in terms too highly of these valuable inventions. The food ought to be of the consistence of good cream, and should be made fresh and fresh. It ought to bo given milk-warm. Attention must be paid to tho cleanliness of the vessel, and care should be taktMi that the milk be that of ONE cow,* and that it be new and of good quality ; for if not it vvill turn acid and sour, * I consider it to be of immense importance to the infant, that the milk be had from one cow. A writer in the Medical Times and Gazette, speaking on tliis subject, makes tlie following sensible remarks : — " I do not know if a jn'actico common among French ladies when they do not nurse, has obtained the atten- tion among ourselves which it seems to me to deserve. When the infant is to be fed with eowjnilk that from various cows is submitted to examination by tlie medical man, and if ])ossilile, tried on some diild, and when the milk of any cow lias beeii chosen, no other milk is ever suffered to enter tlie child's lips, for a French lady would as soon otFer to her infant's mouth the breasts of half a dozen wet-nurses in the day, as mix together the milk of various cows, which must differ, even as the animals themselves, in its constituent (lualities. Great attention is also piid to the pasture, or other food of the cow thus appropriated." 36 ADVICE TO A MOTnETl. and (Hsor(1(T tho stomanh, and will tluia ranan oitbor tliitid(;ni'.o or loosenoss of the bowels, or ])crlia])8 C(»nvul' sions. Tlio only way to bo euro of bavin" it from oha cow, iM (if you bavo not a cow of your own), to bavo tbe milk fioni a rp.yjtr table cow-keeper, and to bavo it brougbt to your bouse in a can of your own (tbo London milk-cans beinf* tbe best for tbe purpose). Tbo better ]d:iu is to bavo two cans, and to bave tbe milk freab and ifresli every nigbt and morninr^. Tbe can&, after eaeb time of using, ougbt to be scalded out ; and, once a weifk tbo can sbould be iilled witb cold water, and tbo water sboukl be allowed to remain in it until tbo can be again required. Very little sugar sbould be used m tbe food, as much sugar weakens the digestion. A small pinch of table- salt ouglit to bo added to whatever food is given, as " the best savour is salt." Salt is most wholesome — it strengthens and assists digestion, prevents the formation of worms, and, in small quantities, may with advantage be given (if artiticial food bo used) to tho youngest baby. 35. Wlirre it is found fo he absolutely necessary to give an infant artificial food wiiiLax suckling, how often 9U(jht he to be fed ? Not oftener than twice during tho twenty-four hours, and then only in small quantities at a time, as the stomach requires rest, and at tho same time, can manage to digest a little food better than it can a great deal. J^et me again urge upon you the importance, if it be at all practicable, of keeping tho child entirely to the breast for tho first five or six months of his existence. Kememher there is no real substitute for a mother's milk ; there is no food so Well adapted to his stomach ; there is no diet equal to it in developing muscle, in making bone, or in producing that beautiful plump rounded contour of the limbs ; there is nothing like a mother's milk alone m making a child contented and happy, in laying the foundation of a healthy constitution, in preparing the body for a long life, in giving him tone tN'FAXCT. — "Dirr. 27 ive rs, Ihe lal. at ist :e. kr's in a ! to resist, (lisoaso, or in causinfj him to cut liis tofth onsily ami well ; in short, thr inof/irrs willc /.v the. (jrcdtetfi ttnnpnrnl Mcyfiinfj an inftdif rtin pot^soffK. As a general rule, therefore, uhen the child and tho mother are tolerahly strong, he is hetter ?(v7/kw^ artificial food until ho have attained tho ago of three or font months ; then, it will usually ho necessary to fi'ed him with Tlie Mil/Mmtt'r-(ffiro('nred, then the followin;^' MIlk-ivnter-i^iilt-and-HWjar Food, from the very eommencement, sliould bo pven ; and as i \v-m the anthorof the formula,* I beg to designate it as — Ut/e C/uwaases Milk Food: — New milk, the j)ro(luce of one healthy cow ; AViinii Aviiter, ot each, t'([ual ]mrts ; 'I'nblo salt, a few grains — a sinnll j)inc]» ; Lump sugar, a suliicient ijuantity, lo slightly sweeten it. The milk itself onf,dit not to bo heated over the fire,! but should, a.s above directed, bo warmed by the -water ; it must, morning and evening, be had fresh and fresh. The milk and water should bo of the same tem])eratnro as tho mother'^ milk, that is to say, at about ninety degrees Fahrenheit. It ought to bo given by means of either Morgan's, or Maw's, or Mather's feeding-bottlf',:^ and care must be taken to scald tho bottlo out twice a day, for if attention be not paid to this point, tho delicate stomach of an infant is soon disordered. Tho milk should, as he grows older, be gradually increascil and tho water decreased, until two-thirds of milk and one-third of water be used ; but remember, that either mnch or little water must always be given with tho milk. The above is my old form, and which I have for many years used with great success. "Where the above food does not agree (and no food except a healthy mother's own milk docs invariaUy agree) I occasionally substitute * It first appeared in print in the 4th edition of ^(/i?i<;« to c» Mother, 1852. + It now and then happens, that if the milk be not boiled, tha motions of an infant aro offensive ; when such is the case, let the milk be boiled, but not otherwise. J 8pe ttjiswer tP Qureast alone, there is no fear of his taking too much ; but if he be brought up on artificial food, tliere is great fear of his over-loading his stomach. Stuffing a child brings on vomiting and bowel-complaints, ynd a host of other diseases .vhich now it would be tedious to enumerate. Let mi;, then, urge you on no account, to over-load the stomach of a little child. There will, tlien, in many cases, be quite sufficient nourishment in the above ; I liave known .some robust infants brought up on itt and ou it alone, without ii no At^virTC TO A Min'nr.n, pMrti»'1«^ of f;ivin;iooo\iB fixxl, or of any ollu>r foo^l, in nny wh!»]>o or form wIkiIoviM". Hul if il Hhonid not Mj^riM* willi iho cl\il»l, or if Ihcn^ m1io\i1(I nol, lio .'Milliripnl. iitMniMluiu>nli ill if, flion \\\o fiuxl ihm'oiiiiikmhIimI in mm\V(M' lo No. ',\\ «piOH(ioii oiiolit to lu> Mlivoii, NviMi Hum only ilill'iMonco -ii liUlo iiiMv milk v)7tsf from \ho lu\*;inninj; !>(» MiMtMl, imd sliouKl bo ^raduiilly incit^isiMl, iinlil nculy nil niilk Im usimI. Tlio milk, !is n pMUMnl rulo, oiiulil to lie unhoilfuf : Imi if it )>iir^(^ vii^liMidy, or if it rauHo olfonsivo molioiiM - wliii.li it stmiolinii's i\ooH \\wn it must Im boilctl. Tim iiu>mont llh* milk boilsi np. it hIkmiM Im> Ijikcn «tlVllii> lir«>. Voi)K\ oiii^hl for tli(> tirsl month to Ix^Ljivcn iilioui ovory two luMirs ; \oy \\\o sci>oml nionlli, jiUont «»vV('r fcMHlinu; is a prolilio sonrc(> of ilists'ist\ Lot it \h) thtn'on^hly nn(l»M"s1.(wn1, ami 1( t tlirri' lu» no riis(;\k(^'ibou( it, that a babo dnrini;- the tirsi nino montliM of bis 1if(>, MrsT liavt^ it is absolntcly him'ohsmvv for bis vory o\ist(MUH> — milk of somo kind, as tbt» .>(a]>b' ami principal arlido of bis diot. oi(b«M' motlun's ' r. wel-nurHo's, or assos', or j^oats', or cow's milk. ^7. llow ii'ould you rhooan a irtivo ba\nt. or if slu^ or any of b(>r family bavo labonrod nndor " kin>;'s ovil ;" asoortainin«j: if tb(>n> Im any soams ox- sw(dUni;s about bt>r mn-k ; any eruptions or bb-^tolios n]>(tndior .skin ; if sbo lias a ]>li>ntifn) luiaat of milk, aiul if it bo ofi;ood quality* (wbii'bmay rt\M-ily bo aisoortainod bv niilkini; a littlo into a glass) ; vt sbn )ia^ g'ood nippli^s, sulVioiontly lonj^ for ilio baby to lu)id ; tliat tboy bo not soro ; and if bor own ebild bo of tlio isjimo, or noarlv of tbosanio aijo, as tbo ono vou wisli ber • *'lt should 1>6 thin, and of a hluish-whito colour, Bweet to tho t;;isto, and when nllowod to Ktniid, Bhould throw uj* a cou- •i.ierablo i]uautity of crciuu,"r--,1/aw?Wf// ardJ:Jvcn,c«tT to the Author. u ADVICE TO A MOTnEtl. broasfc, and' seeing for yourself whether there be actually milk, or not, in his mouth. Very feeble new-born babes sometimes cannot take the bosom, be the nipples and the breasts ever so good, and although Maw's nipple-shield and glass tube had been tried. In such a case, cow's milk-water-sugar-and- salt, as recommended at page 29, must be given in small quantities at a time — from two to four tea-spoonfuls — but frequently ; if the child be awake, every hour, or every half hour, both night and day, until he be able to take the breast. If, then, a puny, feeble babe is only able to take but little at a time, and that little by tea- spoonfuls, he must have little and often, in order that " many a little might make a mickle." I have known many puny, delicate children who had not strength to hold the nipple in their mouths, but who could take milk and water (as above recommended) by tea-spoonfuls only at a time, with steady perseverance, and giving it every half hour or hour (according to the quantity swallowed), at IcLgth be able to take the breast, and eventually become strong and hearty children ; but such cases require unwearied watching, perseverance, and care. Bear in mind, then, tliat the smaller the quantity of the milk and water given at a time, the oftener must it be administered, as, of course, the babe must have a certain quantity of food to sustain life. 38. What ought to he the diet either of a toct-nursef or of a mother^ who is suclding 'i It is a common practice to cram a wet-nurse with food, and to give her strong ale to drink, to make good no^irish- ment and plentiful milk ! This practice is absurd ; for it either, by making the nurse feverish, makes the milk more sparing than usual, or it causes the milk to be gross and unwholesome. On the other hand, we must not run into an opposite extreme. The mother, or the wet- nurse, bv using those means most conducive to her own health, will best advance the interest of her little charge. A wet-nurse, ought to live somewnat in the following way :— Let her for breakfast have black tea, with cue or INPAKCT. — DIET. 35 food, 'irisli- ; for millc gross it not wet- |r own large. )wing )ne or two slices of cold meat, if her appetite demand it, Ivut not otherwise. It is customary for .1 wet-nurse to mako a hearty luncheon ; of this I do not approve. If she feel either faint or low at eleven o'clock, let her have either a tumbler of porter, or of mild fresh ale, with a piece of dry toast soaked in it. She ought not to dine later than half-past one or two o'clock ; she should eat, for dinner, either mutton or beef, with either mealy potatoes, or asparagus, or French beans, or secale, or turnips, or broccoli, or cauliflower, and staid bread. Eich pastry, soups, gravies, high-seasoned dishes, salted meats, greens, and cabbage, must one and all be carefully avoided ; as they only tend to disorder the stomach, and thus to deteriorate the milk. It is a common remark, that " a mother who is suck- ling may eat anything." I do not agree with this opinion. Can impure or improper food make pure and proper milk, or can impure and improper milk make good blood far an infant, and thus good health t The wet-nurse ought to take with her dinner a moderate quantity of either sound porter, or of mild (but not oldoT strong) ale. Tea . aould be taken at half past five or six o'clock ; supper at nine, which shouhl consist either of a slice or two of cold meat, or of cheese if she prefer it, with half a pint of porter or of mild ale ; occasionally a basin of gruel may with advantage be sub- stituted. Hot and late suppers are prejudicial to the mother, or to the wet-nurse, and, consequently, to the child. The wet-nurse ought to be in bed every night by ten o'clock. It might be said, that I have been too minute and particular in my rules for a wet-nurse ; but when it is considered of what importance good milk is to tha well- doing of an infant, in making him strong and robust, not only now, but as he grows up to manhood, I shall, I trust, be excused for my prolixity. 39. Have you any more hints to offer miili regard to the management of a wet-nurse ? A wet-nurse is frequently allowed to remain in bed dd X ADVICE TO A MOTHER. until a late hour in the morning, and during the day to continue in tlie house, as if she were a fixture ! How is it possible that any one, under such treatment, can continue healthy ? A wet nurse ought to rise early, and, if the weather and season will permit, take a walk, which will give her an appetite for breakfast, and will make a good meal for her little charge. This, of course, cannot, during the winter months, be done ; but even then, she ought, some part of the day, to take every opportunity of walking out ; indeed, in the summer time she. should live half the day in the open air. She ought strictly to avoid crowded rooms ; her mind should be kept calm and unruffled, as nothing disorders the milk so much as passion, and other violent emotions of the mind ; a fretful temper is very injurious, on which account you should, in choosing your wet-nurse, endeavour to procure one of a mild, calm, and placid disposition.* A wet-nurse ought never to be allowed to dose her little charf:te either with Godfrev's Cordial, or with Dalby's Carminative, or with Syrup of White Poppies, or with medicine of any kind whatever. Let her thoroughly understand this, and let there be no mistake in the matter. Do not for one moment allow your children's health to be tampered and trifled with. A baby's health is too precious to be doctored, to be experi- mented upon, and to be ruined by an ignorant person. 40. Haoe the fjoodness to state at lohat age a child ought to be weaned. This, of course, must depend both upon the strength of the child, and upon the health of the parent ; on an * *' 'The child is poisoned.' * Poisoned ! by whom ? ' * By you. You have been fretting. * Nay, indeed, mother. How can I help fretting ? * Don't tell me, Margaret. A nursing mother has no business 1,0 fret. She must turn her mind away from her grief to the comfort that lies in her lap. Know you not that the child pines if the mother vexes herself?*" — The Cloister and the Eearth. By Charles Reade. INFANCY. — DIET. ar ly to How can and, ake a iinot, 1, she lUnity liould mind orders otiona which ■nurse, placid ISO her • with oppies, et her iiistake V your \i! A experi- rson. I ought trength on an business ' to the Id plnei Ifeartfu average, nine months is the proper time. If the motlier be dehcate, it may be found necessary to wean the infant at six months ; or if he be weak, or labouring under any disease, it may bo well to continue suckling him for twelve months ; but after that time, the breast will do him more harm than good, and will, moreover, injure the mother's health, and may, if she be so predisposed, excite consumption. 41. How icould you recommend a mother to act tvhcn she weans her child ? She ought, as the word signifies, do it gradually — that is to say, she should, by degrees, give him less and less of tlie breast, and more and more of artificial food ; at length, she must only suckle him at night ; and lastly, it would be well for the mother either to send him. away, or to Inave him at home, and, for a few days, to go away herself. A good plan is, for the nurse-maid to have a half-pint bottle of new milk — which has been previously boiled* - — in the bed, so as to give a little to him in lieu of the breast. The warmth of the body wiU keep the milk of a proper temperature, and will supersede the use of lamps, of candle-frames, and of other troublesome contrivances. 42. While a mother is weaning her infant^ and after she have weaned him, what ought to he his diet ? Any one of the foods recommended in answer to ques- tion 34, page 20. 43. If a child he suffering severely from " wind" is there any objection to the addition of a small quantity either of gin or of peppermint to his food to disperse it? It is a murderous practice to add either gin or pepper- mint of the shops (which is oil of peppermint dissolved in spirits) to his food. Many children have, by such a practice, been made puny and delicate, and have gradually dropped into an untimely grave. An infant who is kept. * The previous boiliiist of the milk will prevent the warmth of the bed turning the milk sour, which it otherwise would do. 38 ADVICIC TO A MOTlIKn. for llio lirHt fivo or nix monihH, vnlirchj in iln^ brofist • — inoro oRpociiilly if \\w mollicr bn canW'ul in Iht <»\\u diet — Hcldom HuH'erH from *' wind ; " ilioHo, on IIk? c.on- Irary, wlio liavo iiim-li or inipropor foodj^HulVor Hcwtirrly. Cnn^ ill foiMliii}^;, then, is tlio gnuul i»rtiV('ntal,iv(i of ** Nvin«l ;" l)iit if, iioUvitlhstjuulin^ all your iJn'nuitioiiH, tlic c.liiltl ho troiihliMl \\'\\\\ llatiiltMKU', ilio rnnKMlicH ro- conu?ioinl(Ml undiM* ilio lu»ad of Flatulimco will generally rtn.swor \\w purpose, •11. Ilnrv t/on (my remnrh'i to make on sugar for mocd- euiuij a htihf/s food f A {, suf^ar luMnj; nourisliinj^and fat tiuiing, and niak- in;^ cow's milk to vostMublo somewhat in ils j)rop(irti(!8 liuman milk ; but, bear in mind, it innst he used upariiKjlif. Much snma('h, wcaKcns the digestion, jjroduces aciility, sour bolchings, and Avind : — *• Things swoet to lasto, prove in digestion soar.' . Shak-upmre. If a babe's bowels be either rejjjular or relaxed, hnnp eu^ar is Wu^ best for the purpose of sweetening his food ; if his bowels are inclintHl to be costive, raw sugar ought to be substituted for lum]i sugar, as raw sugar acts on a young babe as an aperient, and, in the generality of cases, is far preferable to physicking him with opening medicine. An infant's bowels, whenever it be practi- cable (and it generally is), ought to bo regulated by a judicious dietary rather than by physic. VACCINATION AND RK-VACCINATION. 45. Are you an advocate for vaccination f Certiiinly. I consider it to be ono of tho greatest blessings ever conferred upon maiilcind. Suiall-pox, For tho first five or six months nevor, if you can possibly avoid it. give artificial food to au infant who is sucking. There is nothing, in the generality of cases, tliat agrees, for the first few mouths, like the mother's milk aloiie "1 INFANCY. — VAOOlNATroN AND IlK-VACCiNATroN. 39 There le first bofoid viicciimtloM was udopidd, ravn^^'cnl ilio roiintry liko ft phiuiu', iiui\ (:iuri(M| oil' ilKtiiHaiidH niiinuilly ; and ilioso ^v\u) did (wapo ■Nviili ilicir liv(!H wrja frequently iiiado loatliHoiiKi aii(l dJH^MiHtiiif^' oltjectH l>y it. Kv<3n iiKunda- tioti (wliicli i.s (;uttin|< ifor ilio HJiialJ-pox) wuh attended \villi dan;^'(T, niorcj espcicially to th(» iinj)r()teeted — ftH it tviiiscd tlie dJHeaw) to Rpniad likn wildfire, and ihu8 it carried oil' inniienHC! nunduMH. X'accination Ih one, and an important eauHo of our increa.sin^' ])()pulation ; Biiiall-pox, in olden tiniCB, dui'-iniated the (!ountry. 4(5. Ji/if. vdccinaiion does not ulwayfi jn'otcd a child from small -pox 1 J j^'rant you that it does not ahiuiys ]>rotect liini, iii'tllicr (/o<'.v inocnlroper cflect. Jf children, and adults were rc-vaccinatedj — say every seven years after the iirst vaccination, — dej)end U])on it, even these rare cas(!S would not occur, and in a short lime small-pox would be known only by name. '17. Do you consider it, fheii, the imperative duty of a mother, in every case, to have, aftrr the lapse of every seven 7/eors, Iter children re-vaccimded ? I d(!cidedly do : it would bo an excellent plan for every person, once every seven years to be re-vaccinated, and even oftenci', if sinall-j)ox bo rife in the nei^'hbf)ur- hood. Vaccination, however frequently performed, can never do the slightest harm, and might do inestimable good. Small-pox is both a pest and a disgrace, and ought to be constantly fought and battled with, until it be banished (which it may readily be) the kingdom. 1 say tliat small-pox is a pest ; it is worse than the pla^'uc, fordf not kept in subjection, it is more general — ■ 40 ADVICE TO K MOTH nil. sparinp iioitlior yoiinj^ nor old, ricli nor poor, nnd com- mits ^Toator ravages than ilio plagiio ovct y\\d. Small- pox is a disgraco : it is a disgracd to any civilised Ir.nil, as there is no noeeanity for its presence : if cow-pox woro properly and freipuMitly ])(M'fornuul, tsidc'H, itliuH cauHfMl, in iiiany cnnos, violent inflammation and even slouglnng of tho arm. Tlioro aro also Hovcral kinds of fijmn'omi cow-})()X to which tlio cow is subject, and which would ])o lik'iHf (itn/Iit tloit to t>e a reason fur tfc/rrn'mj t/w vaccinnr tion I It «ln)uM, fts two skill t ImUc, or, if il did, ini,u;ht not havo its ]trojMM' cUcct in prrvcntin^' .small-j»o\. " It is essential tliat thi^ vaeeim^ l)ud orj^^erm have a mcnniMit the skin 1x5 free from the hreaking-out, ho must he vaevinateil. A trilling skin aHection, like red gum, unless it he ai»vore, ouglit. not, at tlu^ jjroper agi^ to ])revtMit vaceination. If smallpox Ix^ rife in the neigli- bourhood, the child ?;//as7 ])e vaccinated, riigardlesa of (i/i// " breaking-out " on tlu^ skin. 53. Does raeeinoffon, mo/t'c - if it tliil, inull-i>i'K. 11, Avliicli, — Dm if I/. , like \v\ jHT a|4<' to tlu' ui'i<;h- jinlh'.ds of I for ihrco llio nioiilli )plo ill bis 0, is rjiiluT rht bowi'l- tli day, is or an inch , swollen, it the ciul )siiU's. It symi)tom3 has hail a ntly, he is my risk of accinafion, he a liliie INFANCY. — VACCINATION AND UK VACCINATION. 43 and IhuH woiiM roh ilu^ row-pox of iU rnicaj-y oti tlm HyHlrni, I do not Iik(^ to intrrfrro with vaccinal ion tn tun/ inn/ w/uiffvcr (('xc('i>t, at the jirojuT iiinc, to take u litih* matter from the arm), hut to allow th(!j»ock to liavti full power uj)on liis conHtitution. "What do you f^'ive the medicine for? If the matter that in put into the arm he lieaithy, wliat ni-ed is tlieni of j)]iyHic 1 And if tho matt(!r he not of ^'ood quality, 1 am (piite Huro that no jjliysic will make it ho 1 honk, lherefon>, at the rase in wlmtever uay you like, jihysij; aft(!r vaccination ia not nec(\ssary ; hut, »n the (Nuiliary, liurtful. Jf the vaccination produce slij^dit feverish attack, it will, without the administration of a jtariiclo of nwdicine, mihsidcj in two or three days. 55. J/duc you niiy directions to yive rcijivdiiif/ the arm Al'TKii vdrn'nofion? The only ])re(!autio]i necessary is to take can; that tho ann ho not ruhluul ; otherwise the vesicles may Ix; pro- iiiatundy hroken, and the ellicacy of tlu; vaccination may ho lessened. Th sleeve, in vaccination, ou<,'ht to ho ]ar«jjo and soft, and should not he ti(!d U]). 'J'lie ^'yhi;^' np of a slocve makes it hard, and is much morci likely to ruh tho Y(!sicloa than if it were put on the usual way. 50. If the arm, ai'TKU vaccination, bu much injlamcdf ii'hat oiKjht to lie doue ? . Smear frecpiently, hy means of a fciather or a camel's liair hrush, a little cream on tho inflanuid part. I'liis 8im])lo remedy will allbrd groat comfort and relief. 57. I/ave tho (jooifncsn to dcM'rihe the. proper ajtycar- ance, afttr the fidliiuj-off of the ftc<'.< «/«>>>////»»» ••f»?»m('««v / Tho jMMiotl rtt. which i( riMjunonoon '\n tnioovlMin. Tl inav.ciMii Y\\\y\ hw M,M(1 \\\',\\ u hi\hi» hp};inH to «miI his Iim^IJi rtt sovon inonthM o\\\. v>on»i» hiivo out tcrlh »t. throo uuM»ths ; in\l(MMl, thon< uix» in»lunr(»H ow n»( onl of iufnulrt l\;ui\»j: Immm^ ^«^n\ >vitl\ tooth. Kin/; l\irhm«i tho 'I'lnnl iv»» s;u»i (v> havo boon im oxaiuplo. J>lu»kH|,UK. Miurv. thoy sty tny ut<<'lo ^vw ,sn (hhI, Tl^iit ho oouht t>ni»\v « K'vwM ut two hunts oM 'T\\!>H {\\\\ two y»M\t« «Mo \ ronli! fti't n tnMlli, (ir;uwi;\n\, this uotiM hnvo hocn it biting JchI,'* \V]\«M\ ;\ \\\W is hovw \\'\\\\ tot^th, tl\ov mMnMMlly c\\\ 0\\ \\w othor hnnd, t»M»thii\i;. \\\ Momo rh I.Iron iIooh Uv^t OvMUinouoo \n\(il th»\v nn^ a yt>j\r nnd m Ii ill* or two yo.nN ol»i. an*!, in varo oasos, not nnlil thoy iwv \\\\vi\ voars ohh TIumv an^ oa.'^o.** jvooi\loil of adults \\\\\j havo l\ovor ont at\y tooth. \\\ instatioo of tho Kiinl oanio unvh^r n\v own *>l\sor\ation. IVntition )ias lvoi\ Kn«>wn tn-onr in oU] ago. A oaso is r»viM\lod l\v M. i'artw in t]\o (ui^rttr M/ifiriilt' (/<» /\}n> ^Sopt. l^. IS(>0\ t»f an <^K1 lady, agtvi oighty-iivo, who ont sovoral tooth aftor attaining that ago I .^iV ir//<>/ »>' the 7}un)Ni' of tlio rt'jsT avt of tMh^ a'.id in frh<}f on/nirv sot otM\sisti< of twonty. Tlio 1ir5>t iH^t if t'.vth jm^ usually out in paiiu " 1 may say that noarlv invariaMv tho oi\Um* is — Ist^ tl\o lowor froivt inoissors [outting tooth], tlion tho U]>por fi\>nt, thon ilm ♦/;\jvr two latoral inoissors, and tliat not uuooninionly a douMo tooth is cut Ivforo tho tAVo loirvr iat orals ; hut nt all ovont*5 tho lowor latorals oonio 7th and 8th, and,, not .^th and t>th, a.^ noarly all books on tho suhjeot t<>j»tify/** Thon tho lirst grin«lors, in tho lowor jaw, *ftciwar\is tliotirst upiHTgrindoi*s, thon tho lowor cornor- • Sir CLarles Locix-k in a Letttr to the Aathor ''i INKANOY. IHCNTITION. 40 (Mhl. U hirt \vi\\]\ i\t lliroo »f inlnnlrt ho 'I'hinl Uitlin'H it ,\\\\ v. Tho may say |\v»M' frovifc th(»n iho innonly a |ilvS ; but L^lh, iviul,, V subjtH't vv(>r jiiw, '»r coruor- |n»iniiM| or CMiiinH fc(»|.li, nflnr wliiili llm ii|»|(f'r ronirr or t»V«« liM'lli, IIh'M Mil' Mcroiid ^r| iiidt'iH ill (ho lower Jiiw, nfid liinlly, Mil' BiMMiiiil ftriinloiH of Mm ii|(|ior jnvv. 'I'liry do not, (d* r.otirHc, iilwiiyM MpiM'ur in tliirt rofalion. Nolliin!', \H inoro nnciMliiin llinii llio ordi'r of l.('(<|,|iiii|f. A ( Inld Riddoin nilM hJM MiMittid ^'.riiidiMH nnfil /iflrr Im ih two yriUH old. /A' in iisiiii//if,/ri)ni. (hr tinw ttit i/ JirnI nft/ifitr, fii'i) t/r 11'.'* in I'liffinif hin Jh'sf iti't of frr/h. A« li riiln, (liondoro. a rliiid of two yrm-M old Iiiim Mixt<<<('n, iiiid ono of IwoytMiiM uikI h liidf old, twenty tcotli, (»(). //" lUi iii/mit hn rif/irr /rrrriM/i or ii'i'tlnhlr, or of/o'i'irisr /toorh/, oml if f/if (jumM he. hof, Hivollni^ uml t<'Hi(('t\ on' t/oii ON ot/rticofc for fhrir hriin/ foHvrtf. f ('•Mliiinly ; by 'l<'iii)^ mo Im will, in tlio j.Muieralit,y of insliinrt'M, be mIimomI iiiMlnntly relieved. (»l. U\it it hoH Ix'r.fi Hliilvit Ihiit lanriiKj the, (/nniM fiorifi'iis Horn f TliiH in II iiiiMlMke it Ikih »i contrnry ellecl,. ft in t\ AV«'1I Idiown fuel., tliiit u pint wliicli Iuih been divided \\\\iK\ wiiy nnn'li iiiore reiidily tliiin onit wbieli Iihh n(»( been rut. Avjuin, the tooth in iMMind down by h ti^d't !Meinbrim(\ which, if not releiined by l;i.ne.in;.% freijiiently brinj^H on c.onviilsioiiH. If tiin Hyni|itoniH be iirj^'ent,, it may benereHMary from time l,o tinuj to repeat the lamin;^'. Jt would, of i;ourHe, be tin^ hei^dd. of folly to lane.e th» ^Mims unleHM thibed, and takes the breast with avidity ; iiuU'cd it seems a greater comfort to him than ever. Tliere is generally a considerable flow of saliva, {ind ho luis frequently a more loose state of bowels than is hia wont. ;Now, ^\'ith regard to tlie more severe form of jxunful dentition : — The gums are red, swollen, and hot, and ho caimot without exprcsshig pain bear to have tliem touelicd, hence, if he bo at the breast, ho is constantly loosing the nipple. There is dryness of the mouth, altliough before there had been a great flow of saliva, lie is feverish, restless, and starts in his sleep. His face is lluslied. His head is heavy and hot. He is sometimes convulsed.* He is frequently violently griped and purged, and suflers severely from flatulence. He is predisposed to many and severe diseases. Tlie treatment, of the jnild form, consists of friction of the gum with the flnger, with a little "soothing syrup," as recommended by Sir Charles Locock ;t a tepid-bath of about 92 degrees Fahrenheit, every night at bed time ; attention to diet and to bowels ; fresh air and exercise. For the mild fomi, the above i)lan will usually be all that is required. If he dribble, and the bowels be relaxed, so much the better : the flow of saliva flud the increased action of the bowels afford relief, and tlierefore must not be interfered witli. In the mild form, lancing of the gums is not desirable. The gums ought not to l^e lanced, unless the teeth be near at hand, and unless the giuns be red, hot, and swollen. * See answer to Question 63. t " Soothing sjMu p. "—Some of them prohahly contain opfates, but a perfectly safe and useful one is a little Nitrate ot I'otass in syiup of Roses — one scruple to half an ounce," — Cnmmunicalcd by Sir Oiarles Locock to the Authnr. This "soothuig sjTup " is not intended to \\c given as a mixture : hut to ])e used as an application to rub th« gums with. It may he well to state, that it '\i> a perfectly liarmlci>a remedy even if a liltle of it were swallutved by mi:itakc. 52 ADVICE TO A MOTH]tIL i In the severe form a medical man ghould bo consulted early, as more energetic remedies will bo demanded; that is to say, the gums will require to be freely lanced, warm baths to be used, and medicines to be given, to ward o^r mischief from the bead, from the chest, and from the stomach. If you are living in the town, and your baby suffers much from teething, take him into the country. It is wonderful wliat change of air to the country will often ilo, in relieving a child who is painfully cutting his teeth. The number of deaths in London, from teething, is frightful ; it is in the country comi)aratively trifling. 71. Should an infant he purged during teething^ or indeed, during any other time, do you approve of either absorbent or astringent medicines to restrain it ? Certainly not. I should look upon the relaxation as an effort of nature to relieve itself. A child is never purged without a cause ; that cause, in the generality of instances, is the presence of either some undigested food, or acidity, or depraved motions, that want a vent. The better plan is, in such a case, to give a dose of a])erient medicine, such as either castor oil, or magnesia and rhubarb ; and thus work it off. If we lock up the UOWELS. WE CONFINE THE ENEMY, AND THUS PRODUCE MISCHIEF.* If he be purged more than usual, attention should be paid to the diet — if it be absolutely necessarj'^ to give him artificial food while suckling — and care must be taken not to overload the stomach. 72. A child is subject to a slight cough during dentU Hon — called by nurses " tooth-cough " — which a pjarent viQuld not consider of stijjicient importance to consult a doctor about : firay tell me, is there any objection to a mother giving her child a small quantity either of syrup of white poppies, or of paregoric, to ease it f A cough is an effort of nature to bring up any secretion from the lining membrane of the lungs, or from the ♦ •♦ 1 «houM ^ut thlg In cftjntftls, it i# 19 importftftt W*! « QtUn wiiitakeu."-»C'. Locock, '•■*«• INFANCY. — KXEUCISE. 53 insulted landed ; lanced, iven, to Lest, and y suffers r. It is rill often lis teeth, ithing, ifl fling. thingt of of either ? ixation as . is never lerality of isted food, 3nt. a dose of magnesia 3K UP THE PRODUCB attention nccessarj'' care must ing dentp- a parent consult a idion to a of syrup ly secretion from tlie :^ broDchial tubes, hence it ought not to ho interfered with. f I have known the administration of syrup of white : poppies, or of paregoric, to stop the cough, and thereby :' to prevent the expulsion of the phlegm, and thus to i produce either inflammation of the lungs, or bronchitis. ^! Moreover, both paregoric and syrup of wliite poppies arc\ 1 for a young child, dangerous medicines (unless J administered by a judicious medical man), and ought i never to be given by a mother. J In the month of April 1844, I was sent for, in gieat haste, to an infant, aged seventeen months, who was labouring under convulsions and extreme drowsiness, from the injudicious admmistration of paregoric, which had been given to him to ease a cough. By the prompt administration of an emetic he was saved. 73. -A childy who is teething, is subject to a *' breaJdng- out/' more especially behind tJie. ears — which is most disfiguring, and frequently very annoying : what would you recommend 1 I would apply no external application to cure it, as I should look upon it as an eflbrt of the constitution to relieve itself ; and should expect, if the " breaking-out " were repelled, that either convulsions, or bronchitif,, or inflammation of the lungs, or water on the brain, wouLl be the consequence. The only plan I should adopt would be, to be more careful in his diet ; to give him less meat (if he be old enough to ea^. animal food), and to give him, once or twice a week, a few doses of mild aperient medicine ; and, if the irritation from the *' breaking-out " be great, to bathe it, occasionally, either with a little warm milk and water, or with rose water. EXERCISE. 74. ho yen recommend exercise in the open air for a hahy ? and if so, how soon after birth ? I am a great advocate for his having exercise in the open air. " The infant in arms makes known its desire for fresh air, by restlessness ; it cries, for it cannot speak its wants; is taken abroad and is quiet." w 54 ADVICE TO A MOTREn. Tho apjo at ^vlu(;ll lie oiij^'ht to coinmorirn ta1i eyes from the h'(jhl,and,i/ it be summer time^ to keep oftiielile.^l If the head of the crib bo covered, the babe cannot Itreatlie freely ; tho air within the crib bcM'onn^s con- tnminatvd, ai'ul tlius tlio luiiKs cannot properly perform ll'.eir functions. If his sleep is to be refreshing, ho must breathe pure air. I do not even aj>prove of a head to a crib. A child is frequently allowed to sleep on a bed with the curtains drawn comi)l(!tely close, as though it were dangerous for a breiith of air to blow ui)oii him !* This practice is most injurious. An infant must have the full benefit of tho air of tho room ; indeed, tho bed-room door ought to bo froqui^ntly left ajar, so that the air of the apartment may bo changed ; taking care, of course, not to expose him to a draught. If the fli(;a, while ho is asleep, annoy him, let a net veil be thrown over his fa^e, as he can readily breathe through net, but not through a handkerchief. 82. Have you any suyyestlons to offer as to the tcay a hohe should he dressed when he is pnt down to s/ee/> ? "Wnicncver ho bo put down to sleep, be more than usually particular that his dress bo loose in eVcry part ; bo careful that there be neither strings nor bands, to cramp him. Let him, then, during repose, be more thau ordmarily free and unrestrained — ** If, whilst in cradled rest your infant sleeps, Your watchful eyes unceasing vi^il keeps, Lest cramping bonds his ])liant limbs constrain, And cause defects that nuvnhood may retain." • I have somewhere read that if a cajje, containing a canary, be suspended at night within a bed where a person is sleeping, and the curtains he drawn closely around, that the bird will, m the morning, in all probability, be found dead I S8 APvicE TO A MOTnnn. I > ill' •m 83, Ts it a good nifjn/or a younrf rhihl to sleep imieh f A ]);il)o who sleeps a ^reut deal tliri es miieli inoro than one, wlio does not. 1 have known ii.:\ny children, who were horn* small and delieate, hut who slcjit tho j^'MNitest j>art of their linip, IxM^omo stron.;^ and healtliy. On tho other hand, I havo known those who were bo*",! larj^e and strong, yet who slept but little, become weak and imliealthy. The common praetico of a nurse allowing a baby to sleej) upon her lap is a bail one, and ought never to bo co\mtenan('ed. lie sleeps cooler, more comfortably, and soundly in his crib. The youn_L;eran infant is the mor* he generally slee])s, Bo tb.at during tlu! early Tiumllis he is seldom awake, and then ridy to take tlie l)reast. 8t. Jliiw /.<» it that much sirrj) causes a young child to thrive so writ 1 If there be ])aiti in any part of the body, or if any of the functions be wvA, properly performed, ho sleeps but • It nuty be intori^sting to a mother to know the average wt'iglit of new born iiifunts. Tluro is a paper on tho subject in till' Medical Cr'cnlar (Ajiril 10, 1861), and which has been rI nidged in BrtnthiraUf's Rcfrospect of Mi dicing (J"ly n"d JVt-enilier 18(51). Tho following are extracts : — "Dr E. von Sicbold pr.'scnts a table of the weights of 3000 infants (1686 male and 14H ffinalo), weighed inimeiliately after birth. From this table (ior which 've have not s^iace) it results that by far the LMV'itcr number of tlie children, 2215 weighed between 6 and 8 Jbs. From 5^ to 6 lbs. the number rose from 99 to 268 ; and from 8 to 8} lbs. they fell from 226 to 67, and never rose again at any weight to 100. From 8f to 9i lbs. they sank from 61 to 8, rislnt;, however, at 9J lbs. to 21. Only six weighed 10 lbs., one 10i{ lbs , au'l two 11 lb.-?. Tho author has never but oneo met witl. a child wpij»hing llf lbs. The most frequent weight in t'ic 3000 was 7 ll)s., nnndnring 426. It h a remarkable facv, that until the weight of 7 lbs. the female infants exceeded the males in number, the latter thenceforward predominating. From these statements, and those of various other authors here quoted, the conclusion may be drawn that tho nor- mal weight of a mature new-born infant is not less than six nor more than 8 lbs., the avernge weight being 6 J or 7 lbs., the smaller cumber referring to female and the higher to male infants." 1 : liiii INFANCY. — SLKKP. 69 ing child to or if any of > sleeps but the averape tho subject in ich has bom 15 (July ft"*l _««Dr K. von infants (1586 birth. From :hat by far the Aveen 6 and 8 to 268 ; aiul iver rose again nk from 61 to fighed 10 lbs., ever but onco ■equeut weight, a remarkalilo fants exceedtHl (redorainating. ' various oth»^r that tho nor- „ than six nor »s., the smaller infants." Hiilo. On llio rontrary, if IIkto ])o oxoni])!.!*)!! from ])!iin, fuul if Www. Im a Am pcrfoniiaiu'e <»f all tlie fiuic- tions, lie sleeps a <;reat tlciil; and thus tho body becomes refrt'shed and invigoratiMl. 85. Ax much sJirp Is of suck (tdmntaijo^ if an infant s/rrp hut little, vxmld you atlvlse composuKj medicine to he (jlvcn to him ? Certainly not. The practice of giving' coniposin<^ medicine, to a yonnj^' child cannot bo too stron^^dy repro- bated. If he does not sleep enough, tho mother otight to ascertain if the bowels l»e in a projter state, whcthtT they be sulliciently opened, that the motions be of a gooil colour — namely, a bright yellow, inclining to orangt coh)ur — and free from slime or from bad smell. An occasional dose of rhubarb and magnesia is freiiucntly ake. the best composing mediciiK! ho can ta 8G. We oftei Iwar of coroners imjnests 7ipon infants V'ho hare been fonnd dead In, bed — accldentidhj overlaid ; ickat Is usual! 1/ the cause? Suffocation, ])roduceil cither by ignorance, or by carelessness. From iijnnrance in mothers, in tlieir not knowing the common laws of life, and the vital im])ort- ancc of free ai»d nnn^stricted respiration, not only when babies arc up and about, but when they aro in bed and asleej). From carelessness, in their allowing young and thoughtless servants to havo the charge of infants at night ; more espc<'ially as young girls are usually heavy sleepers, and aie thus too much overpowered with sleep to attend to their necessary duties. A foolish moLher sometimes goes to sleep v/hilo nllowing her child to continue sucking. The unconscious babe, after a time, looses the nipjjle, and buries his head in the bed-clothes. She awakes in the morning, finding, to her horror, a corpse l>y her sid(», with his noso llattened, and a frothy fluid, tinged with blood, exuding from his lips ! A mother ought, therefore, never to go to sleep until her child have finished sucking. Thf followin, in tliiij as in all other things, that is so important to take. If a new-born l)abe have not for twelve hours made water, the medical man ought to be informed of it, in order that he may inquire into the matter, and apply the ]>roper remedies. Be particular in attending to these directions, or evil conseipiences wiU inevitably ensue.* 91. Some i^^fsons say, that new-horn female infants have milk in their hosomSj and that it is necessary to aqueeze tliemy and ajt/tlt/ plasters to disperse the milk. The idea of there ])eing rejd milk in a baby's breast is dout'tful, the squeezing of the bosom is barbarous, and INFANCY. — AILMENTS, DISEASE, ETG G3 the application of plasters is useless. " Without actually saying," says Sir Charles Locock, *' there is milk secreted in the breasts of infants, there is undoubtedly not rarely considerable swelling of the breasts both in/ejnale luuX male infants, and on squeezing them a serous lluid oozes out. I agree with you that the nurses should never bo allowed to squeeze them, but be ordeied to leave them alone."* 92. Have the goodness to mention the slight ailments which are not of sufficient importance to demand the assistance of a medical ma'^i ? I deem it well to make tlie distinction between serious and slight ailments ; I am addressing a mother. AVith regard to serious ailments, I do not think myself justified, except in certain urgent cases, in instructing a parent to deal with them. It might be weU to make a mother ac- quainted with the symptoms J but not with the treatment ^ in order that she might lose no time in calling in medi[;al aid. This I hope to have the pleasure of doing in future Conversations. Serious diseases, with a few exceptions^ and which I will indicate in subsequent Conversations, ought never to be treated by a parent, not even in the early stages, for it is in the easly stages that the most good can generally be done. It is utterly impossible for any one who is not trained to the medical profession to understand a serious disease in aU its bearings, and thereby to treat it satisfactorily. There are some exceptions to these remarks. It will be seen Ir future Conversations that Sir Charles Locock considers that a mother ought to be made acquainted with the treatment of some of the more serious diseases, where delay in obtaining immediate medical assistance mijjjit be death. I bow to his superior judgment, and liavo supplied the deficiency in subsequent (Conversations. The ailments and the diseases of infants, such as may, in the ab^ieuce of the doctor, be treated by a parent, aio Leti^ to the AuthcM*. Ill nii" 1 1 III ill ii; 64 ADVICE TO A MOTHEIl. 111 (1; iiil the following : — Chafings, Convulsions, Costivencsa, Flatulence, Gripings, Hiccup, Looseness of the Uowcls (Diarrhoja), Dysentery, Nettle-rash, Red-gum, Stutling of tlie Nose, Sickness, Thrush. In all these comj)laint8 I will toll you — Wliat to do^ and — What not t: do. 93. What are the causes and the tniatinent of Chafinrj f The want of water : inattention and want of cleanli- ness are the usual causes of chafing. What to do.— The chafed parts ought to be well and thoroughly sponged with tepid rain water — allowing the water from a well-tilled sponge to stream over them, — and, afterwards, they should be thorougldy, but tenderly, dried witli a soft towel, and then be dusted, either with fin(!ly-])Owdercd starch, made of whealcn flour, or with Violet Powder, or with finely-powdered Native Carbonate of Zinc, or they should be bathed with finely-powdered Fuller's-earth and tejiid water If, in a few days, the parts be not healed discontinue the above treatment, and use the following application : — Beat up well together the whites of two eggs, then add, drop by drop, two table-spoonfuls of brandy. AVhen well mixed, put it into a bottle and cork it up. IJeforo using it let the excoriated parts be gently bathed with luke-warm rain water, and, with a soft napkin, bo tenderly dried ; then, by means of a camel's iiair brush, apply the above liniment, having first shaken the bottle. But bear in mind, after all that can be said and done, that there is nothing in these cases like water — there is nothing like keeping the parts clean, and the only way of thoroughly effecting this object is by putting him tvery morning into his tub. What NOT to do. — Do not apply white lead, as it is a poison. Do not be afraid of using plenty of water, as cleanlin:>8s is one of the most important items of the treatment 94. What are the causes of Convulsions of an infant f Stuffing liim, in the early jnonths of his existence, tcith foody the mother having plenty of broaatanilk tho >vhi]§ ' the constant phy8ickii)g of a child \)^ )m owo INFANCY. — AILMENTS, DISEASE, ETa 65 livcnc8«, Stutling (mplivints ': do. Ghdfinfj? »f cleanli- well and nving tho L' thorn, — tenderly, ithcr with r, or with Carbonate -powdered isconthme •plication : rrjTs, then When lieforo ithed with apkin, ho air hriish, he bottle, and done, —there is only way ting him I, as it is a water, as Ims of the in infant f oxistence, tzjuilk tho y 'tiM mother ; teething ; hooping-cough, when attacking a very young baby. I never knew a case of convulsions occur — say for the first four months— (except in very young infants labour- in^' under liooping-cough), where cliildren lived on tho breastniilk alone, and where they were not frequently quacked by their mothers ! For the treatment of tlio convulsions from teething, see page 4G. W/ittt to do in a case of convulsions wliich has been caused by feeding an infant either with too much or with artijit'iiil food. Give him, every ten minutcss, a tea- spoonful of ipecacuanha wine, untd free vomiting be ex- cited, then put him into a warm bath (see Warm IJaths) ; and wh(Ui he comes out of it administer to him a tea- spoonful of castor oil, and rt^jieat it every four hours, until the bowels 1)0 well oiiened. What NOT to do. — Do not, for at least a month after the tit, give liim artificial food, but keep him entirely to the brea-st. Do not apply leeches to the head. What to do in a rase of convulsions from hooping cough. — There is nothing better than dashing cold water on the face, and immersing him in a warm bath of 98 degrees Falir. If he be cibout his teeth, and they be plaguing him, let the gums bo both freely and frequently lanced. Convulsions seldom occur in hooping-cough, uidess the child bo either very young or exceedingly delicate. Convulsions attending an attack of hooping- cough make it a sorions complication, and requires the assi(inous and skilful attention of a judicious medical man. What NOT to do in such a case. — Do not apply leeches ; the babe requires additional strength, and not to be robbed of it ; and do not attempt to treat the case your- self. 95. What are the best remedies for the Costiveness of an infant ? I strongly ol)ject to the fre(^uent administration of opening medicine, as the repetition of it increasee the mischief to a tenfold degree. i II C6 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. ji!!!il!!l!!; '[VJiat to do. — If a babe, after tlie first few montbs, ■were held out, and if, at regular intervals, he were i)iit upon his chair, costiveness would not so much prevail It is wonderful how soon the bowels, in the generality of cases, by this simple plan, may be brought into a regular state. Besides, it inducts an infant into clean habits. I know many careful mothers who have accustomed their cliildren, after the first three months, to do without diapers altogether. It causes at first a little trouble, but that trouble is amply repaid by the good consequeiK.es that ensue ; among which must be named the disi)ensing with such encumbrances as diapers. Diapers freciuently chafe, irritate, and gall the tender skin of a baby. But they cannot of course, at ; i early age be dispensed with, unless a mother have great judgment, sense, tact, and perseverance, to bring her little charge into the habit of having his bowels relieved and his bladder emptied every time he is either held out or put upon his chair. Before giving an infant a particle of aperient medicine, try, if the bowels are costive, the eftect of a L'ttlc raw sugar and water, eitlier half a tea-spoonful of raw siij^'ar dissolved in a tea-spoonful or two of water, or give him, out of your fingers, half a tea-spoonful of raw sugar to eat. I mean by raw sugar, not the white, but the pure and unadulterated sugar, and which you can only procure from a respectable gi'ocer. If you are wise, you will defer as long as you can giving an aperient. If you onco begin, and continue it for a while, opening medicine be- comes a dire necessity, and then woo betide the poor un- fortunate child. Or, give a third of a tea-spoonful of honey, early in the morning, occasionally. Or, administer a warm water enema — a tablcspoonful, or more, by means of a 2 oz. India Ruiber Enema Bottle. ]VJtcit NOT to do. — There are two preparations of mercury I wish to warn you against administering of your own accord, viz. — (1) Calomel, and a milder preparation called (2) Grey-powder (mercury with chalk). It is a common practice in this country to give calomel, on aiicjuut of the readiness with which it can be administered INPANCt. — AILMENTS, DlSflASE, ETa 67 nister ns of f your ration t is a si, on stored it being small in quantity, and nearly tasteless. Orey powder also, is, with many mothers, a favourite in tlio nursery. It is a medicine of immense power — either for good or for evil ; in certain cases it is very valuable ; but in others, and in the great majority, it is very detrimental. Tliis practice, then, of a mother giving mercury, whether in the form either of calomel or of grey-powder, cannot be too strongly reprobated, as the freiiuiintadniinistralion either of the one or of the other weakens the body, pre- disposes it to cold, and frequently excites king's-evil — a disejiso too common in this country. Calomel and grey- powder, then, ought never to bo administered unless ordered by a medical man* Syrup of buckthorn and jalap are also frequently givin, but they are griping medicines for a baby, and ought to be banished from the nursery. The frequent repetition of opening medicines, then, in any shape or form, very much interferes with dig(!Stion ; tliey must, therefore, be given as seldom as possilile. Let me, at the risk of wearying you, again urge the importance of your avoiding, as much as possible, giving a babe purgative medicines. They iiiitate beyond measure the tendr r bowels of an infant, and only make him more costive afterwards ; they interfere with his digestion, and are liable to give him cold. A mother wlio is always, of her own accord, quacking her child with opening physic, is laying up for her unfortunate ofispring a debilitated constitution — a miserable existence. For further information on this inqiortant subject see the 3d edition of Counsel to a Mother {being the covi- panwn volume of Advice to a Mother)^ on the great im- portance of desisting from irritating, from injuring, and from making still more costive, the obstinate bowels of a costive child, — by the administration of opening medicine, — however gentle and well-selected the aperients might bo. Oh, that the above advice could be hcsard, and be acted upon, through the length and the breadth of the land ; how much misery and mischief would then bo averted ) y^'W "il : , w, ! I 6B ADvicfi TO A MOTnna 96. Are them any means of prevanting the Coalivcncas of an infant 1 If greater care were paid to tho rules of health, such as attention to diet, exercise in the open air, thorough ablution of the wlioh body — more especially when he is being washed — causing the Water, from a large and well- filled sponge, to stream over the lower part of his bowels ; tho regular habit of causing him, at stated periods, to be held out, whether he want or not, that he may solicit a stool. If all these rules were observed, costiveness would not so frecpi 'ntly prevail, and one of the miseries of the nursery would be done away with. Some mothers are frequently dosing their poor unfor- tunate babes either with magnesia to cool them, or with castor oil to heal their bowels ! Oh, the folly of such pi'actices ! The frequent repel ition of magnesia, instead of cooling an infant, makes him feverish and irritable. The constant ad'uinistration of castor oil, instead of heal- ing the bowels, v'ounds thorn beyond measure. Xo ! it would be a blessed thing if a babe coidd be })rought up without giving him a particle of opening medicine ; his bowels would then act naturally and well : but then, as I have just now remarked, a mother, must be particular in attending to Nature's medicines — to fresh air, to exer- cise, to diet, to thorough ablution, ttc. Until that time comes, poor unfortunate ba])ies must be, occasionally, dosed with an aperient. 97. 'What arc the causes of, and remedies for. Flatu- lence ? Flatulence lyost frequently occurs in those infants who live on artificial food, especially if lliey be over-fed. I therefore bc!:^ to refer you to the precautions I have given, when speaking of the importance of keeping a child for the first five or six months entirely to the breast ; and, if that be not practicable, of the times of feeding, and of the best kinds of artificial food, and of those which are least likely to cause " wind." Wliat to do. — Notwithstanding these precautions, if the babe should still suffer, " One of the best and safest INFANCy. — AlLSIKNTH, nI^'KAf»P!, ETC. 60 remedies fi)r flatuloiicc ia Sal-volatile, — a tea Bpoonful of a solutiou of one drachm f'» an ounce an»l a half of uater."* Or, a little dill or aniseed may bo ad«U'd to tlie food — half a tea-spoonful of dill water. Or, tako twi'lve (lr()])s of oil of ilill, and two lumps of su<;ar ; rub tliem wrll in a mortar t()<;ethcr ; then add, drop hy drop, three tahle-spoonfuls vi sprin;^' water; let it bo prevserved in a 1 Itle for use. A tea-spnonfid of this, first shaking the vial, may ho added to ca.;li quantity of food. Or, tlireo tea-spoonfuls of bruised caraway-seeds may bo boiled for ten minutes in a tea-cupful v( water, and then strained. Ono or two tea-spoonfuls of the caraway-tea may be added to each quantity of his food, or a doso of rluibarb and magnesia may occasioniUly bo given Opodeldoc, or warm olivo oil, well rubbed, for a quarter of an hour at a time, by means of the warm hand, over the bowels, will frequently give relief. Turning tho child over on his bowels, so that they may j)ress on the nurses' lap, will often aflbrd great comfort. A warm bath (where ho is suHering severely) gt-nerally gives immediate ease in flatulence ; it acts a^ a fomenta- tion to the bowels. ]>ut after all, a dose of mild aperient medicine, when the babe is suilering severely, is often the best remedy for " wind." Ivemember, at all times, prevention, whenever it be — and how frequently it is — possible, is bettor than cure. ]yhat NOT fo do.—'' Godfrey's Cordial," " Infants' Preservative," and " Dalby's Carminative," are sometimes given in flatulenc^o ; but as most of these quack medicines contain, in ono form or another, either opium or l)oppy, and an opium and poppy are both dangerous remedies for * Sir Charles Locock, in a Letter to the Author. Since Sir Chalks did nie the honour of sending me, for publication, the above prescription for flatulence, a new "P)ritish rharmacopceia " lias been ])ubli.shed, in which tlie sal-vohitilu is nuu'h increased in strength : it is therefore necessary to lessen the sal-volatile in tho above prescriplion one-halt — that is to say, a tea-spoonful of tilt; soiutiuu of hai'f u druchiu to uu ouuce ui^d a haU oi water. !!> Ill 'I i' 1'', ! h 70 ▲DVICR TO A MOTIIKR. child ron, all quack medicines must bo buiiiulied the nursery. Synip of poppico is another remedy wliieh is often given hy a nurse to afford relief for flatulence ; but let me urge upon you the importance for banishing it from the nursery. It Ims (when given by unprofessional jHTsons) caused the untimely end of thousands of children. Tlu! medical journals and the newspapers t(!em with cases of deaths from mothers incautiously giving syru]) of 2)opj)ies to csiso j)ain and to procure sleep. 98. IVhdt ara the sympUtmSf tha causes^ and the treat' ment of ** GrqmKjs " of an infant 1 The symptoms. — The child draws uj) liis legs ; screams violently ; if put to the nij)ple to comfort him, he turns away from it and cries bitterly ; ho strains, as though he were having a stool ; if he have a motion, it will bo slimy, curdled, and perhaps gi'cen. If, in addition to the above symptoms, he pass a large quantity of watery fluid from his bowels, the case becomes one of wafcri/ (jripesy and requires the immediate attention of a doctor. The causes of "gripiugs" or "giipes" may proci'CHl citlier from the infant or from the mother. If from tho child, it is generally owing either to improper food or to over-feeding ; if from the mother, it may be traced to her having taken either greens, or pork, or tart beer, or sour porter, or pickles, or drastic purgatives. What to do. — The treatment, of course, must depend upon the cause. If it arise from over-feeding, I would, advise a dose of castor oil to be given, and wann fomen- tations to be applied to tho bowels, and the mother, or tho nurse, to be more careful for the future. If it pro- ceed from improper food, a dose or two of magnesia and rhubarb in a little dill water, made palatable with simple eyrup.* If it arise from a mother's imprudence in eating * Take of —Powdered Turkey Rhubarb, half a scruple ; Carbonate of Ma<;nesia, one scruple ; Simple Syrup, three drachms ; Dill Wi ter, eight drachms ; Hake u Mixture, Oae or two tcu-sjiouufuls (according to ^ INFANCY. — AILMENTS, DISEASK, ETC. 71 trash, or from lu'r tiikin;:^ violent niodiciiu , a wfirin hath : ft warni ]»;ith, iiKh'nd, let the cause of "griping" he what it may, usually aft'orils instant relief. Another excellent remedy i-i the following : — Soak Q piece of new llanncl, fohled into two or three thicknesses, in warm water ; wrinj^' it tolerahly dry, and a])ply as liot as the child can comfortal>ly hear it to the howcLs, tlien wrap him in a warm, dry hlanket, and keep him, for at Iciust lialf an hour, enveloped in it. Under the ahovo tre.itmj'ut, he will generally soon fall into a sweet slee]), and awake rpiite refreslied. W/idi NOT to do. — Do not give opiates, astringents, chalk, or any quack medicine whatever. If a cliihl suller from a motlier's folly in Ikt eating improper food, it will l)e cruel in the extreme for liim u sccoinl time to 1k5 tormented from the same cause. DO. Wlidt occdi^ions Hiccup, and wluit is its treatmetd i llic(mp is of such a trilling nature as hardly to recpiiru interference. It may generally he traced to over-feeding. ►Should it he severe, four or live grains of calcined maL^'iiesia, with a little syrup and aniseetl water, and allcution to feeding, are all that will he necessary. 100. Will you describe t/ie symptoms of Infantile DinrvJuva 1 Infantile diarrhaia, or clwlera infantum^ is one of the most frecpient and serious of infantile diseases, and carries oil", during the year, more children than any other com- ]»laint whatevor : a knowledge of the symptoms, therefore, is quite necessary for a mother to know, in order tliat she may, at the proper time, call in efficient medical ai»l. ItAvill l)c well, before describing the symptoms, to tell you how many motions a young infant ought to have a day, their colour, consistence, and smelL "Well, then, he should have from tlu'ee to six motions in the twenty- four hours ; the colour ought to be a bright yellow, in- clining to orange ; the consistence shouhl be that of thick I I < 1 I ■ ( i aire of the child) to b.^ taken every four houra, until relief 1^9 cbluiucd— tirst bUukiug tlio bottle. El % 73 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. i i .11 i i: grw^ ; indeed, his motion, if healthy, oii^^fht to he some- what of the colour (hut a little more oraii^^e-tinted) and of the consistence of ^nuslard made for tlH5 Uihle ; it siiould he nearly, if liuL quite, devoid of smell ; it ouj^ht to have a faint and peculiar, l)ut not a strong' disagreeahlo oilour. If it have a strong and disagreeahle smell, the child is not well, and the case should he investigated, more especially if there he either curds or hnups in the motions ; these latter symptoms denote that the food has not heen properly digested. Now, suppose a chile should have a slight howel com- plaint — that is to say, that he has six or eight motions during the twenty -four hours, — and that the stools aro of a thinner consistence than what I have dcscrihed, — provided, at the same time, that he he not griped, that ho have no pain, and have not lost his desire for the breast : — What ouglit to he done "? Nothing. A slight looseness of the bowels should never be interfered with, — it is often an ert'orb of nature to relieve itself of some vitiated motion that wanted a vent — or to act as a diver- sion, by relieving the irritation of the gums. Even if he be not cutting his teeth, he may be " breeding " them — thrit is to say, the teeth may be forming in his gums, and may cause almost as much irritation as though lie were actually cutting them. Hence, you see the immense good a slight " looseness of the bowels " may cause. I think that I have now proved to you tlie danger of inter- fering in such a case, and that I have shown you the folly and the mischief of at once giving astringents — such as Godfrey's Cordial, Dalby's Carminative, ike. — to relievo a slight lelaxalion. A nioderato " looseness of the bowels," then, is often a safety-valve, and you may, with as much propriety, cliso the safety-valve of a steam engine as stop a moderate " looseness of the bowels ! " Now, if the infant, instead of having from three to six motions, should have more than double the latter number ; if they be more watery ; if they become slimy ftiid grecp, or green iij part and cuidled ; if the^ sihuulijl 1 INFANlJY. — AILMKNTS, DlSKASK, KTO. 73 have an uiiplwusant snioll ; if he he sirk, croSvS, restless, fidgety, and j)()(»rly ; if every time he luive a nuUion lio ])e grij)ed and in pain, we should tlien say that lie is liihouring under Diarrh(ra ; then, it will he necessary to er care, relief can generally be quickly obtained. If tho evacuations — instead of being stool — are merely blood uiid slime, and the child strain frecpiently and violently, cndeavourijig thus, but in vain, to relieve himself, cryiug at each cllbrt, tho case assumes the character of Dysentery.* if there be a mixture of blood, slime, and stool from the bowels, the cjuse would be called Dysenterie-diarrluea. The latter case requires great skill and judgnu'iit on the ])art of a medical men, and great attention and implicit obedience from the mother and the nurse. I merely mention these diseases in order to warn you of their iu)- j)()rtance, and of the necessity of strictly attending to a doctors ordei-s. 101. What are the causes of Diarrha'a — "Looseness of the bowels ? " Improper food ; overfeeding ; teething ; cold ; tho mother's milk from various causes disagreeing, namely, from her being out of health, from her eating unsuitable food, from her taking improper and drastic purgatives, or from her suckling her child when she is ])regnant. Of couree, if any of tluise causes are in oj)eration, they ought, if possible, to be remedied, or medicine to tho babe will be of little avail 102. What is the treatment of Diarrlnra ? What to do. — If the ciuse be slii//if, and has lasted two or three days (do not inti.'rfere by giving meilicine at first), and if the cause, as it probably is, be some aci«lity or vitiated stool that wants a vent, aiul thus endeavours • See Syniptoius and Treatment of Dysentery, 74 ADVICK TO A MoTMIIR. to obtain ono hy pnr^in,i», \]w best Inaliiu'iii is, to assist ii!iliir«> l>y ^ivin^ citluT a dosnof castor oil, or a iiiodprato otic of rhul)arb aiul iiiai^iicsia,* ami tliuR to work oil' Iho cMcniy. Afti^r tlicciu'iny has ])i5('ii worked od', cither by llic t.'.islor oil, or by tlu^ ma|;ii(?Hia aiid rliubarl), thn |»iir;;inLj will, in all pro])al)ility, cciuso ; but if the relaxa- tion still continue, that is to say, for thnio or four days — then, if nu'dical advice, cannot bo procured, the folluw- ini,' hiixture should be given : — • Take of — An)niatic I'owdcr of Clialk and (^piuiii, ton gniiiis ; (fil of Dill, five ilrops ; Siniitlo Synip, tlirco ilracliins ; Water, nin»; (Irailuns ; Make a Mixture, f Haifa tea-. spoonful to ho j^ivoii to nn infant nf six months and uiulcr, and one tea-spoonful to a child altovu Jiat. a^c, nviiy four lu)urs— tirst sluiking tin; bottle. If lite bab(» be at the breast, lie, oUL,dit, fi>r a few «lays, to be kept fnfirclt/ to it. The mother should be most particular in her own diet. Wliaf Ni)T fo do. — The mother must tuMther take* ^n-cens, nor cabba, as wtdl as from fermented liipiors. 'i'he child, if at the breast, ou^^dit //r^/, while thc^ diarrlid'a continues, to have any artificial food. He must neit,her be dostnl with grey-jH)wder (a favourite, but highly im- l>roi>er remeily, in these cjis(>s), nor with any «, nnfortunately, it fre- quently attjicks a delicate cliild, recpiires skilful handling ; lience the care and experience rec^uired in treating a Ciuso of dysentery. * For a rhub:irb and magnesia mixture prescription, see page 71 {'>ote), t U^\ the aiixture be made by a chemiat, INI'ANCY. -AILMKNTH, DIHKAHK, KT(J, 76 Wrll, ilinn, wlijit iini tho Hyin])t.(»inH ? 'I'Im' infant, in all ]iro)ialiility, li.us liaii an atiiick of ilianlKi-a- luiwti (•oin|»laint jw it is callcd^ — for wivrral davH ; \w liavin^ liad a down or two of niotiuiiH, many of thi-ni Hlitiiy and frntliy, like *' fn>;.^M|ia\vn," diiiiti}^' tlin twenty four lionrs. Suddenly tlie eliaraeter of the motion changes,- fmin Ix'in;^' |)rin('ij»aliy Htool, it iM-comcH almost entiiely IdooJ and mucuH ; ]u\ \h dreadfully ^rijiecJ, wliicli e;iuses liim to strain violently, as tliou;^'li liis insidir would ccMne away evory timo he has a in»»tion, — screamin;^' and twist inj^ ahout, evidently Iteiiij^' in the |u,M'eateHt jiain, drawin;^' his le;^'s u}» to his l)elly and writhing,' in a^ony. Si* knesa and vomitinj^ are always j)resent, which still moK; rol)8 liim of ]jis little remaining' streii'.^th, and jirevents tho repair of Ins system, ^ow, iook at liis face I It is tho very j)irtur(! of distress. »Sn{)';os(i lie luis heen a pliinip, liealthy little fellow, you will aw, h'u. face, in a few days, Itecomo (»ld lookin;^', care-worn, ha^';^'ard, and pinched. ])ay and iiij.(ht tho enemy tracks him (unless proper remedies })<; administered) ; no slccj), or if he sleep, ho is, every few minutes, ntuse*?. Jt is heart-rending' to liav(^ to attend a bad cius(j of dysentery in a child,- tho writhin^% tho screaming', the fr(! rclaiiuMl on tho sloinacli. If n lal)li' s|)t)onf\iI of tlu> milk inaki^ liiin sick, ^'wo liiin a «li'ss(>rl sj)(>onfwl ; if a (U'ssort spoonful causi^ sickness, l(>t him «»nly have a lca-s])oonfnl at a time, ami let it l)c \v- |H'alt^l every «juarter of an hour. Ihit, rementhcr, in such a case the Itreastmilk- the ])reast milk alone — is incom- j>arahly superior to any otlior milk or to any other food whatever. If ho ho a year old, an«l weaned, then fec^l him, na ahovo recommended, on the cow's milk. If there ho extreme exhaustion and ilehility, let tifteen drops of brandy h(» added to each tahl(>-spoonful of new milk, and let it he jjjiven every half hour. Imiw with regard to medicine. I approach this jiart of the treatment witli some degree of reluctance, -for dysentery is a ease re(]uiring o])ium- and opium 1 never like a mother of her ov/n accord to administer. liutsup- jiose a nuulical minx cannot he procun^l in iim(^, tlui mother must then ])rescril)e, or tho child will die ! ]\'/ii(f {hen is to he done f Sir Charles Locot'k considers " that, in sm'ero dysentery, especially where there is sick- iu>ss, there is no remedy eipiai to pure Calomel, in a full dose without opium."* Tlien^t'oro, at the very ontiet of the disease, let from tiiree to live grains (according to the age of the patient) of Calomel, mixed with an equal quantity of powdered white sugar, be j)ut dry on the tongue. In three hours after let the following mixture bo administered : — Take of — Compound Fowdci' of Ipooaouanha, five grains ; Ipecacuanha AVino, one drachm; Simple Synn>, th'ee drachms ; Cinnamon AV ater, nine drachms ; To make a Mixture. A toa-spoonful to bo given every firee or four hours, first well shaking tlie bottle. Supposing he cannot retain the mixture — the stomach rejecting it as soon as swallowed — what then '\ Civt the * Communicated by Sir Chuilcs Locock to tl.o Author, IN'FAXf'Y. — AITMrXTM, DIHKAHE. KTH. 77 0|)lnTn, niix<'nt one of tlio j)o\vcl('rs (I I'll on tln' toii^MH', (ivcry three, Iioui'h : — Take of— I'Mwdrrcd Onjjnn, Imlf n f^'raiii ; Mcrcitry with cliiilk, iiiiif ^'niin« ; Sii^^'nr of Milk, twciity-fMiir ^iiiiiiM ; Mix Well in u tin/ttiir, uiid divide intf» twclvi* jiowdrrn. Now, s)ij)j»ose i,li(^ dysentery Iwih for several days per- FJsted, and that,, durinir that, time, nothin;^ hut, iniieiiH and hh)od - that no real stool has come from the howel.s, then 11 condtinatiou of castor oil and opiinn* oii^ht,, instead of thu niedieino reeomineiided uhuve, tu bo given : — • Tiike of Mnoiln^'e of (Jam Af.u'iii, three dnuhtns; Siiiiple Synip, tlinr dnieliins ; TiiHture of ( >|iiinii, t» ii dnipM {not iiiiiiiriiH) ; ( 'asfor ( )il, two diJH'lii is ; CiiiiiaiiiDU Wilier, tour Inu'liinH : Make a Mixture. A tea spooid'ul to ie taken every four hours, fnst veil shaking the bottle. A warm hatli, at th(^ commenceTnent of t]»e disease, ig V(!ry (illieacioiis ; ])ut it must ho ^'iv(3n at the Citwinnict'^ wrnt. Jf lie lias liad dysentery for a (hiy or two, Ik* will ])e too weak to havo a warm hath ; tlien, instead of th(i l)ath, try tho following; i-W^rap liimin a hianket, which }ias heen previously wrun,^' out of hot water; over which envelojx' him in a dru hiankct. Kuoj) him in this hot, dam[) Itlanket for luilf an hour; thi^n take, him out, put on his ni}^dit-<,'ownund ])Ia(;f5 hiniin bod, which has been, if it 1)0 winter tinu;, ju'oviously warm(!d. Tin; uhovo " blaidvot troatmont " will frcf[uently ^'iv'o ^Toat ndief, and will soiiiotinicH causo him to fall into a swoet Hl(M;p. A llanind \)\v^, lill'jd with hot powdered tahlo salt, mado hot in the oven, ai)plied to the bowels, will afford much comfort. . / )■ * My friend, the late Dr Ikly, who had made dysentery liia parti<'\!hir study, considered the cunibinatiou of opium aod castor oil very valuable iu tlyseute»-y. T 78 ADVIcK TO A MoTllKtt 117/'/^ NOT A» (/(». 1>(» not. f;ivo aju'riiMilM, iin IrsM it 1)0. ns hcforo inlvi^nl, llioriu^lur oii :u!inl«Ml willi lln> opiiiin ; do not Hiiitr liini wit)) artiticiul . >ond for a jinliM|M«('ially in a child. ll)."). 117/'*/ (irr fhr .it/nii>f(nn.t, the rntisYfi, and tlio tl'rufnh'nf of St'ttJc-ritsh f Xi'tlle rasli oonsistM of ncvcnd in'(\i,'Mlar, raisctl wlii-als, nvl at \\\o l);is(\ and wlnlc «mi tlic Huniniil, on dillrrcnt jiarts of tlio liody *. /"// it sr/doin (itlnrhs the fttrr. It iM not contaj^ious, an«l it may occur at all a.L,'cH an«l many times. It comes and '^^'^i^^, rcmainim,' only a short limo in a place. It puts on very much th(> appcaraiuu* of tho <'hild havinLj hi*cnstun«^ ]»y n<>lllcs — hcnc*' it.s name, it ]>roduct>s griNit heal, itching, and irritation, sometimes to such a deijree as to makt* him feverish, sick, and fretful. Jl e is j^enerally vorsi* w hen I j(> IS warm m bed, or when the surface of his body is suildenly exposed to tl»e air. Kuhhin^ the skin, t- o, alwaV'^^a^^j^ravates the itcliitjg and the tiii^ding, and brinj^'s out a fresh croj). The ('(lusr of ni»ttl(»-r;i.sh may commoidy be tracett to impropt'r feeding alth m umgh, occasionally, ]l j>rocee(ls Iroi teething. 117//// /() do. —It is a comjtlaint of no danger, and readily gives way to a mild ajierii'nt, and to attention to tliet. There is nothimjr better to relieve the irritation of the skin than a warm bath. If it be a severe attai'k of nettle- raslj, bv all means call in a medical man. What NOT /() do. — Do not aj>ply cold ap]dications to his skin, and o not wjush him (wliile the rash is (ml) in quite cold wtoer. Do not allow him to bo in a draught., but let him be in a well-ventilab'd room. If he be old enough tooit meat, keep it from him for a few days, ami lot him live on milk ami farinaceous diet. Avoid strong pnrgatives, and cahnnel, and grey-jv,>wder. 1(>G. What arc the si/mptoms and tlie ircainunt of Rt'd-iium / Ked-guiii, tooth-rtush, red-goMn, i.s usually owing to tNt'ANOY. — Air,MrNT!^, t)ISKASR, nTf?. 79 irrllafion fntin iiM'Uiin^' ; iidI, iilwuyH from Mir (•ntliii;.^ ]nit fi(»in the cvoliitiofi- (Im '* ItHMMlin^'," of llic Icrjii, It !« , or ]>iin|ilrH, about Ui(^ HJ/ct of ])iiiH' liDitlM, ami may hr known fnim niciuMlcH- lli« only (IiH«'ii.sr for wliirh it in at all likely to 1m' niinlakm- l>y itH licin;^ nnattnuliMl by HymjtloniH (»f cold, Hiu'li ax MiH'c/in^', running, and rodncHH of tlir *'y*'^t Ac, and liy tlic jkiIcIu-h fiof ansuniing a ncHcrntii-- luilf- moon hIimjki ; red gum, in wliort, may rradily Ix- known Ity tlio rliild's licaltli Ix-ing unaUcctccI, uiiIchh, indiMul, lln»rn 1)0 ft grcrtt cro]) of jiinijtlcH; tlicn then* "will Ixj eliglit f('ViMislin«'HH. \['/in/ fn ifn. Little n«'('d Lcdono. Tf tlicrf! Ik! a good deal of irritation, a mild aperient sliould l»e given. Tim <'liild ouj^'Iit to be kejit modenitcly, but not very warm. 11//^// NOT f(i (lit. I)raiiglitM of air, or e(tld hIiouM bn nirefully avoided ; as, by sending the eruption Muddenly ill, (iilier eonvulsions or disordered bowels might be pro- duccMl. I )o not < lose him witli grey-powder. 107. Ih.in inmhl you prevent *^ tSft'jJit/fj «>/ f/ie vom " in a ve;r-h()rn Ixihe t IJubbinga little tallow on thnl)ridgoof tlin nose is thn ()M-fashi(»ned remedy, and answers tla; j)urpose. It ought to l)e appliecl every <^vening just Ix'fore putting liim to bed. Jf the "stuiling " be; severe, dip a sponge in hot water, as liot as lie can eomfortably bear ; ascertain that it be not too hot, by j>reviously apjilying it to your own face, and then j)ut it for a f«',w minutes to tla; bridge of his nose. As soon as th(^ hard mucus is within reach, it should })e carefully removed. 1 OS. l)i} you coNsltfei' sir/n/ess ivjiirloiix 1o an ivfurtt ? !Many thriving ba))ies are, after t.'iking the breast, frn- quently sick; still we (tannot look upon sickness otber- wise than as an index of either a disordered or of an overloaded stomach. If tlie cliild be sick, and yet bo thriving, it is a proof that he overloads hir. stomach. A inuther, then, must not allow bim to suck so luucU at a In * : J ■3 1 ,\P\<. K VO A MiMMKH, Il\«' «^ninl)t\ of nnlK ll In- Im Mi/ lliitM', 11\o in.^ilMM Mh<>«iM noh«'i» \{ \]\o unlK l\t> Htiowi np li 1 1 n «o\\v 'MUi'U , H" n h:n>\ •<)\i> Mni-H lir^f of oil li»i>|< !•» hii \N]\0t]^»M" «»)liO<;»\(» !l ill»»,'Vm>»i»!«Mi> f:|il(> \\\ lid nmiilh. ov n mI IM h,i\ 1 1) >l,MnoK .•).! \ iro. ;n\i1 :» WWi \\w:}\ ill niiMi \Mll noon \\\\\ Itt'i I ll ««toi\\,i«]^ nilo ;;oo«| onltM' , .\\\A, l»\ ho donv!. \i| l»i':(llli, p)w lunsf \]w\\ looK to ti»i» Ivil^o Imntolf, MnM ioii!« Cvoni tlio 1>t>\vol« ho pvonov l>oth nitpifinlily fli\«\ 111 «^\i\hon\t; rth«ohitolv uoooss;n\ to^jno ^\\\U food \\hoth«'r it. AuiNN^ \Mlh hnn. M'hif t,' .•^n» \ swollon. lot tl)on\ ho l.niootl ; in tho mim oin I. if Iho s«vn^1u>n f\H>n\ tlio howols ho oithor nnhonllliv or l»«v^ii^>, guo hini .■% «h>so of :»|>ovi«M\t niotliomo. hiioIi mb «v»!5lor o 01 tlnoo oiMitm o iir- t" p^^^\.hM^^l TuiIm ) ihulvuh, thrt'o j;r;\inM of yww Kmi.'^Io of nvVi^ni^si?*, autl ono mrnn of ;tron\;\lio po\v«lor— Mix. rho poM«hM' I0 Iv tnlvi^n i\\ ho.l tnno, n»i\oi| in ft tH\-»-s]wnf»il *"»f s'.i.:>v .m.l w.itor, nnd \\hi»l\ sho\iM. if ^vvoss.-^w. Iv vopo.Aloil tho followini; nvuht. In tho IIiikI pV-^04\ \i tho ftvvl ho Iv toknu:: 'l*^''"* '**^^ .l;^^'o \v\th hnn, oh J »)uonlly ; <»r \rh?it xnll Iv Ivltor still, if it bo possihlo. ki'i'p him, for % y^]■\\\^\ oiitin^ly to tho hnMsts Wltat SOT tOiJ'X- -l\> not lot him ovtM'lond his sfoninoli eitht'T wilh bn\id» milk, or frith urtificiaJ Jikhi, Let the INrAM»'T. AMMIIMf't lU'^\'^»t^,, Kttt, 91 '!• U. * I A III .1. if liuul |hiu\, 111 U) for ju.u'h I the ttn»<'"'f nvMJtl, (ifilil liin MJiloM^nM Im< H'I(i«v»"|, ^^tM*1tfl, nil'l>fi|»p, )iMil nil ftlliff |Mi»»>n v»'^V''"'''''*- |M!I Whitf iiif ihi' I'lHifU'H, tfn> ni/nififiiniH, tlir finKnn- f>ft», itn-f fhi' rniv nf fhunh f Till' IIiiumIi in ft fn'tjiM-nl, »liMi'tiM«» «if nri jfif>ifif, »ifi«l l«i iifli'ii l)tiiii|r|il, >wi cjltict liy >i|iilf)(i|f or liy |Mvi(t|( Mrn Irri ji|n|(t«| ffwiij A «liil'l lt»ni||»||f lljl r/>//;/7//, fm llic l(»Mt iJnt'P lit fitiM MiMiillt'i, 'III |||i< |it»'(in(, Hcl'lnrn nii||»rM finui litis ('inil|i|)iilil IIm' IIimimIm ••iimjhIii of ««y«f»i) ftit'intliii, MtiMHli'ilj, nliilt' '>|ii«i |, III" ni'11'1", MU"I llin l»H|:l">M tif llu» IMnlllJi, jriviH|{ Mm' pflflM aft*' l« 'I llin n)ijH'tii(ui'«> nf ) tinU nml \tlMy lifivmi; Ixxri nrri'-nr'"! UlHiil llli'lll. TIlM »<«M«iiMl IM IimI, iiihI |iiiiiiriil, r»ii initiiM'hi l)i<« iii|i|>l«i in )Mif. lo liiit nnmlli ln« ImjMMm l,it uy I li" IIiimmIi, unin' Vtimn, Mlll>im(l|l l>»»| llU«>lv, MIIIM llll\\\>\\ ll ' liMiiM lio Itorn" iri immi'I Mi»I. MiMUly y^W^Sy tli'ld, wliM JM MiMkiii)^ Iwim lii'i ».r Imt l«»f»^Mi»f \vlnl«>.>» " fruMlnl/'uH il, iM»'iMi<>linM'M rijj'il. 'I l»o l\nun\t iniiy lit» mild or vi'ty hovi'Io. Now Willi ii'i'iinl lo Whnf hi ihi. Ah tlio Hir'iMf» 'm |M»iii«iiilly i»wiii|; In iiM|tio|M'r tiiifl i/» nilili' imI f«»'lif»j/, »/ Iho rhiht fu> iif (ho hrinnl^ V*'< \> lofii, f'lr ti Urn' , »'rilif« ly lo il,. Ho iiol. |i>t, lijiii |m< iiivviiyM Miukiiiji;, fi« lliiil. will iiol, only ficl, liiM iiioijlli, litil, will likcwiH') irnlnUi afi. If hr> ho \h)i of fho hnuHl, liiil, liiiii lircfi WMifi"«l, lliMi K(M>j» liini for u fmv ihiyH rMilin-ly lo n milk 'Ii»l Ut Him liiilk of ON |i} row I'il.liir lioiicd, if iL In-. Iiol, w»atliM, to hiM'p il HW(M«I ; or iiiiltoilftl, in cool w»'iilli>r fr»i«li iim it conirM from llic cow, iiiixi d vvilli warm wiiUr. Tin' Im'mI niiMlirino in Mm old fuHJiioiMd oin-. of Il«i oomltiiiMlioti of |iowd<'i(>d lump MM|.Mir und lionix b< in;^ rt good oiii^ for llic piir|ioH<' : llin powdcfd lum(» in^'ar ifi- crciiHi'M llic rllic'icy, mid I,Im^ rli'iinKiri;^' propcrti' h of tho lutrax ; it hMidn, nion'ov«'r, lo make il, iiioif*. palatahlc . — Takri uf Itorax, liiiir u (liiM.loii ; Iiiiiiii) Sdt^iir, two Hcniplfg; T<» l»n wril inixcil l(»^('lli('r, iiikI iiiadt' into f,w«lir* ]tf,W'\t^vi. Olic of Iho jiowili iH to III' jiutdry ou tlio toii^ut; every four hour*. !■' I ( I ( ! ' M I 1 1 82 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. Tho best local reipedy is Honey of Borax, which ought to be smeared frequently, by means of tho finger, on the parts atfected. Thorough ventilation of tho apartment must be observed ; and gi'eat cleanliness of the vessels containing the milk should be insisted upoiL In a bad case of thrush, change of air to tho country is most desimble ; the efToct is (sometimes, in such cases, truly magical If the thrush be brought on either by too mucli oi by improper food ; in the first case of course, a niothor must lessen the quantity ; and, in the second, she should be more careful in her selection. What NOT to do. — Do not use either a calf's teat or w.tsh leather for the feeding-bottle ; fortunately, since the invention of India-rubber teats, they are now nearly ex- ploded ; they were, in olden times, fruitful causes of thrusk L)o not mind the trouble of ascertaining that the cooking- vessels connected with tlie baby's food are peii'octly clean and sweet. Do not leave tlie p\irity and the goodness of the cow's milk (it being ubsolutcly necessary to feed him on artiiicial food) to be judged either by the milk-man, or by the nurse, but taste and prove it yourself. Do not keep the milk in a warm place, but either in the dairy or in the cellar ; and, if it be summer time, let the jug holding the milk be put in a crock containing lumps of ice. Do not use milk that has been milked longer than twelve hours, but if practi- cable, have it milked direct from the cow, and use it immediately — let it be really and truly fresh and genuine milk. When the disease is severe, it may require more active treatment — such as a dose of calomel ; which medicine must never he given unless it he either under the direction qf a medical man^ or unless it he in an extreme case, — imch as dysentery ;* therefore, the mother had better seek advice. See the Treatment of Dysentery. INFANCY. — AILMENTS, DISEASE, ETC. 83 ise, — Ibetter In a pevsre casp ol thrush, where the complaint haw been l)ri)u;,']it on by artifidul I'ootling — the babe not having Mk; julvantagrf of the mother's milk — it is really 8iir])ris- iiig how rapidly a wet-nui*8e — if the case has not been too long lU'f erred — will effect a cure, where all other iiu-'ans have ])een tried and have failed. The eff(M't hjia been truly magical ! In a severe case of thrush pure air and thorough ventilation are essential to recovery. 110. h anythiuij to he learned from the cry of av infant ? A babe can only express his wants and his necessities by a cry ; he can only toil his aches and his pains by a cry; it is the only language of babyiioiid; it is the most ancient of all languages ; it is the language known by our earliest })i()genitors ; it is, if listened to aright, a very ex- pressive language, although it is only but the language of a cry — • "Soft i 'anoy, that nothing canst but cry." — Shakspcare. '1 lioro is, then, a language in the cry of an infant, which to a mother is the most interesting of all languages, and which a thoughtful medical man can well interpret, llie cry of a child, io an experienced doctor, is, each and all, a distinct sound, and is as expiessive as the note.^^ oi the gamut. The cry of passion, for instance, is a furious cry ; tlie cry of sleepiness is a drowsy cry ; the cry of grief is a sobbing cry ; the cry of an infant when roused from sleep is a shrill cry ; the cry of hunger is very char- acteristic, — it is unaccompanied with tears, and is a wailing cry ; the cry of teething is a fretfid cry ; the cry of pain tells to the practised car the part of pain ; the cry of ear-ache is short, sharp, piercing, and decisive, the head being moved about from side to side, and the little hand being often put up to the affected side of the head ; the cry of bowel-ache is also expressive, — the cry is not so jnercing as from ear-ache, and is an interrupted, straining cry, accompanied with a drawing-up of the legs to the belly ; the cry of bronchitis is a gruff and iiiiiegraatic cry ; the c;v of iiiflaimnation of tbo lungs 'm m . ilili "■> "%. t> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) A <^% 1 1.0 f^*^ Ilia i.t ii£ !■■ IIIII2 2 " lis IIIIIM 1.8 1.25 1.4 ] o^ m /A Photographic Sciences Corporation ■^'s^^:^^^f^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSfER.N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ n>^ * 'I ill '11 ii . jii « '1*11 ill' 84 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. more a moan than a cry ; the cry of croup is hoarse, and rough, and ringing, and is so characteristic that it may truly be called " the croupy cry ; " the cry of inflamma- tion of the membranes of the brain is a piercing shriek — a danger signal — most painful to hear ; the cry of a child recovering from a severe illness is a cross, and wayward, and tearful cry; he may truly be said to be in a quarrelsome mood; he bursts out, without rhyme or reason, into a passionate flood of tears — into "a tempest of tears :" tears are always, in a severe illness, to be looked upon as a good omen, as a sign of amendment, as — " The tears that heal and bless.'* — H. Bonar, Tears, when a child is dangerously ill, are rarely, if ever, seen ; a cry, at night, for light — a frequent cause of a babe cr-ing — is a restless cry : — " An infant crying in the night ; An infant crying for the light : And with no language but a cry." — Tennyson. 111. If an infant he delicate, have you any objection to his having either veal or," mutton hroth^ to strengthen him 1 Broths seldom agree with a babe at the breast I have known them produce sickness, disorder the bowels, and create fever. I recommend you, therefore, not to make the attempt. Although broth and beef-tea, when taken by the mouth, wiU seldom agree with an infant at the breast, yet, when used as an enema, and in small quantities, so that they may be retained, I have frequently found them to be of great benefit, they have in some instances appeared to have snatched delicate cliildren from the brink of the grave. 112. My hahy^s avkles are very weak: what do you advise to strengtlien them ? If his ankles be weak, let them every morning be bathed, after the completion of his morning's ablution, for five minutes each time, with bay-salt and water, a ' r\ of a INFANCY. — AILMENTS, DISEASE, ETa 85 small handful of bay-salt dissolved in a quart of rain water (with the cliill of the water off in the winter, and of its proper temperature in the summer tim ) ; then let them be dried ; after the diying, let the ankles be well rubbed with the following liniment : — Take of— Oil of Rosemary, three drachms ; Liniment of Camphor, thirteen drachms : To make a Liniment. D not let him be put on his feet early ; but allow him to crawl, and sprawl, and kick about the floor, until his body and his ankles Ijecome strong. Do not, on any account, without having competent advice on the subject, use iron instruments, or mechani- cal supports of any kind : the ankles are generally, by such artificial supports, made worse, in consequence of the pressure causing a further dwindling away and en- feebling of the ligaments of the ankles, already wasted and weakened. Let him wear shoes with straps over the msteps to keep them on, and not boots : boots will only, by wasting the ligaments, increase the weakness of the ankles. 113. Sumetimes there is a difficulty in restraining tlie bleeding of leech bites. What is the best metliod ? The difficulty in these cases generally arises from the improper method of performing it. For example — a mother endeavours to stop the haemorrhage by loading the part with rag ; the more the bites discharge, the more rag she applies. At the same time, the child probably is in a room with a large fire, with two or three candles, with the doors closed, and with perhaps a dozen people in the apartment, whom the mother has, in her fright, sent for. This practice is strongly reprehensible. If the bleeding cannot be stopped, — in the first place, the fire must be extinguished, the door and windows should be t^irown open, and the room ought to be cleared of persons, with the exception of one, or, at the moat, two ; and every rag should be removed. " Stopping of leech bites. — The simplest and most certain way, till the III. /I iji'ii ii r I l!|l ■i 1^; I ilii I!; i Ml fili H M i I ;. !'!i 8(T ADVICE TO A MOTHER. IS intervening. tlie pressure of the It cannot bleed proper assistance is obtained finger, with nothing through that."* Many babies, by excessive loss of blood from leech bites, have lost their lives from a mother not knowing how to act, and also from the medical man either living at a distance, or not being at hand. Fortunately for the infantile community, leeches are now very seldom ordered by doctors. 114. Supposing a baby to be poorly y have you any advice to give to his mother as to her onm management ? She muse endeavour to -calm her feelings or her milk will be disordered, and she will thus materially increase his illness. If he be labouring under any inflammatory disorder, she ought to refrain from the taking of beer, wine, and spirits, and from all stimulating food ; other- wise, she will feed his disease. Before concluding the first part of my subject' — the Management of Infancy — let me again urge upon you the importance — the paramount importance — if you wish your babe to be strong and hearty, — of giving him as little opening physic as possible. The best physic for hira is Nature's physic — fresh air, and exercise, and simplicity of living. A mother who is herself always drugging her child, can only do good to two persons — the doctor and the druggist ! If an infant from his birth be properly managed, — if he have an abundance of fresh air for his lungs, — if he have plenty of exercise for his muscles (by allowing him to kick and sprawl on the floor), — if he have a good swilling and sousing of water for his skin, — if, during the early months of his life, he have nothing but the mother's milk for his stomach, — he will require very little medicine — the less the better ! He does not want his stomach to be made into a doctor's shop ! The grand thing is not to take evory opportunity of admiiiifitering physic, but of using every means of with- Sir Charles Locock, in a Letter to the Author. INFANCY. — AILMENTS, DISEASE, ETC. 87 holding it ! And if pliysic bo necessary, not to doctor liim yourscK, unless it be in extreme and urgent cases (which in preceding and succeeding Conversations I either have or mil indicate), but to employ an ex- perienced medical maiv. A babe wt.o is always, without rhyme or reason, being physicked, is sure to be puny, delicate, and unhealthy, and is ready at any moment to drop into an untimely grave ! I will maintain that a healthy child never requires drugging with opening physic, and that costiveness is brought on by bad management. Aperient medicines to a healthy child are so much poison ! Let me impress the above remarlcs en every mother^ s mind; for it is a subject of vital importance. Never, then, give a purgative to a healthy child ; for, if he be properly managed, he will never require one. If you once begin to give aperients, you will find a difficulty in discon- tinuing them. Finally, I will only say with Punchy — "Don't." IF ^^B CONCLUDING REMARKS ON INFANCY. 115. In concluding the first part of our subject — Infancy — I beg to remark : there are four things essentially necessary to a babe's weU-doing, namely, (1) plenty of water for liis skin ; (2) plenty of fresh genuine milk mixed with water for his stomach (of course, giving liim ONLY his mother's milk during the first six, eight, or nine months of his existence) ; (3) plenty of pure air for his lungs ; (4) plenty of sleep for his brain : these are the four grand essentials for an infant ; without an abundance of one and all of them, perfect health is utterly impossible ! Perfect health ! the greatest earthly blessing, and more to be coveted than ought else beside I There is not a more charming sight in the universe than the beaming face of a perfectly healthy babe, — •* His are the joys of nature, his the smile, The cherub smile, of innocence and health." — Knox, i«m I'AET IL CHILDHOOD. Tht child is father of the man.— Wordswobth. Baimi are blessings. — Siiakspeabb, 17i€te are ur jewels ! — Cornelia. :;.i 111! iili ABLUTION. 116. Af twelve montlis oldy do you still recommend a child to he put in his tub to be washed ? Certainly 1 do, as I have previously recommended at page 6, in order that his skin may be weU and thoroughly cleansed. If it be summer time, the water should bo used cold ; ii! it be winter, a dash of warm must be added, so that it may be of the temperature of new milk : but do not, on any account use very icarm water. The head must be washed (but not dried) before he be placed in a tub , then, putting him in the tub (containing the necessary quantity of water, and washing him as previously recommended),* a large sponge should be filled with the water and squeezed over his head, so that the water may stream over the whole surface of his body. A jugful of water should, iust before taking him out of his bath, be poured over and down his loins ; all this ought rapidly to be done, and he must be quickly dried with soft towels, and then expeditiously dressed. For the washing of your child I would recommend you to use Castile soap in • See Infancy— Ablution, page 6, ■?■: CHILDHOOD. — ABLUTION. 89 preference to any other; it is more pure, and loss irritating, and hence does not injure tlic texture of the skin. Take care that the soap does not get into his eyes, or it might produce irritation and smarting. 117. Some mothers object to a child's standing in (he water. If the head be wetted before he be placed in the tub, and if he be washed as above directed, there can be no valid objection to it. He must not be allowed to remain in his tub more than five minutes. 118. Does not washing the child's head, every morning^ make him more liable to catch coldy and dues it not tend to weaken his sight 1 It does neither the one nor the other ; on the con- trary, it prevents cold, and strengthens his sight; it cleanses his scalp, prevents scurf, and, by that means, causes a more beautiful head of hair. The head, after each washing, ought, with a soft brush, to be well brushed, but should not be combed. The brushing causes a healthy circulation of the scalp ; but combing the hair makes the head scurfy., and pulls out the hair by the roots. 119. If the heady notmthstanding the washing, he scurfy, tvhat shoidd be done ? After the head has been well dried, let a little cocoa-nut oil be well rubbed, for five minutes each time, into the roots of the hair, and, afterwards, let the head be well brushed, but not combed. The line-tooth comb will cause a greater accumidation of scurf, and will scratch and injure the scalp. 120. Do you recommend a child to be tcashed in his TUB every night and momiag ? No ; once a day is quite sufficient ; in the morning in preference to the evening; unless he be poorly, then, evening instead of morning ; as, immediately after he has been washed and dried, he can be put to bed. 1*21. Ought a child to be jdaced in his tub whilst he is in a state of jiersplration ? Not whilst he is perspiring violently, or the peiapiia- # PAi V III 1 ri i 18 'I ! I l''\ 90 AnVICK TO A MOTHKR lion mii(lit ho chcvkcd siiddonly, and ill conaoquoncea M'oidd v.nsxw ; nor oiKjJtt hti to Ixi put. in Ih'h tiih whnn he /.s- ro/vithout his hat If he bo allowed, he is likely to have a sun-stroke, which might cither at once kUl him, or might make him an idiot for tho remainder of Iiis life ; which latter would be the worse alternative of the two. 128. Have you any remarks to make on keeping a cliihVs hands and legs warm token in the winter time he is carried out ? When a child either walks or is carried out in "wintry weather, be sure and see that both his hands and legs are well protected from the cold. There is nothing for this purpose like woollen gloves, and woollen stockings coming up over the knees. 129. Do you approve of a child wearing a flannel nightgown 1 He frequently throws the clothes oflf him, and has occasion to be taken up i ^ the night, and if he have not a flannel gown on, is likely to catch cold ; on which account I recommend it to be worn. The usual calico night-gown should be worn v,nd&r it m cniLDiioon. — CL< )TiiiNa. 93 130. Do you 0(1 vIh. a child to he lioiitit dwl^ in order that hr viay hf. hardnwd therchj/ ? / I sliouhl fear iliat such a plan, instead of liaidoning, would bo likely to produce a contrary eircct. It, is an ascertained fa(;t that nioro cliildren of the })oor, wlio are thus lightly clad, die, than of those who are j)r()p(Mly defended from the cold. Again, what holds good witlia young plant is ccpially apjdicahle to a young cliild j and we all know that it is ridiculous to think of unnecessarily exposing a tender plant to harden it. Jf it were thus exposed, it would wither and die. 131. If a chthl he delicate, if lie have a cold hodij, or a languid circulation, or if he he 2)rcdisjM6ed to iiijlaviwa- tion of the lungs, do you approve of his wearing jiannel instead of linen shirts ? I do ; as flannel tends to keep the body at an equal temperature, thus obviating the efFects of the sudden changes of the weather, and promotes by g(!ntle friction the cutaneous circulation, thus warming the cold body, and giving an impetus to tho languid circulation, and preventing an undue quantity of blood from being sent to the lungs, either to light up or to feed inflammation. Fine flannel, of course, ought to be worn, wliich should bo changed as frequently as the usual shirts. If a child have had an attack either of bronchitis or of inflammation of the lungs, or if he have just recovered from scarlet fever, by all means, if he have not previously worn flannel, instantly let him begin to do so, and let him, next to the skin, wear a flannel waistcoat. This is impt "tant advice, and ought not to he disregarded. Scarlet flannel is now much used instead of white flannel ; and as scarlet flannel has a more comfortable aj)- pearance, and does not shrink so much in wa.shing, it . may be substituted for the white. 132. Have you any remarks to make mi the shoes and stockings of a child ? and on the right way of cutting the toe-nails ? He ought, during the winter, to wear lamb's wool stockings that will reach a&cwethe knees, and ^Aic/c calico iiii 94 ADVKB TO A MOTIIIIIU i i' r^i drawers thai will rvavh n frw iiiclics hclow tho knoca; us it is of Iho utmost iniportiinw to kci'i) tlin lower oxtnuni- tivs conifortubly wann. It is really painful to see liow many mothers cxj)ose tli«>. hare 1(\l,'s of their little ones to the frosty air, even in tho depths of winter. He sure and see that the boots and shoes of your child l)e sound and whole ; for if they ]h\ not so, they will let in the damp, and if tho diuip, disease and j)erhaps death. " If thejmor wotdd take better care of their children's feet lialf tlu^ infantile mouality would disappear. It only costs twoj)enco to put a piece of thick felt or cork into the bottom of a boot or shoe, and the dillerence is oftiMi between that and a doctor's bill, with, j^^^rliJips, tho undertaker's besides." — Dnihj TcU'fjnqih. *■ Garters ouujht not to bo worn, as thoy impede tho circulation, waste tho muscles, and interfere with walking. Tho stock in<:f may bo secured in its place by means of a loop and ta])e, which should bo fastened to a part of the dress. Lot mo urge upon you tho importance of not allowing your child to wear iKjlit shoes ; thoy cripple tho foot, causing tho joints of tho toes, which ought to liave free play, and wliich should assist in walking, to bo, in a man- ner, useless ; they produce corns and bunions, and interfere with the proper circulation of the foot. A shoe ought to be made according to the shape of the foot — rights and lefts are therefore desirable. The toe-part of the shoe must be made broad, so as to allow plenty of room for the toes to expand, and that one too cannot overlap another. Be sure, then, that there be no pinching and no pressure. In the article of shoes you ought to be particular and liberal ; i)ay attention to having nicely fitting ones, and let tliem be made of soi'c leather, and throw them on one side the moment they are too smalL It is poo I' economy, indeed, because a pair of shoes be not worr out, to run the risk of incurring the above evil consequences. iikoes are far preferable to hoots: boots weaken instead of fltrengthen the ankle. The ankle and instep require \ CIIIIDIIUOI). — CLorillNO. 05 frco i»l;iy, and ought not lo 1x5 ImiujHTod by Imots. Moroovrr, boots, ])y nndup prt'ssun^, decidedly wjinle juvay the li«,'uinei)ls of the uiikle. Jloots net on IIh; iinkleH in a fliniilar way that Kt^iyn (U) on tlie waist — tliey do niisttliief Ity ])resHiire. Hoots wasto away the li^'anienls of \\w ankle; stays waste away the nmsrles of the Itaitk and chest ; and thus, in both cases, do irreparaljUf mischief. A shoo fur a cliihl ouf^ht to be made with a narrow strap over the instep, and witli l)utton and ])iittondiole ; if it be not maile in this way, the siioe will not keep on tlie foot It is a grievous state of things, tliat in tlie nineteenlli century there are but few shoemakers who know how to make a shoe ! UTie shoe is made not to lit a real foot, but a fashionable imaginary ou«3 ! 1'he ])oor unfortunate toes are in consequence screwed u]) as in a vice 1 Let mo strongly urge you to be jiarticular that the sock, or stocking, fits nicely — that it is neither too small nor too largo; if it bo too small, it binds up the toes unmercifully, and makes one toe to ride over the othei-, and thus renders the toes perfectly useless in walking; if it be too large, it is necessary to lap a portion of tlio sock, or stocking, either under or over the toes, which thus presses unduly upon them, and givi s pain and annoyance. It should bo borne in mind, that if the toes have full play, they, as it were, grasp the ground, and gi'catly assist in locomotion — which, of course, if they are cramped np, they cannot possibly do. Ijo careful, too, that tho toe-part of the sock, or stocking, be not pointed ; let it be made sc^uare in order to give room to the toes. " At this helpless period of life, tho delicately feeble, outspreading toes are wedged into a narrow-toed stocking, often so short as to double in the toes, diminishing the length of the rapidly growing foot ! It is next, perhaps, tightly laced into a boot of less interior dimensions than itself; when the poor littlo creature is left to sprawl about "with a limping, stump- ing gait, thus learning to walk as it best can, under 96 AT>VICK TO A MOTHER ^;!i| , im circnrastancos tho most cniel and torturing imagin- able."* It is impoasiblo for oitlior a stocking, or a shoo, to lit nicely unless tho too-nails be kep* in projjer order. Now, in cutting tho too-nails, there is, as in overytliing else, a riglit and a wrong way. Tho riyht way of cutting a toe-nail is to cut it straight — in a straight line. The wrong way is to cut the corners of the nail — to round tho nail as it is called. This cutting tho cornel's of tho nails often makes work for the surgeon, as I myself can testify; it frequently produces "growing- in" of tho nail, which sometimes necessitiites tho removal of either the nail, or a portion of it. 133. ^4/ what time of the year should a child have ojf his winter clothing ? A mother ought not to leave off her children's winter clothing until tho spring bo far advanced : it is lav bettor to be on tho safe side, and to allow the winter clothes to be worn until tho end of May. Tho old adage is very good, and should bo borno in mind : — •' T^utton to chill Till May be in ; Ne'er cast a clout Till May be out." 134. Have you any geiwral remarlcs to maJce on the present /(Uthion of dressing children ? Tho present ftishion is absurd. Children are fre- quently dressed like mountebanks, with feathers and furbelows and finery ; the boys go bare-legged ; the little girls are dressed like women, with their stuck-out pt^tticoats, crinolines, and low dresses ! Their poor little Avaists are drawn in tight, so that th(iy can scarcely breathe ; their tlresses ai-o very low and short, tho con- sequence is, that a great part of the chost is exposed to * The Foot aiul its Covering, second cJition. By James Dowie. London : 1872. I beg to call a mother's esp«'"'"J attention to this valuable little book : it is written by an earnest intelligent man, by one who hiis studied the subject lu all its bearings, aud by one who it* liimself a shoemaker. CniLDHOOD. — r»IET. 97 the our varial)lo climate ; tlieir le>;s arc haro ilown to tlioir thill socks, or if tliev be clotluHl, they are only covered with gossamer drawers ; while tluur feet are eiicaseil in tight shoes of pajior thickness ! Dress ! dress ! dress ! is made witli them, at a tender age, and when lirst imi)ressions are the strongest, a most importiint co'.i- siiU'ratioii. They are thus rendered vain and frivolous, ami ani taught to consider dress "jis the one thing needful" And if tlu'y live to be women — which the present fashion is likely frequently to ])r(;vent — what are they ? ^iHy, sim]H^ring, delicat(>, lack-a-daisical nonentities ; dress being their amusement, tlieir occupa- tion, their conversation, their everything, their thoughts by day and their dreams by night 1 Truly they are niehmcholy objects to behold ! Let children bo dressed as chihlren, not as men and women. Let them bo taught that dress is (^uite a secondary consideration. Let health, and not fjushion, be the first, ami we shall then have, with God's blessing, blooming children, who will, in time, be the pride and strength of dear old England I DIET. fre- and little Ik-out little ircely con- ked to )»)wie , lion to Ui^'eut k aud 135. At TWELVE months oldy have you any ohjcction to a child havimj any other food hesidea that you men- tioned in answer to the 34^/i question ? There is no objection to his occoffionall y having, for dinner, either a mealy, mashed potato and gravy, or a few crumbs of bread and gravy. Kice-pudding or batter-pudding may, for a change, bo given ; but remember, the food recommended in a former Convei"sa- tion is what, until iie be eighteen months old, must be principally taken. During the early montlis of infancy — say, for the hrst six or seven — if artiticiai food be given at all, it should bo administered by means of a feediiiig-bottle. After that time, either a spoon, or a nursing boat, will be preferable. The food, AS he becomes older, ou<;at to bo made more solid 98 ADVICK TO A MOTnEtl. ir 130. Af Eir.nvKKN inontJis <>/(/, have you any ohjrcflon to a child hiiriiHj meat ? 11(5 ou^^lifc iu)t to huvo HH'iit until ho luivn s(!voml tcvth to chew it ■vvitlj. If ho h{us inopt of I -is toctli — ^v)lioll lio vory hkoly at thia n^'o will have — thoro is no ohjootion to his taking a sniall slico cither of mutton, or occasionally of roast beef, which should he well cut into very small pieces, and mixed with a mcidy ino.^hcd potato, and a few crumbs of bread and j^'ravy ; (Mther erory day, if lio be delicate, or every oihcr day, if he bo a t;ross or a fast-feed in»jf child. It may bo well, in tho generality of cases, for tho tirsf few months to give him meat evory other day, and either potato or gravy, or rico or suet-pudding or batter-j>udding on tho alternato days; indeed, I think so highly of rico, of suet, iind <>f balter-})uddings, and of other farinaceous puddings, that I should advise you to let liim have either tho ono or tho other oven on those days that lio has meat — • j^iving it him after his meat. Ihit remember, if ho have meat and pudding, tho meat ought to bo given sparingly. If ho bo gorged "with foo»l, it makes him irritable, cross, and stupid ; at ono time, clogging up his bowels, and producing constipation ; at another, tlis- ordering his liver, and causing either clay-coloured stools — denoting a defieienry of bile, or dark and otfensive motions — telling of vitiated bile ; while, in a third ctiso, cramming him with food might bring on convulsions. 137. An you are so partial to puddings for a child ^ which do you consider the best for him? Ho ought, every day, to have a pudding for his dinner — either rice, arrow-root, sago, tapioca, suet- pudding, batter-pudding, or Yorkshire-pudding, mixed with crumbs of bread and gravy — free from grease. A well boiled suet-pudding, with plenty of suet in it, is ono of the best puddings he can have ; it is, in point of fact, mcvit and farinaceous food cond)ined, and is equal to, and will o* entimes prevent the giving of, cod-liver oil ; beforo cod-li V er oil came into vogue, suet boiled in miUv was .3r OniLDHOOf). — mKT. 99 his Isuct^ lixcil A Olio fact, ami |eri)i'ii waa thnrompilj for a (Ic.lk'uio cliiM. JH^ iiiny, ocrnRionnlly, luiv(3 fruit-pudding, pruvidod the- paatiy l)o botli plain and liglit Tlio objection to fruit })iea and i>uddini^'H is, tliat tlie pjustiy is often too rich for tlie delicate Htoniach of a child; there in no objection, certaiidy not, to the fruit — cooked fruit hein'', for a child, most wholeHoine ; if. tlierefore, fruit })uddinga and pies Ik; eaten, tlu; jKisliy ])art ought to be quite i)lain. There is, in'SMunayH Modern Cookery llook," an excellent 8Uggesti(jn, ^vlli(;h I will takes the liberty of (putting, and of strongly urging my fair reader to carry into })ractico : — " 7'o prfjxirn fruit for children^ afar in<}?'(i wholesome way than in, pioa ami puddliKjs^ is to put apples sliced, or j)luins, cuirauts, gooseberries, Ac, into a stone jar ; and sprinkli; among them as much Lisbon sugar as necessary. Set thejiir on an oven or on a hearth, with a t(!a-cupful of water to prevent the fruit from burning; or put the jar into a saucepan of water, till its contents be perfectly done. Slices of bread or some rice may bo put into the jar, to eat with the fruit." Jam — such as strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry — is most wlioh^some for a child, and ought occasionally to Ije given, in lieu of sugar, with the rice;, with the batter, and with the other puddings. Marmalade, too, is very wholesome. Puddings ought to be given after and not hrfoj'r lijg meat and vegetables ; if you give him pudding before liis meat, he might refuse to eat meat altogether. ]>y a(b>pt- ing the plan of giving puddings evrry day, your child will require leas animal food ; 7nuch meat is injurious to a young child. But do not run into an opposite extrem(>, : a little meat ought, every day, to be given, pron'dcd he has cut the whole of his first set of teeth ; until then, meat every other day will be often enougk 138. ^5 soon as a child has .cut the whole of his first set of teeth, what ought to he his diet ? What should be his breakfast ? He can, then, have nothing better, where it agrees, than %\ ii 100 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. |i,«*i ii- scolding hot new milk poured on sliced bread, w iili a slico or two of bread and butter to eat with it. Butter, in moderation, is nourishing, fattening, and wholesome. Moreover, butter tends to keep the bowels regular. These facts should be borne in mind, as some mothers foolishly keep their children from butter, declaring it to be too rich for their children's stomachs ! New milk should be used in preference either to cream or to skim-milk. Cream, as a rule, is too rich for the delicate stomach of a cliild, and skim-milk is too poor when robbed of the butter which the cream contains. Uut give cieam and water, where new milk (as is occimoiwlhi the case) does not agree ; but never give skim-milk. lSh-hn-m\\\i (among other evils) produces costiveness, and necessitates the frequent administration of aperients. Cream, on the other hand, regulates and tends to open the bowels. Although I am not, as a rule, so partial to cream as I am to good genuine fresh milk, yet I have found, in cases of great debility, more especially where a child is much exhausted by some inflammatory disease, such as inflammation of the lungs, the following food most serviceable : — Beat up, by means of a fork, the 3*olk of an Q.^^^ then mix, little by little, half a tea-cupful of very weak hlack tea, sweeten with one lump of sugar, and add a table-spoonful ot cream. Let the above, by tea-spoon- fuls at a time be frequently given. The above food is only to be administered until the exhaustion be removed, and is not to supersede the milk diet, which must, at stated periods, be given, as I have recommended in answers to previous and subsequent questions. When a childhas costivebowels, there is nothing better for his breakfast than well-made and well-boiled oatmeal stir-about, which ought to be eaten with milk fresh from the cow. Scotch children scarcely take anything else, and a finer race is not in existence ; and, as for physic, many of them do not even know either the taste or the smell of it ! You will find Eobinson's Pure Scotch Oat- meal (sold m packets) to be very pure, and sweet, and ^ood. Stir-about is truly said to be— CrilLDnOOD. — DIET. 101 'cd, at in Isc, |ysic, the Oat- and **Tlio halcsomo parritch, chief of Scotia's food." — Uuvis. Cad])ury'8 Cocoa Essonco, made with equal parts of hoil- in^ wator and fresh milk, shghtly sweetened with lump sugar, is an admirable food for a deUcato child. Bread and Imtter should ho eaten with it. 1 31). Ham yon any remarks to make on Colo's milk as an artirle of food ? Cow's milk is a valuable, indeed, an indispensable article of diet, for the young ; it is most nourisliing, wliolesome, and digestible. The finest and the healtlii(;st children are those who, for the first four or five years of their lives, are IqaX jyrindpaUy upon it Milk ought then to l)e their staple food. No child, as a rule, can live, or, if lie live, can ])e healthy, unless milk be the stajde article of his diet. There is no substitute for milk. To prove the fattening and strengthening quaUties of milk, look only at a young calf who lives on milk, and on milk alone ! He is a Samson in strength, and is " as fat as butter ; " and all young things if they are in health arc fat ! ^lilk, then, contains every ingredient to build up the body, whicli is more than can be said of any other known substance besides. A cliild may live entirely, and grow, and become both healthy and strong, on milk, and on milk alone, as it contains every constituent of the human body. A child cannot " Uve by bread alone," but he might on milk alone ! ]\Iilk is animal and vegetable — it is meat and bread — it is food and drink — it is a fluid, but as soon as it reaches the stomach it becomes a solid* * How is milk in the making of cheese, converted into curds ? By rennet. What is rennet ? The juice of a calf's maw or stoTnacli. The moment the milk enters the human maw or stomach, the juice of the stomach converts it into curds — into .solid food, just as readily as when it enters p. calf's maw or stomach, and much more readily than by rennet, as the fresh juice is stronger than the stale. An ignorant mother often com- })lains that because, when her child is sick, the milk curdles, that it is a proof that it does not agree with him ! If, at those limes, it did not curdle, it would, Jndeed, ])rove that his stomach was in a wretchedly weak state ; she would then have abundant ^\m to be anxious !i I i I 102 ADVICK TO A MOTIIKR. I; * „ . :|l Ni: • — solid food ; it is Mu> iiiosi inijUJilaiii niid viiliinlde nrtic.li^ of «li(>t for a. child in cxisiciico. It is ji glorioim food for lli(^ youiif,', and ninst noviT, on any jicconnt wluitovor, in any case l)oerfect diet, and is capable of maintaininj^ life in infancy • vilhoiit ihe aid of any other substance^ it is jnarvellouH that the consnmj)tion of it is jnactically limited to so small a cla^s ; and not only so, but iJiat in aick-rooma, ■wh«>ro the j)atient is surrounded with every luxury, arrow-root., and other com])ounds coTitainin«; much less nutriment, shoidd so often be prefi^red to it." — The Do not let me be misunderstood. I do not mean to say, but that the mixing' of farinaceous food — such as Lenumn's ]'»iscuit Powder, Ivobb's liiscviit, J lard's Farinaceous Food, Ih'own and Poison's Corn Flt)ur, and the like, with the milk, is an im])rovement, in somo cas(»s — a {jjreat imju-ovement ; but still I maintain that a child mij^ht live and thrive, and that for a lengthenuJ period, on milk — and on milk alone I A dot; will live and fatt(Mi for six weeks on milk alone ; while ho will starve and die in a shorter period on strong beef-tea alone ! It is a grievous sin for a milkman to adulterate milk. How many a poor infant has fallen a victim to that crime ! — for crime it may be truly called. It is folly in the extreme for a mother to bate a milk- man down in the jirice of his milk ; if she does, the milk is sure to be cither of inferior quality, or adulterated, or diluted with water ; and woe betide the poor nnfortunate child if it be either the one or the other ! The only way to insure good milk is, to go to a ivspect^ible cow-keeper, and let him be made to thoroughly understand the importance of your child having genuine milk, and that you are then willing to pay a fair remunerative price for it. Rest assured, that if you have to pay one penny or even twopence a (juart more for genuine milk, it is one of the best investmenta It 1 r CFirLnnoon. — niiirr. 103 tho or the the to a to child ig to that 1 11 art licnts ilint yon ovor havi^ tnaih^ or that yon am cvfir likely to iiiiikr ill this world 1 (ylmaj) nnd inferior milk nii^'ht \v>'ii Ite (mIIimI cIh!,'!]) and nanty ; for infcirior ora(hdtoratepo8ing milk should not agree wHli my child j what must then he done i Milk, either boiled or unboiled, ahnost always agrees with a child. If it does not, it must be looked upon as the exception, and not as the rule. I would, in such a case, advise one-eighth of lime water to be added to eeven-eighths of new milk — that is to say, two table- spoonfuls of lime water should be mixed with half a pint of new milk. 142. Can you tell me of a way to prevent milJCj in hot weather^ from turning sour ? Let the jug of milk be put into a crock, containing ice — Wenham Lake is the best — either in the dairy or in the cellar. The ice may at any time be procured of a respectable fishmonger, and should be kept, wrapped either in flannel or in blanket, in a cool place, until it be wanted. 143. Can you tell me why the children of the rich sufer so much more from costiveness than do the children of the poor ? The principal reason is that the children of the rich drink milk without water, wliile the children of the poor drink water without, or with very little, milk — milk being binding, and water opening to the bowels. Be sure then, and bear in mind, as this is most important advice, to see that water is mixed mth all the milk that is given to your child. The combination of milk and water for a child is a glorious compound — strengthening, fattening, refreshing, and regulating to the bowels, and thus doing away with that disgraceful proceeding so common in nurseries, of everlastingly physicking, irritat- ing and irreparably injuring the tender bowels of a cjiil^ CniLDnOOD. — DIET. 105 My opinion is, that aperients, as a nilc, are quite unnecessary, and should only be given in severe illness, and under the direction of a judicious medical num. IIow much misery, and injury, might be averted if milk were always given to a child in combination witli water ! Aperients, by repetition, unlike water, increase the mischief tenfold, and cork them up most elfectually ; so that the bowels, in time, will not act without them ! A mother before she gives an aperient to her child should ponder well upon what I have said upon the sub- ject, it being a vital question, affecting, as it does, the well-being and the well-doincif of her child. 144. Biit^ if a child's hoiccls he very costive, ichat ia to he done to relieve them ? Do not give him a grain or a drop of opening medicine, but in lieu thereof, administer, by means of a 6 oz. India-rubber Enema Bottle, half a tea-cup or a tea-cupful, according to the age of the child,* of warm water ; now this will effectually open the bowels, without confining them afterwards, which opening phytic would most assuredly do ! 145. Is it necessary to give a child luncheon ? If he want anything to eat between breakfast and dinner let him have a piece of dry bread ; and if he hove eaten very heartily at dinner, and, like Oliver Twist, " asks for more ! " give him, to satisfy his craving, a piece of dry bread. He will never eat more of that tlinn will do him good, and yet he ^vill take sufficient to satisfy liis hunger, wdiich is very important. 146. What ought now to he his dinner ? He should now have meat, either mutton or beef, daily, which must be cut up very small, and should bo mixed with mealy, mashed potato and gravy. Ho ought akcays to be accustomed to eat salt with his dinner. Let a and so • For a babe, from birth until he be two years old. one, two, or three table-spoonfuls of warm water will be sufficient, and a 2 oz. Enema Bottle will be the proj)er size for the purpose o| fl4oiinistcring it. " Hi 106 ADVICE TO A MO 'IKR. :{ motlior SCO iliat this advice is followed, or evil conso- qiKjiiccs will inevitably ensue. Let him heclosoly watched, to ascertain that he well masticates his food, Ji 1 that ho d<»('s not (sat too quickly ; for young children are apt to bolt Iheir food. 147. Have you any ohjeetion to pork for a clianye ? 1 have a great objection to it for the young. It is a ricli, gross, and therefore unwholesome food for tho delicate stomach of a child. I have known it, in several instances, produce violent pain, sickness, purging, and convulsions. If a child be fed much ui)on such meat, it ■will bo likely to produce '* breakings-out " on the skin. In fine, his blood will put on the same character as tho food he is fed with. Moreover, pork might be considered a ttfnmy meat, and " strong meat and atrong drink can only l)e taken by strong men." 148. Do you approve of veal for a child 1 My objection to pork was, that it was rich and gross ; this does not apj)ly to veal ; but the objection to it is, that it is more difficult of digestion that either nmtton or beef ; indeed, all young meats are harder of digestion than meats of maturity ; thus mutton is more digestible than lamb, and beef than veal. 149. Do you disappi'ove of salted and hoilcd heef for a child? If beef be much salted it is hard of digestion, and therefore ought not to be given to him ; but if it have been but slightly salted, then for a change there will be no objection to a little. There is no necessity in the ivinter time to salt meat intended for boiling ; then boiled niisalted meat makes a nice change for a cliild's dinner. Salt, of course, must with the unsalted meat be eaten. 150. Bat suppose there is nothing on the table that a child may with, impunity eat 1 He should then have either a grilled mutton chop, or a liglitly-boiled Q.^g ; indeed, the latter, at any time, makes an excellent change. There is great nourishment in an egg ; it will not only strengthen the frame, but it will give animal heat as well : these two (qualities of an CniLDIIOOD. — DIET. 107 offpj aro most valu.ahlc ; indeed, essential for the duo ])or- formanco of health : many articles of fo(Kl contain tlio one ([iialification, hut not the other : hence the eg«^ is adniirahly suitahlofor a dxild'a occum'onal dinner. 151. Are 2)otato('s an unwholesome food for a child? Kew ones are; hut old potatoes well cooked and nu'jdy, are the host vegetahle he can have, lliey ought to he well matihedf as I have known lumps of jJotatocH cause convulsions. 152. Do you approve of any other ver/etahlo^for a child? Occasionally : cither asparagus or hroccoli, or cauli- flower, or turnips, or French hcans, which latter slicjuld be cut up fine, may with advantage he given, (ireen j)eas may occasionally he given, provided they ho thoroughly well boiled, and mashed with the knif(; on the plate. Underdone and unmashed peas are not ilt for a child's stomach : there is nothing more ditlicnlt of digestion than underdone peas. It is imj)ortant, too, to mash them, even if they be well done, as a child generally bolts peas whole ; and they pass through the alimentary canal without being in the least digested. 153. Mvjht not a mother he too particidar in dieting her child ? Certainly not. If blood can be too pure and too good she might ! WJien we take into account that the food we eat is converted into blood ; that if the food be good the blood is good ; and that if the food be improjier or impure, tlie blood is impure likewise ; and, moreover, when we know that every part of the body is built up by the blood, we cannot be considered to be too particidar in making our selection of food. Besides if indigestible or improper food be taken into the stomach, the blood will not enly be made impure, but the stonuujh and the bowels will be disordered. Do not let me ])e misunderstood : I am no advocate for a child having the same food one day as another — certaiidy not. Let there l)e variety, but let it be vholesoine variety. Variety in a child's (not in infant's) food is necessary. If he were fed, day after day, on mutton, his stomach would at 108 ADVKJE TO A MOTIIKR. l(Mi;;ili 1)0 l)ron<,'ht into that state, thai i!i time it would not jirojH'rly (li;^'(.'Ht any other meat, and a niist'ialjle ex- istencu would be tlio iL'HUJt. ir>'l. W/iaf oiujht a eh lid to drink with hi,^ dinner 1 'J'oast and water, or, if ho prefer it, plain sj)ri lit; water, liet hiiii have as much .'us ho likes. If you ^ave him water to drink, there is no fciar of hia taking' too much ; Nature will tell him whiai he has had enouj^li. lie care- ful of tlio quality of the water, and the source from which you j)rocuro it. If the water he hard — i)rovided it he free from organic matter — so much the better.* Spring water from a moderately deep well is the best. If it como from a land spring, it is ajit, indeed, ici almost sure to bo contjiminated by drains, tkc. ; which is a fro- (picnt cause of fevers, of diphtheria, of Asiatic cholera, and of other blood poisons. Guard against the drinking water being contaminated with lead ; never, therefore, allow the water to bo collected in leaden cisterns, as it sometimes is if the ■water be obtained from Water-works companies. Lead l)umps, for the same reason, ought never to be used for drinking purposes. Paralysis, constipation, lead colic, dropping of the wrist, wasting of the ball of the thumb, loss of memory, and broken and ruined health, might result from neglect of this advice. The drinking fountains are a great boon to poor children, as water and plenty of it, is one of the chicif necessaries of their existence ; and, unfortunately, at their own homes they are not, oftentimes, able to obtain a sulhcient supply. Moreover, drinking fountains are the best advocates for Temperance. Some parents are in the habit of giving their children beer with their dinners — making them live as they live themselves ! This practice is truly absurd, and fraught with great danger ! not only so, but it is inducing a child to be fond of that which in after life might be his bane * See the tliird edition of Counsel to a Mother^ under tli6 ^ead of ** Hard or soft water as a beverage ? " cniLDnoop. — niKT. 109 nn \ ouri;,' a child ; it will on tlic rontiiiry, creates fever, and will lliere])y woak(!n Idin ; it will act injuriously upon liis delicate, nervous, and vascular Hystenis, and by means of producing; intlanunation eitiier of till! brain or of its membranes, mij^'ht thus caus(^ water on the brain (a disease to which younj^ cliildren are sub- joct), or it nii;^dit induce intlammation of the lung's. 1135. Wluil oiuj/d a chilli w/to has cut hts teeth to hnvn for hifi SNjifx'r ? 'J'ho same that ho has for breakfast. IIu should svip at six o'clock. 150. Have you any general remarks to mnhi on a child'a meals? I recommended a great samonosa in nti ivfanVs diet ; but a child^s meals, his dinners esj)eciaily, ought t»> bo much varied. For instance, do not let him have day after day mutton ; but ring the changes on mutton, beef, I)oultry, game, and even occasionally fish — sole or cod. Not only let tiiero bo a change of meat, but let there be a change in the manner of cooking it ; let the meat sometimes be roasted ; let it at other times be boiled. I . have knowm a mother who has prided hei-self as being experienced in these matters, feed her child, day after day, on mutton cho})S ! Such a proceeding is most in- jurious to him, as after a while his unfortunate stomacli will digest nothing but mutton chops, and, in time, not even those ! With regard to vegetables, potatoes — mashed potatoes — ought to be his stai)le vegetable ; but, every now and then, cauliflower, asparagus, turnips, and French beans, should be given. With respect to puddings, vary them ; rice, one day ; suet, aiiother ; batter, a third ; tapioca, a fourth ; or, even occasionally, he might have either apple or gooseberry or rhubarb pudding — provided the ptostry be plain and light. It is an excellent plan, as I have before remarked, to let her child eat jam — such as strawberry, raspberry, or r. 110 ADVICE TO A MOTHEa ■i:; gooseberry — and that without stint, either with rice or with hatter puddings. Variety of diet ^ then, is good for a child : it will give him muscle, bone, and sinew ; and, what is very import- ant, it will tend to regulate his bowels, and it will thus prevent the necessity of giving him aperients. But do not stuff a child — do not press him, as is the wont of some mothers, to eat more than he feels inclined. On the contrary, if you think that ho is eating too much — that he is overloading his stomach — and if he should ask for more, then, instead of giving him either more meat or more pudding, give him a piece of dry biead. Ey doing so, you may rest assured that he will not eat more than is absolutely good for him. 157. If a child he delicate^ is there any ohjection to a little winef such as cowslip or tent, to strengthen him'f Wine ought not to be given to a child unless it be ordered by a medical man : it is even more injurious than beer. AVine, beer, and spirits, principally owe their strength to the alcohol they contain ; indeed, nearly all wines are fortified (as it is called) with brandy. Brandy contains a large quantity of alcohol, more than any other liquor, namely 55*3 per cent. If, therefore, you give wine, it is, in point of fact, giving diluted brandy — diluted alcohol ; and alcohol acts, unless it be used as a medicine, and under skilful medical advice, as a poison to a child. 158. Suppose a child suddenly to lose his appetite ? is any notice to he taken of it ? If he cannot eat well, depend upon it, there is some- thing wrong about the system. If he be teething, let a mother look well to his giuns, and satisfy herself that they do not require lancing. If they be red, hot, and swollen, send for a medical man, that he may scarify them. If his gums be not inflamed, and no tooth appear^ near, let her look well to the state of his bowels ; let her ascertain that they be sufficiently opened, and that the stools be of a proper cousistcnce, colour, and CniLDHOOD. — DIET. Ill eniGlL If they be neither the one nor the other, give a close of aj)crient medicine, which will gcncrall}^ put all to rights. If the gums be cool, and tlic bowels be right, and his appetite continue bad, call in medical aid. A child asking for something to eat, is frequently, in a severe illness, the first favourable symptom ; wo may generally then prognosticate that all will soon be well again. If a child refuse his food, neither coax nor tempt him to eat : as food without an appetite will do liim more liarm than it will do him good ; it may produce either si(!k- ness, bowel-complaint, or fever. Depend upon it, there is always a cause for a wont of appetite ; — perhaps his stomach has been over-vzorked, and requires repose ; or his bowels are loaded, and !N"ature wishes to take time to use up the old material ; — th6re might be fever lurking in his system ; Nature stops the supplies, and thus endeavours, by not giving it food to work with, to nip it in the bud ; — there might be inflammation ; food would then be improper, as it would only add fuel to the hre ; let, therefore, the cause be either an over- , worked stomach, over-loaded bowels, fever, or inflamma- tion, food would be injurious. Kind Nature if we will but listen to her voice, will teU us when to eat, and when to refrain. 159. When a child is four or Jive years old, have you avy objection to his drinldng tea ? Some parents are in the habit of giving their (children Gtrong (and frequently green) tea. This practii^e is most hurtful It acts injuriously upon their delicate, nervous system, n,nd thus weakens then- whole frame. If milk docs not agree, a cup of very weak tea, tliat is to say, water with a dash of black tea in i^, >\ ith a table-spoonful of cream, may be substituted for milk ; but a mother must never give tea where milk agrees. 160. Have you any ohjection to a child occasiontdly haviutf either calces or stveetmeats ? I consider them as so much slow poi^^on. Su'.'h things both cloy and weaken the stomach, and thereby take H..S m t] 112 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. I '1 f|<:'^e away the appetite, and thus debilitate the frame. More- over "sweetmeats are coloured with poisonous pig- ments." A mother, surely, is not aware, that when she is giving her child Sugar Confectionery she is, in many cases, administering a deadly poison to him "? " We beg to direct the attention of our readers to the Eeport of the Analytical Sanitary Commission, contained in the Lancet of the present week (Dec. 18, 1858), on the pigments employed in colouring articles of Sugar Con- fectionery. From this report it appears that metallic pigments of a highly dangerous and even poisonous character, containing chromic acid, lead, copper, mercury, and arsenic, are commonly used in the colouring of such articles." If a child bo never allowed to eat cakes and sweet- meats, he will consider a piece of dry bread a luxury, and will eat it with the greatest relisk 161. Is bakers' or is home-made bread the most whole- some for a child ? Eakers' bread is certainly the lightest ; and, if we could depend upon its being unadulterated, would, from its lightness, be the most wholesome ; but as we cannot always depend upon bakers' bread, home-made bread, as a rule should bo preferred. If it be at all heavy, a child must not be allowed to partake of it ; a baker's loaf ought then to bo sent for, and continued to be eaten until light home-made bread can be procured. Heavy bread is most indigestible. He must not be allowed to eat bread until it be two or three days old. If it be a week old, in cold weather, it will be the more wholesome. 162. Do you approve either of caraway seeds or of currants in bread or in cakes — the former to disperse wind, the latter to open the bowels ? There is nothing better than plain bread : the caraway- seeds generally pass through the bowels undigested, and thus might irritate, and might produce, instead of dis- perse wind.* Some mothers put cun^..is in cakes, with * Although caraway seeds whole are uuwholesoaie, yet caraway- J I 1 *5' CHILDHOOD. — THE NURSERY. 113 a view of opening the bowels of their cliildren ; but they only open them by disordering them. 163. My child has an antipathy to certain articles of diet : what would you advise to he done ? A child's antipathy to certain articles of diet should be respected : it is a sin and a shame to force him to eat what he has a great dislike to : a child, for instance, sometimes dislikes the fat of meat, underdone meat, the skin off boiled milk and off rice-pudding. Why should he not have his likes and dislikes as well as " children of a larger growth ? " Besides, there is an idiosyncrasy — a peculiarity of the constitution in some children — and Kature oftentimes especially points out what is good and what is bad for them individually, and we are not to fly in tlie face of Nature. "What is one man's meat is another man's poison. " If a child be forced to eat what he dislikes, it will most likely not only make him sick, but will disorder his stomach and bowels : food, if it is really to do him good, must be eaten by him with a rehsh, and not with disgust and aversion. Some mothers, who are strict disciplinarians, pride themselves on compelUng their children to eat whatever they choose to give them ! Such cliildren are to be pitied 1 164. W/ieii ought a child to commence to dine icith his parents ? As soon as he be old enough to sit up at the table, provided the father and mother either dine or lunch in the middle of the day. " I always prefer having children about me at meal times. I think it makes them little gentlemen and gentlewomen in a manner that nothing else will " — Christian's Mistake. THE NURSERY. 165. Have you any remarks to make on the selection^ the ventilation J the warming, the temperature, and the arrangements of a nursery ? and have you any further tea, made as recommended in a prpyioi^s Conyersiition, is an j?X(»llBpt; yenifdjr to disperse wind. 114 ADVICE TO A MOTHER, f observations to offer canducivceto^the icall'doing of my child ? The nursery ought to be the largest and the most airy room in tlie house. In the town, if it be in the topmost story (provided the apartment be large and airy) so much the better, as tlio air will then be purer. The architect, in the building of a house, ought to be particularly ilirccted to pay attention to tlie space, the loftiner s, the ventilation, the liglit, the warming, and the conveiienccs of a nursery. A bath-room attached to it will be of great imjjortance and benefit to the health of a child. It will be advantageous to have a water-closet near at liand, which should be well supplied with water, be well drained, and be well ventilated. If this be not practi- cable, the evacuations ought to be removed as soon as they are passed. It is a filthy and an idle habit of a nurse-maid to allow a motion to remain for any length of time in the room. The Ventilation of a nursery is of paramount import- ance. There ought to be a constant supply of fresh pure air in the apartment. But how few nurseries have fresh, })uro air ! Many nurseries are nearly hermetically sealed — the windows are seldom, if ever, opened ; the doors are religiously closed ; and, in summer time, the chimneys are carefully stuffed up, so that a breath of air is not allowed to enter I The consequences aie, the poor un- fortunate children " are poisoned by their own breaths," and are made so delicate that they are constantly catching cold ; indeed, it might be said that they are labouring under chronic catarrhs, all arising from Nature's laws being set at defiance. The windows ought to be large, and should be made to freely open both top and bottom. Whenever the child is out of the nursery, the windows ought to be thrown wide open; indeed, when he is in it, if the weather be fine, the upper sash should be a little lowered. A child should be encouraged to change the room fre- quently, in order that it may be freely ventilated ; for good air ifl as necessary to his health as wholesome food, I % !' tVAlA)lIOOD. — THE NURSEUY. 115 I m and air cannot be good if it be not frequently changed If you wisli to have a strong and healthy child, ponder ov(!r and follow this advice. I have to enter my protest against tlie use of a stove in a nursery. I consider a gas stove uHthout a chimneif to be an abomination, most destructive to hunuin life. There is nothing like the old-fashioned open lire- place with a good-sized chimney, so that it may not only carry oil' the smoke, but also the impure air of the room. Be strict in not allowing your child either to touch or to j)lay with lire ; frightful accidents have occurred from mothers and nurses being on these points lax. The nursery ought to have a large fire-guard, to go all round the hearth, and which should be sufficiently high to pre- vent a child f;om climbing over. Not only must the nursery have a guard, but every room where he is allowed to go should be furnished with one on the bars. Moreover, it will be advisable to have a guard in every room where a fire is burning, to prevent ladies from being burned. Fortunately for them, preposterous crinolines are out of fashion : when they were in fashion, death from burning was of every-day occurrence ; indeed, lady-burn- ing was then to be considered one of the institutions of our land ! A nursery is usually kept too hot ; the temperature in the winter time ought 7wt to exceed 60 degrees Fahren- heit. A r/ood thermometer should be considered an in- dispensable iv^quisite to a nursery. A child in a liot, close nursery is bathed in perspiration ; if he leave the room to go to one of lower temperature, the pores of his skin are suddenly closed, and either a severe cold or an inflammation of the lungs, or an attack of bronchitis, is likely to ensue. Moreover, the child is both weakened and enervated by the heat, and thus readily falls a prey to disease. A child ought never to be permitted to sit with his back to the fire ; if he be allowed, it weakens the 8j>iue, and thus his whole frame ; it causes a rush of blood to the head and face, uiul prediiiposeu hiio to gatch cold* i '"■, 116 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. h I « (1 JJL* Let a nurso raako a point of opening the nursery window every time that slie and her httle cliargo leavo the nursery, if her absence bo oidy for half an hour. Tlie mother herself ought to see that this advice is followed, pure air is so essential to the well-being of a child. Pure air and pure water, and let me add, puro milk, are for a child the grand and principal requirements of health. Look v*'ell to the Drainage of your house and neigh- bourhood. A child is very susceptible to the influence of bad drainage. Bad drains are fruitful sources of scarlet fever, of diphtheria, of diarrhoia, &c. " It is sad to be reminded that, whatever evils threaten the health of population, whether from pollutions of water or of air, — whether from bad drainage or overcrowding, they fall heaviest upon the most innocent victims — upon children of tender years. Their delicate frames are infinitely more sensitive than the hardened constitutions of adults, and the breath of poison, or the chill of hard- ships, easily blights their tender life." — The Times. A nursery floor ought not to be washed of tener than once a week ; and then the child or children should, until it be dry, be sent into another room. During the drying of the' floor, the windows must, of course, be thrown wide open. The constant wetting of a nursery is a frequent source of illness among children. The floor ought, of course, to be kept clean ; but this may be done by the servant thoroughly sweeping the room out every morning before her little charge iLakt>s his appearance. Do not have your nursery wall covered with green paper-hangings. Green paper-hangings contain large quantities of arsenic — arsenite of copper (Scheele's green) — Avhich, I need scarcely say, is a virulent poison, and which flies about the room in the form .of powder. There is frequently enough poison on the walls of a room to destroy a whole neigbourhood. There is another great objection to having youp DUrsery wftlls covered with grem paper-lwngings j if any i CHILDHOOD. — THE NURSERY. 117 are of the paper should become loose from the walls, a little child is very apt to play with it, and to put it, as he docs every thing cLse, to his mouth. Th'ii is not an imaginary state of things, as four children ii one family have just lost their lives from sucking green paper-hang- ti mgs, Green dresses, as they are coloured with a preparation of arsenic, are equally as dangerous as green paper-hang- ings; a child ought, therefore, never to wear a yretu dress. *' It may be interesting to some of our readei-s," says Land and Water, " to know that the new green, so fashionable for ladies' dresses, is just as dangerous in its nature as the green wall-paper, about whicli so much was written some time since. It is prepared with a Large quantity of arsenic ; and we have been assured by several of the leading dressmakers, that the workwomen employed in making up dresses of this colour are seriously affected with all the symptoms of arsenical poisoning. Let our lady friends take care." Children's toys are frequently painted of a green colour with arsenite of copper, and are consequently, highly dangerous for him to play with. The best toy for a child is a box of unpainted wooden bricks, which is a constant source of amusement to him. If you have your nursery walls h ing with paintings and engravings, let them be of good quality. The horrid daubs and bad engravings that usually disfigure nursery walls, are enough to ruin the taste of a cliiM, and to make him take a disgust to drawing, whicii would be a misfortune. A fine engraving and a good painting expand and elevate his mind. We all know that first impressions are the most vivid and the most lasting. A taste in early life for everything refined and beautiful purifies hia mind, cultivates his intellect, keeps him from low company, and makes him grow up a gentleman ! Lucifer matches, in case of sudden illness, should, both in the nursery and in the bedroom, be always in readiness ; but they must be carefully placed out of the reach of children, as lucifer matches are a deadly poison. 118 ADVICE TO A Moinrn. MiUiy in(|n(\stM Imvi^ Ihmmi lu'ld on rliildron who liiivo, from hiiviny Hucktul iln'iii, bi'cii poisoned ])y thoni. IGO. Ifarr you any ohsrrr'alion, to nutlcc on ihr iahut of (f mn'sen/ ? \oi tho window, or wliat is lu'ilcr, Uio windows, of a nni-sery \w very larj^'e, so as to tliorou^ddy li^dit np evt'ry nook and corner of I he room, as there is nothin.LC nuro et)ndncive to the liealtli of a ehiM tlian an ahinidanee of lijjfht in the dwelling. A rootn cannot, then, be too light. The windows of a nnrsery arc getierally too small. A child ro(piires as much light as a plant. (Jardeners arc well aware of the gn^at importance? of light in the con- struction of their grei^diouses, and yet a child, who re- (piires it as much, and is of nuich greater importance, is cooped up in il;irk rooms ! The windows of a nursery ought not oidy to be fre- quently oi)ened to let in fresh air, hU should he, frequently rhymed, to let in j)lenty of light and of sun- shine, as nothing is so cheering ami beneliciiil to a child as an abundance of light and sunshine ! With regard to the hest artificial litjht for a. vnrsery. — The air of a nursery cannot be too pure ; I thereforo do not advise you to have gas in it, as gas in burning gives olf quantities of carbonic acid and sulphnretteil hydrogen, whicl. vitiate the air. The paralline lanij), too, makes a room very hot and close. There is no better light for a nursery than cither Price's patent candles or the old-fiishioned tallow-candle. Let a child's home be the happiest house to him in tho world ; and to be happy ho must be merry, and all around him should be merry and cheerful ; and he ought to have an abundance of playthings, to help on the merriment. If he have a dismal nurse, and a dismal home, he may as well be incarcerated in a prison, and bo attended by a gaoler. It is sad enough to see dismal, doleful men and women, but it is a truly lamentable and unnatural sight to see a doleful child ! Tho young ought to be as play- ful and as full of innocent mischief as a kitten. There OniLDnOOD. — THE NURSKRY. 110 will 1)0 quite tiino enough in after yeuiH for sorrow und for siidneHS. Briglit colours, plenty of liglit, dean windows (mind tliis, if you plejiHe), an id)un(lHnee of f/fw/ coloured |)rintH, and toyH without nundier, are tlu» proper furniHhinf^'H (if a nursery. Nursery ! why, the very nanie ttslls you wimt it ought to be — the home of (;hil disposition will become timid and wavering, and may continue so for the remainder of his life. If a little fellow were not terrified by such stories, tho darkness would not frighten him more than tlie light. Moreover, the mind thus tilled with fear, acts upon the body, and injures tho health. A child must never bo placed in a dark cellar, nor frightened by tales of rats, &c. Instances are related of fear thus induced impairing the intellect for life ; and there are numerous exam])les of sudden fright causing a dangerous and even a fatal illness. Night-terrors. — This frightening of a child by a silly nurse frequently brings on night-terrors. He wakes up suddenly, soon after going to sleep, frightened and terrified ; screaming violently, and declaring that he has seen either some ghost, or thief, or some object that the silly nurse had been previously in the day describing, who is come for him to take him away. The little fellow is the very picture of terror and alarm ; he hides liis face in his mother's bosom, the perspiration streams down him, and it is some time before he can be pacified — when, at length, he falls into a troubled feverish V slumber, to awake in the morning unrefreshed. Night after night those terrors liaiass him, until his health CniLDOOOD. — THE NURSKUY. 121 mntorially HuflrrH, ami liis young lifo Leconios niifieraLlo looking forward willi (lr<3 126 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. i !': II and dwell upon them ; praise him where and whenever you can ; and make him feel that, by perseverance and by God's blessing, he will make a good man. Speak truthfully to your child j if you once deceive him, he will not believe you for the future. Not only so, but if you are truthful yourself you are likely to make him truthful — like begets like. There is something beauti- ful in truth ! A lying child is an abomination ! Sir AValter Scott says " that he taught his son to ride, to shoot, and to tell the truth." Archdeacon Hare asserts " that Purity is the feminine, Truth the masculine of Honour." As soon as a child can speak he should be made to lisp the noble words of truth, and to love it, and to abhor a lie ! What a beautiful character he will then make ! Blessed is the child that can say, — "Parental cares watched o'er my growing youth, And early stamped it with the love of truth. " Leadbeater Papers. Have no favourites, show no partiality ; for the young are very jealous, sharp-sighted, and quick-witted, and take a dislike to the petted one. Do not rouse the old Adam in them. Let children be taught to be " kindly atiectioned one to another with brotherly love ; " let them be encouraged to share each other's toys and play- things, and to banish selfishness. Attend to a child's little pleasures. It is the little pleasures of a child that constitute his happiness. Great pleasures to him and to us all (as a favourite author remarks) come but seldom, and are the exceptions, auvl not the rule. Let a child be nurtured in love. " It will be seen," says the author of John Halifax , "that I hold this law of kindness as the Alpha and Omega of education. I once asked one, in his own house, a father in everything but the name, his authority unquestioned, his least word held in reverence, his smallest wish obeyed — ' How did you ever manage to bring up these children ? ' He said By lover' CHILDHOOD. — THE NURSERT. 127 Let every word and action prove that you love your cliildren. Enter into all their little pursuits and pleasures. Join them in their play, nnd be a " child again i " If they are curious, do not check their curiosity ; but rather encourage it ; for they have a great ileal — as we all have — to learn, and how can thev know it they are not taught 1 You may depend ui)on it the knowledge they obtain from observation is far superior to that obtained from books. Let all you teach them, let all you do, and let all you say bear the stamp of love. " Endeavour, from fii-st to last, in your intercourse with your children, to let it bear the impress of love. It is not enough that you feel affection towards your children — that you are devoted to their interests ; you nuist show in your manner the fondness of your hearts towards them. Young minds cannot appreciate great sacrifices made for them ; they judge their parents by the words and deeds of every-day life. They are won by little kindnesses, and ahenated by little acts of neglect or impatience. One complaint unnoticed, ono appeal unheeded, one lawful request arbitrarily refused, will be remembered by your little ones more than a thou- sand acts of the most devoted affection." — Tlie Protoplad. A placid, well-regulated temper is very conducive to liealth. A disordered, or an over-loaded stomach, is a frequent cause of peevishness. Appropriate treatment in such a case wiJl, of course, be necessary. 1G9. My child stammers : can you tell me ike cavsCy and can you suggest a remedy i A child who stammers is generally " nervous,'' quick, and impidsivc. His ideas tlovv too rapidly for si)eech. He is "nervous;" hence, when he is alone, and with those he loves, he oftentimes speaks Huently and well ; he stammers more both when he is tired and when he is out of health — when the nervTS are eithei* weak or ex- hausted. He is emotional : when he is either in a passion or in excitement, eilher of joy or of grief, he can scarcely speak — "he stamme>' all over." He is impul- eive : he often stammers in consequence. He is in too 128 ADVICE TO A MOTHKR. givat a Imrry to Imnp out liia words ; 11 icy do not flow in proper se(picuco : liciico his worda aro l)rokcn and disjointed. Stjimnicrin*;, of course, might he owing either to some organic (k'fect, such as from (h^fectivo jialate, or from (U'fective hrain, then nothing will euro him ; or it might he owing to " nervous " causes — to ** irregular nervous action," then a euro might, with care and perseverance, bo usually ellected. In all cases of stammering of a child, let both tho ])alate of his mouth and the bridle of his tongue bo care- fully examined, to see that neither the palate be defective, nor the bridle of the tongue be too short — that ho be not tongue-tied. Nou\ with regard to Trentmrnf. — ^lakc him speak bIowIv and deliberately ; let him form each word, with- out clijiping or chopping ; let him bo made, when you are alone with him, to exorcise himself in elocution. If he speak quickly, stop him in his mid career, and make him, quietly and deliberately, go through the sentence again ;ind again, until ho has Ajastored tho dilliculty ; teach him to collect his thoughts, an.d to weigh each word cro lie give it utterance ; practise him in singing littlo hymuf and songs for children ; this you will find a valu- able help in the cure. A stammerer seldom stutters when 1:3 sings. When he sings, he has a full knowledge of tho Avords, and is obliged to keep in time — to sing neither too fast nor too slow. Besides, he sings in a diiFerent key to his speaking voice. ]\Iany professors for tho treatment of stammering cure their patients by practising lessons of a sing-song character. Never jeer him for stammering, nor turn him to ridicule ; if you do, it will make him ten times worse ; but be patient and gentle with him, and endeavour to give him contidence, and encourage him to speak to you as quietly, as gently, and deliberately as you speak to him ; toll him not to sj)osik until he has arranged his thoughts md chosen Ws words } let him do uotjjing in a Jiurry • CniLDnoOD. — TITE NtTRSmr. 129 Demosllioru'a was said, in liis yontli, iolifivo stamiiicnid foarfiilly, and to liavc. cuivd liiiiisclf })y }iis own j)r('scn|)- tioM, namely, by piitlin;^' a jtcMdii in Ids nioutli, ami diiclairain^', ficcjUonMy, slowly, ([uicilly, and (hililHiratdy, on tli(i Rfa-sliore — tlic lisljos alono Lcin;^ liis audience, — until at h^i'^th lus eured himself, and clianned the woild witii his elo(|U(!nce and with liis elocution. lie is held ujt, to this very day, as the personiiieation and as tho luoi lei of an orator. His j)atien(;(^, perseveraiu;e, a ru I I)raeti('c ou^'ht, by all who eitlier are, or are interested in a stammerer, to ho borne in mind and ft)llowed. 170. Jk fo yon (i}>j)rove oj a air pet ui a iKWscnj f No ; unl(!ss it be a small piece for aehild to roll upon. A car] )et harbours dirt and dust, whicli dust is constantly Jloatin<; about the atuiosplierc^, and tlliis making; it impuio for him to breathe. The truth of this may be easily ascertained by enlerin*,' a dai'kened room, whenj a lay of sunshine is struL^^Iiu;^' through a crevice in the shutters. If the floor of a nuisery must ])e covchmI, let drug;^'et be laid down ; and this may every morning be taken np and sliaken. The less furniture a nursery contains the better; for much furniture obstructs the fi '; circulation of the air, and, moreover, prevents a child from taking pro})er play and exercise in the room — an abundance of whi(5h are absohitely necessary for his liealth. 171. Suppo'.iing thei'e is not afire in the nursery grate^ ou(jht the chimney to he stopped to prevent a draught in the room ? Certainly not. I consider the use of a chimney to be two-fold : — first, to carry off the smoke ; and secondly (whic^h is of quite as much importance), to ventilate the room, by carrying off the impure air, loaded as it is with carbonic acid gas — the refuse of' respiration. The chimney, therefore, should never, either winter or summer, be allowed for one moment to be stopped. This is important advice, and requires the strict super/ision of every mother, as servants will, if they have the chance, stop all chimneys tha{ have no fires in the grates. 130 ADViore TO A Moinna EXKucisre. 172. Do f/on approjr^ dnriiKj thr mimma' month.% of »c.r\<\i]}[i " ''////(/ out niOKoiiii: hrmUfaM f I do, wluMi i\w wnitlicr will pcnuit, and providod tho wind 1)0 iHiilhor in an oasforly nor in a norMi-caHtcrly tlinvlion ; indcod, hr run srarrcff/ he too nuirh in tlin open tiir. Ho niUvSl not bo allowed to wland about drau.L;lits or aboni otiirios, and llio only way to ])rov(Mit him doin, ])ut nj)on a carpet ; and it will bo found that whon ho is slronj; onou<;h, lu^ will hold by a chair, and will stand alono : wlu^n ho can do so, and attempts to walk, ho should then bo supported. You nuist, oti first puttini; him ujion his feet, bo guided by his own wishes. Ho will, as soon as lio is strong enough to Avalk, have the in- clination to tlo so. Whon ho has the inclination and the strength it will bo folly to restrain him ; if ho have neiilior the inclination nor the strength, it will bo absurd to urge him on. Kidy, therefore, to a certain extent, U])on tho inclination of the child hims'df. Self-relianco OMunot be tt>o early taught him, anil, imlcod, every ono else. In tho generality of instances, however, a child is put on his feet too soon, and tho bones, at that tcnvlor nge, being very lloxiblo, l)end, causing bowed and bandy- legs : and the knees, being weaTc, approximate too closely together, and thus they become knock-kneed. This ad- vice of not putting a child carhj on his feet, 1 must strongly insist on, as many mothers are so ridiculously ambitious that their young ones should walk early — that they should walk before other children of their acquaintance have attempted — that they have frequently caused the above lamentable xleformities ; w^hich is a standing reproach to them during the rest of their lives I IH OtIITiDnoOD.— KXimoiHK. I'M 174. Do ynu approvn of prrainfiu/itforft f 1 do not, for two rcfiaoiiH : - lirHf., lu'cnuHn wlicn n cliiM ifi Hlroii;^ «Mionj:;li, lu) liiul })rifci' w.ilk hh imidi jih lie will ; ftiid, himicuhIIv, iJKnnoiion is not, Mo^^'ood, and Mh', miiMclcH aro not ko much ]nil- iiiU) action, juid ('.onH('(|ii('ntiy cfirniot 1)0 HO well <1(iv(^1oimm1, m wlniii ho \h canicd. A porainbidator is V(My apl- io iiiako a «:liild hI,ooj>, and to iiiako liini both crooked alid round MJionldrrcil. lie in crainiHid ])y hoin^ ho lonj,' in one; j)os;il,ieiriL,' naturally cold. In point of fact, the child, while Ixtin;; borne in tho nursc'3 arms, rei)OseH on the nurse, wai m and supported, as though ho were in a nest ! \\'liil(% on the other hand, if he bo in a i)erambulatf)r, he is cold and unsupported, looking the V(;ry picture of misery, SM^iking everywhere for rest and comfort, and linding none ! A nurse's arm, then, is the only proper carriage for a ynunn child to take exercise on. She ouglit to change about, first carrying him on the one arm, and then on the othe^ Nursing him on one arm, only miglit giv(j his body a twist on one side, and thus might cause deformity. When he is old enough to walk, and is able properly 132 ADVICE TO A 'MOTHER. to support the weight of his own neck .ind hack, then there will be no objct'tion, provided it ])o not in a crowded thorou^lifai'e, to his riding occasionally in a perambulator; but when ho is older still, and can sit either a donkey or a pony, such exercise will be far more beneficial, and will aH'ord him much greater pkasure. 175. tiupjwa'uKi it tn ho wet uivh'r foot, hut dry ahove^ do you than apjirove of s/mdhiy a cJiihl out 1 If the wind be neither in the east nor the north-east, and if the air be not damp, let him be well wrai)ped up and be sent out. If he belabouring under aninilamma- tion of the lungs, however slight, or if he be just recovering fron) one, it would, of course, be highly im- proper. In the management of a child, we must take care neither to codtUe nor to expose him unnecessarily, as both are dangerous. Never send a child out to walk in a fog ; he will, if you do, be almost sure to catch cold. It would be much safer to send him out in rain than in fog, though neither the one nor the other would be desirable. 176. llow many times a day in fine weather ought a child to he sent out ? Let him be sent out as often as it be possible. If a child lived more in the open air than he is wont to do, he would neither be so susceptible of disease, nor would he sutler so much from teething, nor from catching cold. 177. Supposiny the day to he icet, what exercise icould you then recommend ? The child ought to run either about a large room, or al)Out the hall ; and if it does not rain violently, you should put on his hat and throw up the window, taking care while the window is ojien that he does not stand still. A wet day is the day for him to hold his high court of revelry, and " to make him as hapj^y as the day is long." Do not on any account allow him to sit any length of time at a table, amusing himself with books, tkc. ; let him be active and stirring, that his blood may freely circulate 88 it ought to do, and that liis muscles may be well ciiii-PJionn. — KXKiicisa 133 ? room, or devclopcil. I would rather see him actively engapjod in mischief than sitting still, doing nothing ! He ought to he j»ut on the carpet, and should then bo tumhleil and rolled about, to make the blood bound merrily through the. vessels, to stir up the liver, to promote digestion, and to oien the bowels. The misfortune of it is, the present ract of nurses are so encumbered with long dresses, and so s«^Tewed in with tight stays (aping their betters), that they are not able to stoop properly, and thus to have a good gauie of romps with their little charges. " Doing nothing is doing ill " is as true a saying as was ever spoken. 178. Supposing it to he winter ^ and the weather to he verii cold, would you still send a child ont ? ] )et;i(kMlly, jjrovided he be \vell wi'apped up. Tho cold will ])race and strengthen him. Cold weather is the linest tonic in the world. In frosty weather, the roads being slippery, when you send him out to walk, put a pair of large old woolk'u stockings oi'fT his boots or shoes. This will not only keep his feet and his legs warm, but it will prevent him from falling down and hurting himself. A\1iile tlius e(jni|)ped, he may even walk on a slide of ice without falling down I A child, in the winter time, requires, to keep him warm, plenty of flannel and plenty of food, plenty of fresh and genuine milk, and plenty of water in his tub to wasli und bathe him in a morning, plenty of exercise and plenty of pi ly, and then he may brave the froslyair. It is the coddled, the half-washed, and the half-starved child (half-washed and half-starved from either the mother's ignorance or from the mother's timidity), that is the cliilly starveling, — catching cold at every breath of wind, and every time he either walks or is carried out, — a puny, skinny, scraggy, scare-crow, more dead than alive, and more tit for his grave than for the rough World he will have to struggle in ! If the above advice bt? strictly followed, a child may bo sent out in the coldest weather, evca — :|^ 134 ADVICK TO A MOTHER, *' When icicles hang by the wall, ' And Dick, tho slicphcrd, blows his nail ; And Tom bears lorj.s into the hall. Ana milk comes frozen home in pail." Shakspcare. AMUSEMENTS. 179. Have you any remarks to mahe on the amicse- mentfi of a child? Let the amusements of a chilJ bo as much as possihlo out of doors ; let him spend the greater jmrt of every day in the open air ; let him exert himself as much as ho please, his feelings will tell liim when to rest and when to begin again ; let him be what Nature intended him to be — a hapj)y, laughing, joyous child. Do not let him bo always poring over books : — ** Books ! 'tis a dull and endless strife, Come, hear the woodland linnet ! How sweet his music ! On my life, There's more of wisdom in it. And hark ! how blithe the throstle sings t He, too, is no mean preacher : Come forth into the light of things, — Let Nature be your teacher. She has a world of ready wealth. Our minds and hearts to bless, — Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health, Truth breathed by cheerfulness. One impulse from a vernal wood May teach you more of man. Of moral evil and of good. Than all the sages can." — Wordsworth, He ought to be encouraged to engage in those sports wherein the greatest number of muscles are brought into play. For instance, to play at ball, or hoop, or football, to play at horses, to run to certain distances and back ; and, if a girl, to amuse herself with a skipping rope, such being excellent exercise — ** By sports like these are all their cares beguiled. The sports of children satisfy the child." — Goldsmith, CniLDUOOD. — AMUSEMENTS. 135 the amuse- Every cliild, wlicro it ho practicahlo, should havo a Bmall ]tlot of ground to cultivate, that ho may dig and di'lve in, and make dirt-pies if he choose. Cliildren now-a-days, unfortunately, are not allowed to soil their hands and their fine clothes. For my own part, Idisliko sucli model children ; let a child ho natu^td — let him, as far as is jiossihle, choose his own sports. Do not ho always interfering with his pursuits, and he finding fault with him. llemember, what may ho amusing to you may Ite distjvsteful to him. I do not, of course, mean hut that you should constantly havo a watchful eye over him ; yet do not let him see that ho is under restraint or survi'illance ; if you do, you will never discover his truo cliaracter and inclinations. Not only so, hut do not dim th(! bright sunshine of his early life by constantly check- ing and thwarting him. Tupper beautifidly says — •* Anil check not a child in his mciriuieut, — Should not his morning be sunny ? " "WHien, therefore, ho is either in the nursery or in the jtlay-ground, let him shout and riot and romp about as miuh as he please. His lungs and his muscles want developing, and his nerves require strengthening ; and how can such be accomjdished unless you allow them to be ileveloi)ed and strengthened by natural means ? The nui-sery is a child's own domain ; it is liis casthi, and he should be Lord Paramount therein. ]f he choose to blow a whistle, or to spring a rattle, or to make any other hiileous noise, which to him is sweet music, he shoidd bo allowed, without let or hindrance, to do so. If any members of the family have weak nerves, let them keep at a respectful distance. A child who never gets into mischief must bo either sly, or delicate, or idiotic ; indeed, the system of many persons, in bringing up children, is likely to make them either tlie one or the other. The pres<.'nt plan of train- ing children is nearly all work (books), and very little I'lay. I'lay, and plenty of it, is necessary to the very existence of a child. A boy not partial to mischief, innocent mischief, an(i 13G AiniCR TO A MOTHER play, is iiTinaiiiral ; ho is a man In'foro liis tiino, ho is a iiiiisaiKU!, Jic is (lisa;^'n'('ar»lt! to liiiiisclf and to cvory uiio arounut, rem(;nd>er, although lie ought not to he allowed to have j)oison paint-l)Oxes and poison-j»ainttMl toys, he ivvst h'lve iin abinuOutrr of fof/s, such as the Avliite-wood toys — hrewers* drays, millers' waggons, ])oxes of wooden hricks, tkc. The Ts^)idi's Ark is one of the most amusing autl instructive toys for a (;hild. "Those fashi(jned out of brown, unpainted pine-wood by tlu; clever carvers ol Nurend)erg or the lUack Forest are the> best, I think, not only because they an^ the most spirited, but l»ecauso they will survive a good deal of knocking about, and can be sucked willi imi)unity. From tlic^ first dawn of recollection, children aie thus familiarised with the forms of natural objects, and may be well uj) in natural history before they have mastered the A I> C."* Parents often make Sunday a day of gloom : to this I much object. Of all. the days in the week, Sunday should be the most cheerful and pleasant. It is con- sidered by our Church a festival; and a glorious festival it ought to l)e made, and one on which our Ileaveidy Fal her wishes to see all Ilis children happy and full of innocent joy ! Let Sunday, then, be made a cheerful, joyous, innocently happy day, and not, as it frequently is, the most miserable and dismal in the week. It is my firm conviction that many men have been made irnili^ious by the ridiculously strict and dismal way they Were compelled, as children, to s])end their Sundays. Vou can no more make a child religious by gloomy * From an excellent article About ToijSy by J. Hamilton FyPp ip (Jood Wards for December 1862. 138 ADVICB TO A MOTHER !i- 1 ii i asceticism, than you can make people good by Ai'-.t of rarliament. One of the groat follies of the present apjo is, cliildrcn's parties, where they are allowed to be dressed np like gn»wii-u]) women, stuck out in petticoats, and encouraged to eat rii'h cake and pastry, and to drink wine, and to sit up late at night ! There is something disgusting and demoralising in all this. Their pure minds are blighted by it. Do not let me be misunderstood : there is not the least objection, but, on the contrary, great advantage, for friends' children to meet friends' children ; but then lot them be treated as children, and not as men and women ! 180. Do you approve of jmlUc 2^f^(l/i/^'onnds for children ? It would be well, in every village, and in the outskirts of every town, if a largo plot of ground were set apart for children to play in, and to go through regular gymnastic exercises. Play is absolutely necessary to a chil'-.'s very existence, as much as food and sleep ; but in many parts of England where is he to have it ? Playgrounds and play are the best schools we have ; they teach a great deal not taught elsewhere ; they give lessons in health, which is the grandest Aveidlh that can be best.r^ved — " for health is wealth : " th(^y prepare the soil for the future schoolmaster ; they clear the brain, and thus the intellect ; they strengthen the' nniseles ; they make the blood course merrily tlu-ough the arteries ; they bestow healthy food for the lungs ; they give an appetite ; they make a child, in due time, become every ini'h a man ! Play-grounds and play are one of the finest institutions we possess. What would our largo ])ublic schools be without their ]ilay and cricket grountls ? They would be shorn of half their splendour and their usefulness ! There is so much talk now-a-days about mspfid know- ledge, that the iuiportance of play and }>lay-groun(ls is likely to be forgotten. I cannot help thinking, however, that a bettor state of things is dawning. " It seeus to CHILDHOOD. —EDUCATION. 139 be found out that in our zeal for useful knowledge, that knowledge is found to ho not the lejust useful which treat hojs as active, stirring, aspuing, and ready."* EDUCATION. . 181. Do you approve of irifavt schools ? I do, if the ?,iTangeinents ho such that health is pre- ferred hefore learning, f Let children he only eon lined for tliree or foui' hours a day, and let what little they learn he taught as an amusement rather than as a labour. A play-ground ought to he attached to an infant scliool ; where, in lino weather, for every half -hour they spend in-docrs, tht^y should sjjond one in the open air ; an«l, in wet weather, they ought to have, in lieu of tlie play- giound, a large room to romp, and shout, and riot in. To develop the different organs, muscles, anear in mind, a child is very oliservant^ and thinks much, weighs well, and seldom forgets all you say and all you do ! Let no hasty word, then, and more especially no oath, or no impious language, ever pass your lips, if your child be within hearing. It is, of course, at aU times wicked to swear ; but it is heinously and unpardonably sinful to swear in the presence of your child ! " Childhood i.«« like a mirror, catching and reflecting images. One impious or profane thought, uttered by a parent's lip, may operate upon the young heart like a careless spraj of water thrown upon polished steel, staining it with lufit, which no after bcouriug can effuoe," ■■ ift: i4 • > t ■c: mmam H"i Al>Vlon TO A MUTflU'll Novor l;\lk Hoon'JM l»i'ft>ro ii clnlil ••Iilll(» )»i't Item 1»,«vo loU}^ p.UM ; " if y'»n «l«», und lir tliMcInm* ytnw scrrt'ls JIM inoMl liKrIy ho will (iml IIuim m;iK(> iniHi'liicf, \|. will l>o nuol to MooM him ; y'"i ^vill, Uw V'»iir iiiipru- »h'n«M\ hiU-o voiMMolf only \o Itl.imo. I'.o iiiomI, r.'in'lul, thtMi. in (ho nn'MiMit'o of yonr rhild, of wliiil yon wiy, find of whom you sp, if followod, nii};h(. HJivo ji ^\vi\{ «1om1 of anuoyi»n<'«« inul vox.ilion. 1S4. Arc }/,)ih (in ihicocdfr j\)v vos his pronMnoiiition, and \h m givai pl(';iMuro and amnstMnonl lo l\im. ) Iv'^.^. /)() you nj^pi\)v ho M previiv^posod, o.iuvsos riokoUs, and makos him crooktMl. A. noi>;o hair mallivss is tho host for a child (o lio «»n, 'I'ho jnllow, too, slu>idd ho mado of horsi* hair. A fi'tttlwr piJlow ofton oansos thr> hoad to l>o halhod in perspiration, thus- onorvatinLj tho ohild, and makinij liim hahlo to cx\\c\\ oold. If ho ho at all riokoty, if lu» ho woak in tho mvk, if ho ho iuolinod lo stoo]), or if ho ho at all «rv>okod. lot him, hy all moans, lio withotii a pillow. ic>(>. /><) you recommend n child, in tho middlv of tlui (toy, to he put to sleep f fiet him Iv put on Ids mattn\ss a/ra/iv, that lu* may eiot'p ioT a oonplo of liours hoforo dinnor, ihon ho will tiso both ivfivuhod and siivngtnonoa ior tho romainoor of the day. l vsaid, lot him ho put down awake. Ifo miglit. for tho th'st low iinuvs, ory, hut, hy porsi'voraiujc, he will without any ditliculty fall io sloop. Tho ])racti(!C of sloopim* Ivfori^ dinnor ought to Ih> continued until ho he thrtv years oUl, and, if he c^m ho prevailed upon, oven )v»ut{er. For if hti do not have sleep iu the luiddlo u( it ^ «ffTTiT)Tlf»on — •I'.wrip. an (» your )H('lu<»f, iin])ni run'liil, iiy. M'l'l , nii};l«l. »>iiM niul »ic»«, iiu- uri^ mivl i> KMATHKIt n. ri.o j)irali(»n, iiil>lo to k in llio ill all low. li(» ni!iy lu' v'ill MiiaiiKior ihr. Ho vorant!C, » ])riioti(!C until ln> )on, oven uiddU) uf fhft ffny, ?if> will nil IliM iiff-TMinrm niiti llir ♦ivrrilti^i; !..> noHM ; ami wIm-ii lin tlo«?« ^o f(» Itnl, Ii<> will prolinnly lui too li'Tij i" nIi'om, .'i>f I Al. nix in Mm winlcf, n'ld af, wwww <»'r,Io(k in U» minmitu". Urijulnrihj y>\\\!yv In \m ol/HMrvcd, r/« r'''///^/r//// i'.v /vT// ronihirivf l<)ln'fiHli. \\, inn, njtnlMiiHihN' |»m( ti»M to krrpd rliild ii|i until ni?i(<. or toi o'clock at iii^^lit. If lliin l)n (I(in(\ lie will, hcfdif lii.M timn, hccornr! old, and tli(> Hrndn of discaHc. will Im H(»vvn. Ah Hoon HM lin run run, Ift hirn he, ciiroiiraj.^pil, for lalf an hour Itcforn Im j^ocm to lied, t(» rar.f. ♦•itluT altont tli(^ liall, or tliM ]aiidin<4, or a lar'^o room, whirli wlII I'M tlm Ixwt nicaiin of warming Jnh feet, of prcvcntinj^ chilhlainH, and of rnnkiii^^ liirn nlfcp Koiin»lly. 188. Ilttri' yon an// fllrt'rlloi h to (jiiut inc. om to Ihn J)hirinfj of mil eliillaf;« liini fairly o;i lii?; Hidf, in t,h« iniddln of tin*, hcd ; if it lie wirder time, wee, that hiA nriiiM and handn he coven-d with the, hed f;lothe,H ; if it f>tf mnnmer, hin handn mif,dd, Ix; allowed to Ix) 01;' ide, the (d()tln!H. In \>\xi\,w^ I'.ini down to Hie.ej), you Hlio'ild o.sci'rtain that nia laen und.H into it, a white film will form on tlie top ; the carbonic a/;id '^{\b from the br'"ith unite.s with tlie lime of the lime-Wfit>r, »nd ihe product of tho white film is carbonate; (A jir.i.!. 189 L)^l you aduUe a hcflror/m to be, d/tf^tiru.'d (U m^hJ t III IH APTICB 1*0 A M'>7ctf.iw HI' Cciicuuly : a child sleeps sounder and swoot<^T ^.r. i dark than in a light room. There is nothing hetty?,r for the purjjoso of darkening a bedroom, than Yenctiau blinda. Remeniher, then, a well-ventilated, but ,\ darkened, chamber at night. The cot or the crib ought not to face the window, " as the light is best behind."*' 190. Which 18 the bed position for a child 'ichiV^ sk^pinri — on his hackj or on his side ? His side : he ought to be accustomed to change about, on the right side one night, on the left another ; and occasionally, for a change, he shoidd lie on his back. ]]y adopting this plan, you will not only improve Inj figure, but likewise his healtlL Lying, night after night, in one position, would be likely to make him crooked. 191. Do you advise^ in the ivinter time, that thcpj shoidd he ajire in the ni will rrnj, uunti OinnlitrlMMv, mul Ihh bI<'i')» will he tinnv rcl'ivHliiii^r. I'.^l. tSiipi',ysi)h) It t'hilil i^' / 11 ^ (//>'<■ /ii/;/; r» f/d.vf »;/ iU\Ut r«Ml;»inlv not. Try llic ""irt'clM of ovorripo. I'acicIro in Ihc open nif if< Iho ImmI roin|n»Miiitr nii'iliciin' in llm Mtulil. It'l iln> Itlllc fi'llow l>i> well hn>(l oiil, nml IIkiu >mII l>t» llHlo I't'MV of IllM not Ml(>('|iill|r. IlK^. if'tvr you ivnj fiirihcr i^hKcvvatiouH ti) ninh' on Son»l i\ cluM ,i<\vfnl lo IhmI. ! >o noj, if yod ciin poH- H\\\\\ \w]\\ it, It'i hmi ^o Jo Itcil ciyiii^i;. I,(>1, flic ImmI. im- >n'ssionM lie l>;)s« Ml ni«;lil l>o of liin liMpnv lioinc, iiixl of \\x loviMj; falluM' .•in«'. mioIIut. jnul Icf Ihm l.iMf Jliou'iliJM ho thosiM^f joy Mn»l j;ln(lni'sn. Il»' will hIo('|miII IIio hoiiikIit if l\o ln> sont lo boti »M MU('1» I) fiMino of iiiiiitl, iiixl lin vill W moiv v«'fr»v^ho«l Miul uouriMln>il in the nioniing liy li>(5. U7/'>/ piYvrnt his injiiviiuj hiniHclf ? A *lisoi\li'n'»l stoniMch, in a olnKI of ntM'voiiM Icinprra- in»Mil. ov worn\s, ;n"o usu.dly the «';uimom. 'Tho nicimM lo bo a«lop((Ml (o pri'v«Mil his llnowing liinis«e to ojvn only for a suiru'itMit s|»aiM> tor ventilation, anti to havo a soivw winiii>w fasloning, in onlor that, ho ciinnol, Mitlunit ditVionlty, opon tho window ; to havo a tnisty jvi>:on \o 8loo]> in his room, who shonhl havt> dirootiuiis given not to u>nso liini from his slooj», bnt toj^'ontly load him baok to Ids bod, wlu;'h may froqiioidly bo doiio without awakinj; him ; and to oonsult a modioal niaii, who will adopt moans to ilostroy tho wt)rms, to \n.^ his Ptomaoh into ordor,.t<> braoo his norvos, and \o slrongllu'ii 1 us i::oni ral svst«>m. A t ni> to 11 n> coast and sou butliiii iu such a case, is oftoii i ( great service. ^' Cllll t»ll()(S|».- <»N IHHrVMf!, r/frt. H7 > nuMinf- 1*> out ol" llit^ n\(M\t, iuiil ^ or Hcirwrt >viinl«>NV lo ion, immI to lio *'tiiii»ot, »vt' ;i trusty t>. ilirrciiun^ p'utly \r>\A ly bo tlono lovlical luiin, S to pi., )»i!^ » stn^ngtluMi Hoabiilhin^', BfilCnNIi liKNTf'irnM. 107. U'/i'if ilin'n a r/ii/if rnnmi'Hi'r (o nil lih MTim\) $(l o/ (nf/i / (h'Mi'KiIIv '•! MCVi'M V'HIM (i|f|. lie f'l'ffiuft (o /*/// III* (fj III iiImmiI lliiii tiiiK' ; bill it. mIimiiI)! Im bornr in iiiiri'l (ho WnlHJi'lflll lirt' IIm' \Vi»||«'4 ; fliM mrinnl, or |M'riiiiini'nl. ti-rlii, ronn- cdMily, nn'l i\rf un iii., or with lit lie (tdin nri' roi'lily |hiIIim| out ; iinili-r tliTMi', tlm ni'rnn\K-nrnucf, nfid fill iip I Ik- vncnui H|ifi(M'H. Till' I'muj^' of tlic iool.li tluit, JifiH drojiji('<| (dif, i^ rir.'irly nil abMorlM-d or rutfri iivvny, K'(i,vin;.{ liilK- rnor<', tliiiii tin- rrown. Tlic ///-.sV M-f, cofiMiMt.H f»f tw«'fily; tlio nmuhl (iMcliidin;^ tlic wim' b-i'tli, wliirli nv*' not,, yi-wcvuWy ('III until jifb-r llMiU^i! of tweniy-Kcvcn) (^oriHists of tJjirf.y- t wo. I would rccornnu'rid you to jiuy [>;irf ifiiJdr ntt'-niion to the b'ct.li of your rliildn-n ; for, b>'.Mid«'H tlxir b«'in;^ ornaMiiiit.'il, tlieir r(';4ul.'i.ril.y jirid KoundnfKK (irc r»f ^/n-ut iiii|ioil.'in('ii>if('tl wilk l/io i{7jiii.j)l(j)fiii of l/m bUiloiH dUmaf-^uJ ch'ddrm. *'. ^Jlj :i! 148 ADVICE TO A MOTHER Certainly. I am Tint advocating tho doctrine of a mother trrafing seiu'ous discjiHos ; far from it, it is not her province, except in certain cases of extreme urgency, where a medical man cannot })o procured, and wlioro delay might be death ; hut I do insist upon the necessity of lier knowing the si/mpfojuf^ of disease, ^fy belief is, that if parents were better informed on sucli subjects, many children's lives might be saved, much sutlering averted, and sorrow sjiared. 1'he fact is, tluj knowledge of the symptoms of disease is, to a mother, almost a sealed book. If she were better acquainted with these matters, how much more useful would she be in a sick-room, and liow much more readily would she enter into the plans and views of the medical man I By her knowledge of tho symptoms, and by having his advice in time, she would nip disease in the bud, and the fight might end in favour of life, for " sickness is just a fight between life and death." — Geo. McDonald. It is really lamentable to contemplate the amount of ignorance that still exists among mothers in all that appertains to the diseases of children ; although, fortunately, they are beginning to see and to feel the importance of gaining instruction on such subjects ; but the light is only dawning. A writer of the Medical Times and Gazette makes the following remarks, which somewhat bear on the subject in question. lie observes — " In spite of the knowledge and clear views possessed by the profession on all that concerns the management of children, no fact is more palpable than that the most grievous ignorance and incompetency prevail respecting it among the public. We want some means of making popular the knowledge which is now iilmost restricted to medical men, or, at most, to the well-educated classes." In the earlier editions of this work I did not give the treatment of any serious diseases, however urgent. In the eight last editions, I have been induced, for reasons I will presently state, to give the treatment of some of the more urgent serious diseases, when a medjc;il mm cw« I • cniLDnooD. — ON disease, bto. 140 Tiot instantly bo procured, and whoro delay might he db'ith. Sir Chahlks Locock, wlio luis taken a kind interest in this little work, hiia given nio valid reasons why a niotluT should bo so enlightened. The following extracts are from a letter which I received from Sir CiiAKLES on the su})ject, and which lie has (jourteously allowetl nio to publish. Ho says, — ** As an old physician of some experience in complaints of infants and ckildren, I may perhaps be allowed to suggest that in a future edition you sliould add a few words on the actual treatment of some of the more urgent infantile diseases. It is very right to caution parents against superseding the doctor, and attempting to nian.'igo serious illness themselves; but your advice, with very small exceptions, always being, * to lose no time in sending for a medical man,' much valuable and often irremediable time may be lost when a medical man is not to he had. Take, for instance, a case of croup : there are no directions given at aU, except to send for a medical man, and always to keep medicines in the house which he may have directed. But how can this apply to a first attack ? You state that a first attack is generally the worst. But why is it so ] Simply because it often occurs when the parents do not recognise it, and it is allowed to get a worse point than in subsequent attacks, when they are thoroughly alivo to it. As the very best remedy, and often the only essential one, if given early, is a full emetic, surely it is better that you should give some directions as to this in a future edition, and I can speak from my own experience when I say that an emetic, given in time, and repeated to free vomiting, will cut short any case of croup. In nine < ases out of ten the attack takes place in the evening or early night, and when vomiting is eflected the dinner of that day is brought up nearly undigested, and the severity of the symptoms at once cut short. Whenever any remedy is valuable, the more by its being administered in time, it is surely wiser to give directions as to its use, although, as a general rule, it P!"iiiP \y\\ K\^\U'\f \\\ \ ^\)\\\\\*\*. 'Vho iOm^\(MV:<'1i>1\ '. riM\UM'\ fliMn "mil n|t"»H»ii| '(Mil «^>|>ovW'M»>«m1 ^OiyihitH* »v« Hit I 'IdHtt'" I .MrtX'li. 'Hi' fitti «»]m'MN»\ ;Uu) \\.\\v ilri'iiliil »Hi> lo nl\ \\\\\\ l»i" ilil\iii>, h> o^\]i<;)U<'t\ ;» inolhiM on ll\.< /n'f»^))f'«/ of fii>iin' -'I Hi" < tli^n'iHt'" of nilinil'i !»nil of iliililtitt ht i ^noi>» uv«;vi\ H^^h"*' <|M«Mn loHiM HiIiIio'S'iimI 1o U\\ m If. !lit ('I)'MIi'M I»!(I f lhi^Mi> urihvf ili'tt'M'U"!, M liit'li |ii> ili.'il JJ^v vn ini» It )(> <\,nMi»^ o vo^\^'.ivi\ l>o JinvHi'it l>\ ;» tuolhiM'. " \vl»ori< li nti'i >n!^r\ »;lin\ot o»» »>hHMnv«l mnilil\.oi iiolnl nil." Ildy i^^v TiNM^i^ . I\H. nnmnhon of Ihr I uMii'^ ; I 'i|»l(ll(iMi!i ; I^X-'OUftMH . P>;l\l)\ov\ ; 1 loopiU'i roMoh, \U il'i VlUioM-^ PtViii^'* ; i\\\^\ SUwi^nn-i \''\\ i-^v rhtnlof wnnt'i «i|» liii IrM^M'lo 1U0 lyv f;\\it\>U " M\h'l\ :» lit^iK o»i> iiihj.' rt>* <^Mn)^l'^n< ;n\\ ;;Mi«lo in lhoq»» iiMi(n\i'i"i wIiimo i'\r)y \\o]:\\ \^ «l.n\>>>M>Mi«<. ;\n(l \ o( \\l\oi(' ino»li»'i>l fi'i^i.'jl.niri' in l\ot lo 1>o obl;)ino\l ov not to ^^o hid unii'Uv '* In tvUblu^n to tlio ;iho\«', I 'I'liil };i\o yon Ilii hwtfm^f of I'lN^nrlnti'^, Mo.i'^loi. fiiiil .Scinlol l'o\ii rM\>n< 1. .1) lip; )<; on.' ot (ho nioit t'oinnion iIisivimos ttUMiloiil i 'Inhliiood. ,in wof ')}),Tiii,puinf, Jinil, ii' >f fw nof i'4ynij-\Ji,\)fr^i ^rilh ii'phfhn'-h^i*'»)U}\ !in»l if ooilniii lulciho *!lviolly f^^Uo^v^s^ i>« i\l«o ot^n.illy .itnotuihlo to ttvMlnionl. \ \\:\\*^ Kvn t^^vtnn.lto iti tn\itino S.-nilcl l''ovor, mul I thoivfoiv thinV it tiosir;iMo to onlor fully into llio trMf^nmf \^t i\ MsiWiio \\\\w]\ i:* looUod \n»on l>y ni.niy |V)lvnts<, ,-\^uU ;UNNMNli)\^jr to tho nsu.il nh>ilo of Ironhunil, >x-iih ju^t o,uiJ><\ Mith >:i>sU iHMistoni.ition ;ui«l «1iv;mI. I'y givu\ii my |>l.\n ot" tWAtiUtMit. fnlly ;n\*l sitiiply, jiml wilh- «Mit iho slu:)ito^1 \>\>5orv;»tion, I ;uu fnllv inTsuailril, ihrvv.ioli vV*\rs Mos>ii)ur, th,U I tu;iv ho tho humiilo auA^, Nf :si\ tho lixivs of luunKrs of iliihhon. fttfff mt'Wili fikj fifrtf^MfK frffi. IM *l' rim.ii Ihfil inii'lil li<< h«!(l»<| Itv fi ffi'»ll(/-f. Iff Mf^ liM iliniMtnMn ihfii fiiii'lil liM lf«!(l»<| fty ft fff'tfff nlfi'iMt' nf It ffifili'itl Itiitff, uill fiiffn (1(1. fti(|.jf*f, nf fill III!' I 'MllVI'l<'nll'"f(«< I lllilll« il fii'lll I" (•!' ifiinf" lli'il ifi '(11 lie I'll 1^1 tUiWtitm TmI II I'lliM I li'iVi- ("I llff ffn'i ».f fi immIIm f I'l"' fi, I fi'iV • 'l|l|t'IIVMll|li| In |||I||m< MiMli (Ml ftifdjil" t(M jt' nioj M«.^ /(f|(| li!ivt>, uIh'IM'V"! ji|'ii(II«mIiI»', f»v'>i'l<"l I" f'ffffffffif'fifl jtinvi'i fill tliH|','i < 'M(ii(ili< ltd (1 |if( ti« ( (|(((/(f(M ((f(/| |i'rv»r fill flM'tlilifU'M (llll'lll, f(M (I fide, I'l lie ('»l»|((fff (MV'fl, flfcl hIw 11 IIh'V '"". "liMiiM ((Illy |i(« (('IfdifiidI' f'l fiy n Jmli) iniMi tiM'lt' 'il iiiffti : II ' liil'l fi'i'iififii^ fo'i' If rriorf) f'HiK mill )|i'iill('(M'"'i ill lii'i Ifi'/ilfiMfil (lidfi fifi ti'ltiK ; Iff iIi'ImI. I (ifli'll ||iilil( H WMl||(l lie l.cflcf ((• |/'f(V»' ff / hil'l lit iiiiliiH' iiiMiM lliiiii l<( JMV" liifn |i'iwf'ffi(l ftfi'l hiTi!,') iloHt"! (if iiH'ilicifKn A fi'ifM'dv « 'il »i(i» I, f'«f innfffff/'ft — ■ IlilH ff'iM|ii(>»illv (liiiiM ii((i|(< fKJiK |(i( f floiff (lif r|i«!rf(tiM il'icif , iiiii| Ijio tiii'iroi hiiio (if (I JM, llif* ffii«i' 1(1' f ff'ifff 1' ll «llll|; IllIM (ll'li'lll ilM'"l ll'Cll (i"f ffl'lfl' fll, Wllil<' UlM rMi|i|i|iiiiil iiii|'Jil, if lifl. fil'.fic, Imvn ofily ll^^^l IcmjiMiiii V. 15'!', Af tfinif tiifi' i/nr Hint lirr rhihl in ulitnil (it hthnnr nihil) Hull illmuifiii f Wnlcf (ifi IliM luiiiii iH, »iM fi rule, n A\A"invs <,f f\i]]fU IkiimI : (iflci ti ( liiM in «('V<>fi yM/ifH oM if. m it,tff^,sun\.\yi'\y iiinv II. iiMiiK ficijiicfilly )ifl)i/l<'» i\i'\tin\f r who liiivp MiiUcri'il Hfivficly from f.fW'l.ir(fijr, or who nr*; tinfurnWy of u fcclilc cfiiii'.iil.iiljofi. W/if'T on f,}(fi firoifi ridtfifinnfn fnllnWH (III (iI.(m«1; of iMl](rfnffi)i,t.ion of tli'-, Ih/i;/r, rr^/rft «'K|»cciMl|y if ilcjircKMiriji^ fnfJiRunw (mi'.li ;i« rx'<'««ivf» li'i'i Iiiii}( mimI Mih /Mhrii'iJHlr/if ion of ffnftir, inriar) liavo Ik-cm iMJojtlcd. Il, occuHiofiully foli((W« in ili'-. UfiUi of <'i»idii}(ioiiH friiplivf diKcMftrw, Kni)t »« «it.)i«r Rmall i>fix ur Hciirliilin/i. VVf ni/iy divifl**. Mm- ,6!yrrif>t.''rn,i'. of waf'-r on iln' liiuiti into two hLjij^'ch, 'I h*-, firHt. ih<; j»T''.Tfionit/>ry •tuyo — which JuhLh {(^ur or hvo flayrt, in which un'AxcaX wr 152 ADVICB TO A MO;nER. ill Mil!' ■i aid might bo of great avail : ilio sfcoiul — tlio stage of drowsinoHs and of coma — wliicli usually <'»ds in dcvith. I shall dwell on the first — the prenioiiitory stage -in order that a motlier may see the importani^e without iosa of time of calling in a medical man : — If her cliild bo f(^verish and irritable, if liis stomach bo disordered, if he have urgent vomitings, if he have a foul breath, if his apju'tite be capricious and bad if his nights bo disturbed (scn^aming out in his sleei)), if his bowels be disordered, more esj)ecially if they 1)0 con- stipated, if he bo more than usually c^xcited, if hiseyo gleam with unusual })rilliancy, if his tongue run fastiT than it is wont, if his cheek be ilushetl and his head bo hot, and if ho be constantly putting Viis baud to his liead ; there is cause for sus])icion. I f to these symptoms be added, a mo.o than usual carelessness in tumbling abiut, in hitching his foot in the- carpet, or in dragging one foot after the other; if, too, he has complained of darting, shooting, Lmcinatiug pains in his liead, it inay then be known that ilicjirsf stage of inllammation (the forerunner of water on the brain) (-ither ha^ tiiken, or is about taking place, lieuiemlu'r no time ought to ]m lost in obtaining medical aid ; for the connnevccmcnt of tl>o disease is the golden oj»])ortunity, when life might pro- bably bo saved. « 200. At v'hat mye^ and in trhat ncujlihourhootly is a child most li(d>U' to croup, and when >'s- a mother to hiou that it is about to take place ? It is unusual for a child until he be twelve months old to have croup : but, from that time until the age of two years, he is more liable to it than at any oilier period. The liability after two years, gradually, until lie be t^n years old lessens, after which time it is rare. A child is jr.oTO, liable to croup in a low and di\ui\\ than in a high and dry neighbom'hood ; indeed, in soiiio situations, (troup is almost an unknown disease ; whilo in others it is only too well understood. Croup is moro likely to prevail when, the wind is either easterly or north-easterly. CniLDHOOD. — OX DISEASE, ETC. 153 Tlioro is no disease tliat n'<|uir('s inon^ jtntinpt tri'iit- lucMt lli'iii 'roui), •irid none, thai (-nicps on iiioro insidiously. Ihc child at lirst sccniH to he lahouriii^ under a sli^^lit eold, and is trouhled with a litth; tirtf eou,i,di ; lie is liot and fretful, and /loa/y when h(^ eries. ]Ioarseness is onc^ of the. earliest syni]>tonis of eroup ; and it should be Itorne in mind that a .V(»un<^ child, unless lie ln! ^'oin^' to hav(^ crouj), is seldom hoarse; if, there- fore, your child ho hoarse, \\v. should 1x5 carefully watcheil, ill order that, as soon as croup be detircted, not a nionu'nt he lost in apjilyin;^' the projM-r remedies. His voice! at len,L,'th hecoiues grnli", he breathes as lhou;^di it wen; throu^di muslin, and th<; cou^'h becomes crowiiiL,', Th.'sc! three symptoms j)rove that the dis<'aso is now fully formed. 'I'hest! latter symptoms sometimes come on without any ])reviou3 warniuLC, the litthi fellow goiuf,' to bed apj)arently ur may decide either for life or for death. 201. But .s'ifpposft a ini'dirnl itviH Is not immediately * In ciiso of a snddcn attack of croup, instantly give a tea* spnenfiil of !{»Ma<'uanlia Wine, and rt-jH-ut it every five mimitea ttutil free vomiting Im; excited. ■| -iL ^mmmm \ts\ A1>\M«'r* t(< \ M^tiiti*!! f»,« ?/-f^ li.'htf/ v)$,}hf /i/' ifi'iifh i \\h<}i /f» »/r>. I niMcr. in inv lil'f. IomI w t liiM willi >\»MlM';M'VitMl t>\»l j,> 11h> VtMV lt'1l«'l\ l.i'l lilt' lipnjii I .MWt^f'WfV'JJ^'t? ^ «>r j|\(> »||Mi':Uii<, Mini \\ lii'lP lii\ |>l:il '\ V\iMiiiMiu\ for Iho liloof viMiii'luM nitiy tlcpind iipitn lln \\v\\\ W iiMUt' lMMn>i Jiviinini' \M i:il nn'ilicim> ■\ // ^f't'iii'iont'ii ■f >?/• At lllt» 0.\lll<"i| il.lWII o( ||n> iliMivi'^n j'jvt* 11 li"l p]>otM\fnl o| lp<'iM(M\;iiili;i W'nit' »>v(My li\t' iiii«iiilt>^<. iiiilil fb'o \oM\itnur 1^t> ovnliMl. In rviMip. IIkmi, Im-Imh' lit )'.> pmIo iV^>.> N.Miiilino vivsi l»o chImMimIipiI. nnil llinl willioii lo-t^ ,\f liunv If. !irti>r iht' ovpii.iliiMi nl' mi Ihmii, IIik l]><»\M0\1Mnll:l \\ nio \ll;|\ IMi; }vi\li il i •0\WVA\\\ U» '^O \ho:\ lot \]\o follow invj nuxtiiro lio unlvitiliilod 1';A.' oV r ^w .Icli'il lpi'rnril:iul\:i. oni' Ri'Hiplt W illO ol IpivHi \|;Mll\:l, OHi> iHlllii' lUlii ll I>!llf M.Ao n M»\lui>' Ono or hvo (nt spoon In In lo lie oivcn rvi'iv ftx-«' nimnt.'s, imtil I'n^o >onulinn Iv ovcili'il, tiiHl well Hlmkiiifj lb. ^tll Aftor tln^ vonulin^:;, pl;i.>o IhorliiM for i\ (pmrlor of nii hotu tu :\ WMnn Ivith."'' \VI\on out of tin* hnlli _mvo linn snijill do'>;os o( lpo«\inMi!udi;» \N ino ovory two or tliivo honrn. V\w following \h i\ pal.U;»l»lo forn» for Iho mux T.ikt' of Wuio of lp«vn(Mi;^nhrt. tlivci' «li;u'linifi ; Sunplo s>v\ip. tlui'o «lnw'lnn« ; \^ ,U« r. six «n;irlun,s : M.-^Vo ;» Mi\nir»'. A toji spoonful to lu' tiikcn «'vny two or Ihtw homx. ImU ror tli»' iMUolir >>hi»'li is ^i\i>n ;il first is /w/;v i/v\M<'«(?w/M Win(\ in'thoNf a tin^p of eiihrr UMirr or of ' S llic llnMiil, iiii'l l'r('<(ii('»illy nJKWc'l, oflcnliHiMi iiIIiMiIm ificiil. it'lit'f in ''f'iii|i, (Hnl Miiiflil, (liitlni^ Km- finm Hit' I'liM'lir JM ln'iiif^ inlminiHlf'rcil iit mII « m'k m (o hn M"l"|»l<'«l. ir il lio II fii'i'i't'i' «'ii'i(> nf ctMiiii, firi't jImi'ii f)(»(, ifi f|if« nillisio III' hvit liMiilM yit'M !<• Hie IK'i' r'|ily '•■ ivtrmw nhip »>f h^niHli'» 'I'Jii I'tnirtifnriii !•» IIm- lliiMiil, |iif |rfiri'(| in llio Muni" w/iy DM Inf n nifll* (if inllfllMIIHlliMfl (.r 11(1' lllfHi^M {iu-h IIm' (i'I) Vi'i'ili'Hi m iioffowpf plriji, only «i||i' liiilf lln« witllli IImim H'r(ifiifM"fi'l<''l, »in«l n|.|i|y il (o flir tlii'iMil. iimli'iiij of Id Mil' ( IichI.. If (M liiM lii's n v ly MJinil, < I tH'fk, IIk'I'' Mi.'v mmI, III" (ftdfn for IIm' 'f'/'i. Hen yon uiiflil, lo M|»|tlv '• lo |||t« it/ififi |»!irl. of IIk- « IichI-- - jiihI imijcr IIm' j/|f| \-a iim|, Hi'inly HO u'lMikrnini; lo l,|ic HyKl.Mii. Ki'i'p llin rliild fioni (ill Hliniiil/inl,H ; l«'f. him liv on t\ low iIh'I, Hiirli MM tiiilk mimI W(il»'r, lo/i,!l, nn'l wulrr, Jirrow iiiul, A'c. ; (iijil Id. Ilif room !»»■, if \t\i\i\\(u\Af^ ol, t\ lriii|M>iiilc li<;il. (10 l''filii lic RfiV'I, lln' //irniriiiift/iil W/nt' iinird hr ifnininn niiil qiiinl. '\ Iim cm only In- «ir«'<|,c«| hy Imviri}.; flic rrn-.'lir.in'' fiorn ,i lii^;lily i«',"(M'rl:ilt|«' clirtiniMt. A^^iin, if cvr your ' hi|i| lia.s had croup, Iff, ru*' ir^Min iirj^; you oIuxii/m t/> have in the Iiouhh )i 4 o/,. ItoM.lc of Ipccir ujinlui VVinc, that, you may ifjHori to at ;i iiionn'ritH iiol.i(;tj, m c.'t.'*<: th^'.n; U; the elij^liUiHl rutuni of i\\v, «iiH«-.a>Mj. ■ ino Al>VlrW TO A MOTIIKIL 1! Ip(M'M(Miimhn Wiiio. iinforlunalrly, in nnl. a niiMliciiio tl»;il K«M'|tM well ; lh('n'fon», ovory Min'(» or Unw nmiitliM it {\vh\\ hull It' «)\iglii, to l»«» prorunMl, oillicr from ii ninlinil \\\:\\\ or from a rlipmJNt. Ah Ioh^ mm |Iu> l|i( rt'm.niiM <7r'(f;', it in j;(»o(l ; Inil nHNoonnHil, Immoiiipm iiirhiii, it is l)!itl, luit) oiiglil. lo l>o icplin'cil l»y a frcHli supply. At» in(i'Ilij.:onl. i-orri'Mpomlciil. of mino makr.i th(> following ViiliiahN' n>marlvrt on tlif pn-niMvalion of 1 MM'atMian ha W ino Now, I know lli.il llirrr aro Hoim» nuuli(Mni»s ami homical pn'paraiionn wincli, lli«>nf;li lln'V spoil rapitlly whon at all t'xposcti to llic air, yol. will ktM'p piMfct'llv f^ttotl for an i?\«li'linilo lime if licrmclirally m«mI(u1 np in a ix'vtWthj full l»olll«». If so, wotiM it not, l>o a valnaMi* s\ij;,i;ostion if 1Im» Apollicrarit^M' Hall, ul>/i('aoua!iha \Vim« «»f giiaraiil(>nl purity, si\»loil up st» as tokrop ^oml so lon^ as nnopcnctl, and sent out in sealml parkaj;us, with the miarant.t't» of their nanu>. Hy their keeping; a f«»w nueh onnei^ hollies in ai\ nno]MMUHl st^itn in one's house, om> mij^hl. r(>ly in beinj; ivaiiy for any «Mnerj^iM»ey. If yon think ihis suj^- gestion worth n tit'e, anil eouM imluee some lirst. niie houst^ to earry it «>nt, and mention the faet> in a suh- \i\o\\{ tnlition of yiuir hook, yoii wonltl, 1 think, lu^ set aildii ahle luu^k !>; another most valuable item to an alreatly invalu- Tln* above sujjji^estion of preserving; Ipeeaeuaidia Wine in ounee bt>ttli\^, »|nite full, and heriut^ieally sealed, is a very good one. The best way of hermetiealiy se;ilin,L,' the bt^ttle wtMild W\ to cut the eork l(»vel with the lip of the bottle, and to eover the eork with sealing-wax, in the iianie manner wine meivhants .^erve somc^ kinds of their winevS and then to lay the bottles on tlieir sides in Siiwilust in the eellar. I have no doubt, if sueh a ]>l;m weiv adopted, tlie Ipeeaenanha Wine wt>uld for a length of time keep good. Of eourse, if tlie Wine of Ipeea- cuanlia Iv ])roenn\l fri>m the Apotluraries' Hall t'oni- \M\i\\\ Lonilon (as suggested by niy convspond(»nt), there can l>e no question as to the genaiueness of the article. ciiii.miooi). ON \w\r.\H\% r:ri\ ir,7 Whnf NOT tn tfo. I>(i ln»|. ^iv«< riiM-lir Inrlnr ; «l(» iinf, n|t|ilv ItrrlirK; tin linf, keep t |i<' |0(»im viry Wiirrii , «l'> imf, ^,'iv«' MlimiiliifilH ; «l(» ntil, omit, tn liiivn nlwdyw iti IIim Ikmimc cillirr n 4 <»/,. Iiniiln, ^^r flirrji or four I <>■/.. IhiIIIcm, of l|H'niriiiiiili!i VViiH". 2<'U. I hnvi lii'iii'il < '/u'lili'rnfci'ntf inrnlinncit at* ii for- Vn'ilnl'/i' ilixniKr ; iniutif t/nit thnnihi' f/ir t-'f/iiififniiiH / ( 'liilil rr<>\vinj4, or mjkimim of llm ^IoIIim, or HinniiiHH rron/i, iiH it in Koiiii'tiiiD'H ctillrd, '\h orcnMiotially u\iH\iiUi'U fitv i/t'iruiHr rnni/i. II- JH a iiion^ fn'«|ii('rit «liHor(l)'r' tlinri 1)i(^ luttor, mill i'olac<', and the little patient diea of HiiU'ocation, over- >vhelniinj{ the niotlier with terror, with ronfiiHion, and dismay. '{'he, tfi/viptnyjiH in a paroxynrn of clnld-erowin^ are, ;ih followH: — Tlni ehiM Hiiddenly loHeH and li^ditH for hirt l»reath, and in doing ho, inakcH a noise, very inurdi like, that of cHAving ; hence the name eliihl rrowin;^'. Tho face during tl'". i)ar(>xyHm Ix^eomeH hluinh or livid. In a favoura])l(! caHe, after (;it}ie,r a f(!W HeeondH, or (j 'en, in fiojue iiiatane(!n, a minute,, and a friglitful struggle to ])reatli(!, he, regains liiH hnsath, mut iH, unfil ^inoJher j)ar(JxyHm occurs, p(;rf«;otly wcAl. Jn an unfavourahh; ca«(;, tlio uj)p('r i)art (chink) of tho windpi})e — tho glottis — rcniaiTiM for a minute or two closed, and th« I hiH ing •P jrj)Kc nurae'a arms ! Many cliildren, who nm Haiti to hiXVQ 4ie(i of fits, Ijavc roully died of child-crowing, mm 158 APVin; TO A MOTIIKIU (Miilil t'nnvin^ in vorv n|»l fo nnino fotwulMinMH, Avhich complu'iilion, of rouvHc, tuUU very nnirli lo llic (liiiij^cf. Surh i\ «'oin))|ii'Mlit|\iin>M iiio roiiMtuiil mu|i( !'viMiitii of an «>\|)iMi(Mi('iMl i\\u\ Hkilfiil ninliciil immii. uc.'irly inorv lil'i* iiiiiihl 1«> hmv»mI, if a inolhcr Kih'NV llit« tialiiro aixl (l\o tnvttiuiMit of lliproinplaint, ai(*l of \\\o ifiu'iit ihYt's.tifif ifiiriitij till' />atli<'(t Inn la^t, the pariMjl laM'.s«'lf boini,' |MMf('tlIy ij^Miorant of \\\[\ Ui'rossavy Iroalnu'nl ; Ihmu-c tlu' vital im|»ortaiU'(> of tlin i.vi/sni of CIn'hl r)'i)tn'ihji s/hinhf f/iui ih/ri.sr f 'V\\o tirst. thinj;, of «'(Mn'st', to W »lon<\ in to HiMid immriiiiitdn for a n»t>»li«'al man. IIav<» a |tlonl.ifiil »n|>ply o{ rold and i>f hot water alw.iyM at. Iiand, ready ul a nu>ment s noti«'(> for use. 'The instant the paroxyMia is upon ttio ehild. ph>nt.ifidly and perneverin.^dy dash ('cA/ Avator upon Ins head and faee. I*ut his feet, and le^^s in hot salt, nmst.iixl, and water; and, if nt'eessary, placn 1 uni up V [o \ us ue* k in a h«>t hath, still tlashinu: water \ipt>n his faee and lu\id. If ho does iu»t. tpiiekly eonie round, shar]>ly smatk his haek and huttoeks. In livery s(»vere paroxysm of ehild t'rowinsj:, put yotir fon» tiui^er ilown the throat of the ehild, and pull iiis tong\u* forward. This plan of pulliu»^ the touLjiio forwanl 0]>ens the »'piglottis (the lid of tlu^ glottis), and tJuis admits air (whieh is so sorely needed) into tin? glottis and into tlu* hmgs, and thus staves oil" imiM'uding sutViv.Ttion. If this jilan were generally known and adopted, many iavcious lives might he saveil.* • An intollijjont oorn'spomlont tusi ilivw iny utti'iiliini to tlio etlicary of pulHiig lorwanl the toiigue iu every at'vcrc jnirojiyhm of child-crowiii^. CmidMIOOl), — ON IUHMAHIC, l';T(J, 159 Tlit't'i^ IM iiolliiiiK iiHdP fiiK'lilfiillv »iK"iiiKHi^( fo a liHitlKM'H frrliiii^M Minn to Mm lirr clithl mIiiiiixI*' in lli<>i'on;;lily liiii<'in;r Mic f^niiiH, and in lyinf{ oIIk'I' !i|)|)n)|ii'iiil«> rniKMJii'H. (ilTiir vnw jilltl illlplllion oii^^lit., tlijiiti;^' IIm> ililri'VtllH, III Ito pnid to liJH diet. if tlm rliilil lie. Iirciilliiii;/ ii Hiiioky, (loM*^ MlnioH|i|iri'i*, tin hIioii|(| Im^ ininn'iliiilrly rrinovtMl to a |nin' om*. In lliiM diHcaHc, iiidriMJ, IImim is no rriiH'dy n|nid to n • liaii},^' of air to a dry, lanrinj; nri(«n('(>, that in tliiH diHciiHc, fn-Mh air, and plenty of it, in the hest and prin('i[tal remedy. CoM npon^^in^ of the hddy too in uwd'ul. Mr liolierton, who, at my reipicHt, ha.M kindly ^.(ivc.n iiie thti heiielit of hin ext,eiiHiv('. e^xpeiieiicc, in eh i Id crow- in^', considerH that then; iH no remedy, in this <;om|»l.i,int-, ('(pi;d to fresh air to dry cold windn -that the litth) j»ulient on}.,dit, in fact, nearly to live, during' the day, (Hit of door.s, whetli(!r the, wind he in the <'aMt or in tho iiurtli-east, vhether it he. hitin;.,' cold or otherwi.sci, jirovided it Ik; dry and hracin;^', for " if the air he dry, the coldiT the LetUir," — taking' can?, of (loiiiHe, that Ikj lie w(dl wrapped up. Mr Jioherton, moreover, adviwiS that thu cliild Hhoiild ]m Mmt uway at (>nc,e frrun home, either to a bracing Hca-sido jilace, hucIi uh lilackpool or Fleetwood ; or to a iiKJiintaifKJiiH di.strict,, Hiirdi as l>ijxton. Sw* llu! end of tln' volume of *' riiy.siology and bi.seaflea of Womuu," iiu; Ciiurchill, lb5L 1 1 / 1 1 ' ' / '! '■ I 1 h ^ 160 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. At! the 8ul)ject is so important, let mc recapitulate : the gums ought, from time to time, to he well lanced, in order to remove the irritation of painful dentition — painful dentition being the real cause of the disease. Cold sponging should he used twice or thrice daily. The diet should be carefidly attended to (see Dietary of Child) ; and everything conducive to health should (as recommended in these Conversations) be observ(!il. l^ut, remember, after all that can be said about tlie treatment, there is nothing like change of air, of fre.sh air, of cold, dry pure air, and of plenty of it — the more the little fellow can inhale, during the day, the better it will be for him, it will be far better than any drug con- tained in the pharmacopoeia. I have dwelt on this subject at some length — it being a most important one — as, if the above advice were moro generally known and followed, nearly every child, labouring under this complaint, would be saved ; while now, as coroners' inquests abundantly testify, the disease carries off yearly an immense number of victims. 204. When is a another to knoiv that a cough is vot a " tooth cough" hut one cf the sijmpioms of Inflammation of the lungs ? If the child has had a shivering fit ; if his skin be very hot and very dry ; if his lips be parched ; if there be great thirst ; if his cheeks be flushed ; if he be dull and heavy, wishing to be quiet in his cot or crib ; if his appetite be diminished ; if his tongue be furred ; if his mouth be burning hot and dry ;* if his urine be scanty and high-coloured, staining the napkin or the linen ; ij his hreathing he shorty panting, hurried, and opjrressed ; if there he a hard dry cough ; and if his skin he burning hot ; — then there is no doubt that inflammation of the lungs has taken place. No time should be lost in sending for medical aid; * If you put your finger into the mouth of a child labouring iinder inflammation of the lungs, it is like putting your finger into a hot apple ^ie, tbe beat is m great CniLDHOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETC. 161 indeed, the Jiot, dry mouth and ttJcin, and shorty hurried h'cathing would bo sufficient cause for your procuring immediate assistance. If inflammation of the hint's were properly treated at the onset, a child would scarcely ever be lost by that disease. I say this advisedly, for in my own practice, provided I am called in early, and if my plans are strictly carried otit, I scarcely ever lose a child from inflammation of the lungs. You may ask — What are your plans ? I will t«'ll you, in case you cannot promptly obtain medical advice^ as delay might be death ! The treatment of Inflammation of the Lvnrjs, what to do. — Keep the child to one room, to his Tiedroom, and to his bed. Let the chamber be properly ventilated. If the weather be cool, let a small fire be in the grate ; otherwise, he is better without a fire. Let him live on low diet, such as weak black tea, milk and water (in equal quantities), and toast and water, thin oatmeal gruel, arrow-root, and such like simple beverages, and give him the following mixture : — Take of— Wine of Ipecacuanha, three drachms ; Simple Syrup, three drachms; Water, six drachms : Make a Mixture. A tea-spoonful of the mixture to be taken every four hours. Be careful that you go to a respectable chemist, in order that the quality of the Ipecacuanha Wine may he good, as the chihVs life may depend upon it. If the medicine produce sickness, so much the better ; continue it regularly until the short, oppressed, and hurried breathing has subsided, and has become natural. If the attack be very severe, in addition to the above medicine, at once apply a blister, not the common blister, but SmitKs Tela Vesicatoria* — a quarter of a sheet If the child be a year old, the blister ought to be kept on for three hours, and then a piece of dry, soft I • Manufactured by T. & H. Smith, chemists, Edinburgh, and may be procured of Southalls, chemists, Binuingham. 1C2 ADVICE TO A MOTnCft. linon mg should l)c apjilied for another three hours. At the end of which time — six liours — there will ho a h(Miutiful hlirtter, which must then, with a pair of scissors, ho cut, to let out thci water ; and then let the })lister be dressed, night and morning, with simplo cerate spread on lint. If the little patient he more than one year, say two years old, let the Tela remain on for five hours, and the dry linen rag for live hours more, hcforo the blister, as al)ove recommended, be cut and dressed. If in a day or two tlie inflammation still c^ntin>lo violent, hi another Tela Vesicatoria he applied, nut over the old blister, but let a narrow strip of it be applied on each side of the old blister, and manageil in the same manner as before directeil. I cannot speak too hi rf My of Smithes Tela Vd^icatoria. It has, in Tuy hands, through God's blessing, saved the lives of scon.'S of children. It is far, very far, superior to the old-fashioned blistering plaster. It seldom, if the abcvo rules be strict^ observed, fails to rise ; it givt-s much less pain Mian ^iie commou blister ; Miien it has had the desired etfect, it readily heals, which cannot alwa^. be said of the commou tly-l^lister, nioro especially with children. IMy sheet anchors, then, in the inflammation of the lungs of children are, Ipecacuanha AVino and Smith's 2\'la Vcsicdtoria. Let the greatest care, as I before advised, be. observed in obtaining tlie Ipecacuanha AViuo gcmiine and good. This can be only depended upon 'ly liaving tlie UKHlicine from a highly respe( table chemist. Ijiecacuanha Wine, when genuine and good, is, in many children's diseases, one of the most valuable of niedincios. Whaty in a case of inflammation of the lungs, not to do. — Do not, on any account, apply leeches. They draw out the life of the child, but not his disease. ,'ivoid — emphatiadly let me say so — giving emetic tartar. It is one of tlie most lowering and death-dealing ?>^odicincs4,hat can be administered either to an infant CniLDnoOD. — ON DHKAS15, ETC. 163 or to ,1 rhiltl 1 If yim wish to try tlic eiTcrt of it, take a (lose yourself, jukI I am quite sure that you will thou never ho inelinnd to poison a cliild with sucli an ahoiiiiuiiltlt' pr('i)aration ! In oUen times — many, many years ago — f myself gave it in inllamniation i»f tho lunj^'s, and lost many children ! Since leaving it off, the reeoveriea of patients hy tlio Ti)ecacuanha treatment, comhined with the external application of Smith's Till Vi';iii'(it<)ri(t, 1, ive heen in many cases marvellous. Avoid hrotlis and wine, and all stimulants. Do //'>/ j>ut tho cliild into a warm hath; it only oppresses the already ojipressed })reathing. Moreover, after he is out of tho hath, it causes a larger quantity of hlood to rush hack to tlie lungs and to the hronchial tuhes, and thus feed'i the intlammation. Do not, hy a large fire, keep tin temperature of tho room higli. A small lire, in tho winter time, encourages ventilation, and in such a case does good. Wiien tho liHle patient is on tho mother's or on the nurse's lap, do not ])urden him either with a hpiivii hianket or with a thick shawl. Either a thin cliild's l)lanket, or a thin woollen . liawl, in addition to his usual nightgown, is all the clothing necessary. 205, Is Bnmcln'fis a more frequent disrfmi than In- fi'immafion of the Lumjs ? Which is tJio, most diunjerous ? W/i'it are the symptoms of Bronchitis i IJronchitis is a much more frequent disease than in- flammation of the lungs; indeed, it is one of the most common complaints both of infants and of children, wliilt^ intlammation of the lungs is comparativc^ly a rare tlisf^ase. Bronchitis is not nearly such a dangerous disease as inflammation of the lungs. The »ijmptoms. — The child for the first few days lal>ours under s\Tnptoms of a heavy cold ; he has not his usual spirits. In two or three days, instead of the (told leaving him, it becomes more confirmed ; he is now really poorly, fretful, and feverisli; his breathing l)ceomes rather hurried and oppressed ; his cough is haul and »lry, and loud ; he wheezes, and if you put your ear to his naked back, between his shoulder blades, you ( I 1C4 ADVICES TO A MOTHKll. will hear tlio whcozin^ moro clistinclly. Tf at tho ImsuHt, ho doo8 not suck with liis usual avidity ; tlm cough, notwithstanding tho hrcjust in a groat comfort to him, conip(!l.s him frccjuently to loose tho nipi»lo ; his urino is scanty, and rathor high-colourod, staining tlm napkin, and smelling strongly. He is generally worse at night. Well, then, remember if the child be feverish, if ho have symptoms of a heavy cold, if he have an eppression of breathing, if he wheeze, and if he have a tight, dry, noisy cough, you may be satisfied that he has an attack of bronchitis. 206. Hoiv can I (Ustinguish hehvecn Bronchitis and Injlammation of the Lungs 1 \\\ bronchitis the skin is warm, but moist ; in indam- mation of the lungs it is hot and dry : in bronchitis tho mouth is warmer than usual, but moist ; in intlamma- tion of tho luHigs it is burning hot : in bronchitis tlio breathing is rather hurried, and attended with wheez- ing ; in inflammation of the lungs it is very short and panting, and is unaccompanied with wheezing, althougli occasionally a very slight crackling sound might ho heard : in bronchitis the cough is long and noisy ; in inflammation of tho lungs it is short and fee])le : in bron- chitis tho child is cross and fretful ; in inflammation of the lungs ho is dull and heavy, and his countenance denotes distress. We have sometimes a combination of bronchitis and of inflammation of tlic lungs, an attack of the latter follow- ing the former. Then the symptoms will be modified, and will paitake of the character of the two diseases. 207. How would you treat a case of Bronchitis ? If a medical man cannot be procured, I will tell you What to do : Confine the child to his bedroom, and if very ill, to his bed. If it be winter time, have a little fire in the grate, but be sure that the temperature of tho chamber be not above 60° Fahrenheit, and let the room be properly ventilated, >7hich may be effected by occa- sionally leaving the door a little ajar. rniTiPHoon. — on diskahk, etc. 165 Lot him lio oithor oufst'th tlio bod or on a Hofa ; if lio 1)0 very ill, inside tlio bed, with a Klu'ot and a blankrb only to cover him, but no thick coverlid. If he bo allowed to lie on the lap, it only heats him and makes him restless. If ho will not lio on the bed, let him rost on a pillow i>la<;ed on the lap ; the pillow will cause him to lio cooler, and will more comforta])ly rest his wearied body. If he be at the breast, keep him to it ; let him have no artificial food, unless, if he bo tliirstv, a litth; toast and water. If he bo weancid, let him have either milk and water, arrow-root made with (•(juul parts of milk and water, toast and water, barley wator, or weak black tea, with plenty of new milk in it, *Vc. ; but, imtil the inflammation have subsided, neither broth nor beef-tea. 'Sow, with rejjjard to medicine, the best medicine is Ipecacuanha Wine, given in large doses, so as to produce constant nausea. The Ipecacuanha abates fever, acts on the skin, loosens the cough, and, in point of fact, in the majority of cases, will rapidly elTect a cure. I have in a [treceding Conversation given you a prescription for the Ijiewvcuanha Wine Mixture. I^t a tea-spoonful of the mixture be taken every four hours. If in a day or two he be no better, but worse, by all meanp, continue the mixture, whether it produce sickness or otherwise ; and put on the chest a Tela Vesicatoriay a tpiarter of a sheet, The Ipecacuanha "Wine and the Tela Vesicatoria are my sheet anchors in the bronchitis, both of infants and of cliildnm. They rarely, even in very severe cases, fail to elFect a cure, provided the Tela Vesicatoria bo j»r()i)erly applied, and the Ipecacuanha Wine be genuine and of good quality. If there be any difficulty in procuring good Ipecacu- anha Wine, the Ipecacuanha may be given in powder insti^ad of the wine. The following is a pleasant form : — Take of Powder of Ipecacuanha, twelve grains ,, White Sugar, thirty-six grains : Mix well together, and divide into twelve powders. One of tlie powders to be put dry ou the tongue every four hours. i H' i If 166 ADVIOH TO A MOTHER. Tlio Ipccaniianha Powder will keep better than the Wine — an iipj r:r+ant consideration to those living in country piacos ; nevertheless, if the Wine can be pro- cured liosh and good, I far prefer the Wine to the Powder. When the ])ronchitis has disappeared, the diet ought gradually to he improvee libie to prevent a disease which, in too many cases, our known remedies cannot cure." — W. Curr, Esq., Blackheath. UriUsh ifudUal Juuriuilf December 7, 186X. CHILDHOOD. — ON DIKEAKE, ETC. 169 211. Wfiat iff ilir irentmeiit of Diphtlterin ? What to (h). — Examine mcU into tlic vontilation, for as (li])hthori,i is frctinently causwl hj drficiont vcnlihi- tion, tlio best remedy is thorough ventilation. Look \\A\ l)c»th to the drains and to the i)rivies, and see that tlio drains from the water-closets and from thi^ privies do not in any way contaminatt; the pnmp-water. If the (Irains l)e defective or the privies he full, the disease in your child will he generated, fed, and fostered. Not only 80, but tlie disease will spread in your family and all around you. Keep the child to liis bedroom and to his l»ed. For the first two or three days, while the fever runs high, put him on a low diet, sucli as ^nilk, tea, arrow-root, tV c. Aj)ply to liis throat every four liours a warm barm and oatmeal poultice. If he be old enough to have the knowledge to use a gargle, the following will be found serviceable : — Take of — PorTnonganate of Potasli, pure, lour grains ; Water, fight ounces : To make a Gargle. Or, Take of — Powdered Alum, one drachm ; Wniplf Syrup, one ounce ; Water, seven ounces : To make a Gargle. The best medicine for the first few days of the attack, IB the following mixture : — Take of — Chlorate of Potash, two drachms ; Boiling Water, seven ounces ; Syrup of Ked Po'^py, one ounce : To Make a mixture. A table-spoonful to be taken every four hours. Or, tlie chlorate of potash might be given in the form of powd<^r : — Take of— Chlorate of Potash, two scniples ; Lump Sugar one, drachm : Mix, and ilivide into right jiov/ders. One to be j>nt into a (liy tea-spoon and then jilaced on tlu; tdjigiie every tliiee hours. These powders are very useful in diplitbeiia ; they are very Vl'-'UUbing to the tongue and throat. If they product nuuh .^niart 'i i; li :|i»i W ii 170 ADVICK TO A MOTHKR. inj;. IIS wliiM'o flio month is vc'iy soro tlicy sojiiflitncH do, lot tlin itiiticiit, litter tiikiiif:^ oiio, liiitik ])li otiiciwiHi' woiilii not huvi^ iloim, iintl thus to hiivf Hiivctl him from o\V(h'rs, then- wiis rvcry |)roliahility of liis lioiiii,'. An cxlclisivc I'xiu'ficnco lius (icmonstriitcil to me tlio ^'iciil viihic til" tht'Ht" |H)v.iU'rs iti diphthcriii; hut they niii.st ho put on ihi' tongue dry. As soon as tlio sl\iii lias h»st its ])r('tcniati3ral hcaf., iMM'M.ca and cliicktMi-hroth onj^lii to lio. j^'ivcn. Or if dionlil to th f^rcai prostration siioiiitt supcrvcno, in addition lo mo Itccftca, i>(>ri wino, a tabh' spoonful every four hours, should l»e adininislered. If the child l)e. cnhl, and iheio 1)0 «;reat sinking of the vital jiowers, liraiidy and AvatiT should bo sui)stitiileil for tln^ jtort wine. Iveinemher, in ordinary cases, j)ort wine and hrandy aw, not necessary ; hut ill ciisi's o/r.r/rcine crlKntslitm they are most valualiie. As soon as the ;^M'eat heat of thc! skin has abated and llie de])ility has si>t in, one of tho followinj^ mixtures will bo found useful : — Take of — Wine of Iron, one ounce and a half; Simpli' Syrup, tuio ouiico ; Wiitrr, three ouneea and a lialf : To make a j\lixluro. A tahlo-spoonful to he taken every four liours. Or, Take of — Tincture of Perchloride of Iron, one drachm | Simple Syru]), one (uniee ; Water, three ounces : To nuike a Mixture. A tahle-spoonful to he taken three tinica a diiy. If tho disease shonhl travel downwards, it will cause all the symptoms of croup, then it must be treatisd as croup ; with this only ditlerenco, that a blister [Tela V('f--i('(tfori(() must not be ap})lied, or the blistered surface may be attacked by the membrane of diphtheria, wliidi may either cause death or hasten that catastro})he. la every other res[)ect treat the case as crouj), by ^'ivinj^ an emi^tic, a tea-spoonful of Ipecacuauha Wine ev(3ry livu }}4iuutes, until free vomiting be excited, and then ad- nillJUrnoii, — ON mSKAHK, CTr', 171 »iio draclun | 1 three times iiiiniHinr RnmlliT (Iohch of IpccjuMiaiilui Wine cvtry two or tliroo lioiirH, hh I rccoimiicruhMl when coiivcrHing witli you on tlio trcJitiMoiit of croiij). Wlmt NOT f(f 'In. Do iir)i, on uiiy ftccrtiint, n|t|ily ritliiT IccrlicH or a MiHt(T, If llni !ait,(T Ito applied, it, is aliiioHt Hiin^ to ])o covcnMl witti t))o nicinlnaiif. of dipli- t}i)>ria, Kiiiiilar to that iiiHiiir. ol' the, inoiitli .'unl of tlio tliroiit, Avhicli would Ik; a Hci'iohH ('oniplicatiou. I )o not give oitlujr caloiucl or cnit'tic, tartar. Do iK)t tlcprcsK tin*. Hystcni by aperientn, for diphtlicria is an awfully dcprcKH- iu^ c.oinjdaint of iJHCilf ; the. patient, in point of f.iet, is lahourin;^' und(!r th(^ «lej»r(!HHin<^ eUeetH of poiHon, for I ho l»Iood has heen j)oison(Ml citluT l»y the drinkiii*,' watiir Ix'inf^ contaminate*! liy fa'cal nintter from either a privy or from a water-closijt ; ]»y Home liorripearH, lasting altogether, from the commenc(!ment of the symp- toms of cold to the decline of the; ernpti(m, seven days. It is importjint to hear in mind that the eruption con- sists of crescimt-iihdix'd — ha/J'-ittoon-,sh(ij>rd — jHifrhr.s ; that they usually appear lirst about the face aud tho I ■.'f n'ji HU i' 1 1 1 172 ADVICK TO A MOTIIKTL iKM'k, in wliif'li ]»lar('s llicy aw tlit^ boat marked ; Mini (»n tliti lH>ily and on tlic arniH ; and la.stly, on iho Ic^m, and tlial they arc ali^ditly raised al)( e ilio Hurfaco of tlio skin. 'Hw face is swollen, more es|»etially tho oyo-lids which are somolinjes for a few days closuil. Well, tluMi, rememher, i/in ntnnimj ('(l fxftrhrs, iuo Die h^adin^ features of tlio disjuise, iuid point out for a cerlaiuty that it is measles. 2 1 .'i. What conatitutcti the prinripid t/anfjer in Mecn ScaHot Fever is eomplicatcd— as it sometimes is — with diplitheria, tho dii>htherie rmiidirane is very apt to travel into \\\{\ wind pipe, iind tlius to raii.-o diphtlierie eronp ; it is ahiiost Kiire, \f\w\\ sm h is tli(! case, to end in (h'ath AV tn a child «lirM from sueli a cimipHcation, tlie ih^ath mi^ht truly he said to he »iwin to tlu^ diphtheri(r croup, Mn<) not !«> the Scarlet Fevir ; for i^ the diplitherii" croup liad not occurnl, the « hild would, in all prohahilitN, liavo hren saved. Tho d«;4lli^ from diphtheria U\^^ geiu^rally from diphtlua-ic cronj); if tlu^'o bo no croup, tncrc is, us a rule, frequent re- c»»very. 220. Ih)W would yon ditttuujuinh betwern Scorht Fever and Meades ? Measles commences with 8ymj)toms of a common cold; scarlet fever does not. Measles has a jieenliur hoarse cough ; sciarh^t fever lisis not. Tho eruption of measles is in patches of a half-moon shape, ami is Hlif^'hlly raised ahove the skin ; tho eruption of scarlet fever is not raised ahove tho skin at all, and is one con- timuMl mass. The colour of tho eruption is nimh more vivid in scarlet fcvor than in measles. The chest is liio j)art ])rincipariy afFected in nu;asles, and the thr(»at in scarlet fever. There is an excellent method of determining,', f<»r a certainty, whether the eruption h(; that of scarlatinal or otherwise. I myself have, in several instances, asccsr- tained the truth of it : — "For several years M. IJoiichut has remarked in tluj eruptions of scarlatina a eiirions I>henomen(in, which serves to distin^'uish this eriij»tion from that of measles, erythema, erysipelas &e., a phe- ?l 176 ACVICB TO A MOTHER. nomenon esflontially vital, and whieh ia connnotod with tho excosHivo contractability of the capillaries. Tlio phenomenon in question is a ivhita line^ which can l)o produced at pleasure by drawing tho back of tho nail along tho skin where tho eruption, is situated. On drawing the nail, or tho extremity of a hard body (such as a pen-holder), along the eniption, tho skin is observed to grow pale, and to prescint a white trace, which n;- mains for one or two minutes, or longer, and then disap[)ears. In this way tho diagnosis of tho disease may be very distinctly written on tho skin ; the word * Scarlatina ' disappears as tho eruption regains its uni- form tint." — Kdiiib}u'(jh Medical Journal. 221. In it of so ninch importance^ then, to distinguish hetween Scarlet Fever and Measles ? It is of great importance, as in measles the paiient ought to be kept moderately warm, and the drinks should be given with tho chill off ; while in scarlet fever the patient ought to bo kept cool — indeed, for the first few days, cold ; and the beverages, such as spring-water, toast and water, &c., should bo administered quite cold. 222. Do you believe in " Hybrid " Scarlet Fever — fJnit is to sayj in a cross between Scarlet Fever and Meashs ? I never in my life saw a case of " hybrid " scarlet fever — nor do I believe in it. Scarlet fever and measles are both blood poisons, each one being perfectly separate and distinct from the other. " Hybrid " scarlet fever is, in my opinion, an utter impossibility. In olden times, when the symptoms of diseases were not so well and carefully distinguished as now, scarlet fever and measles were constantly confounded one with the other, and was frequently said to be " hybrid " — a cross between measles and scarlet fever — to the patient's great detriment and danger, the two diseases being as distinct and se[)arate as their treatment and management ought to be. 223. What ^s the treatment of Scarlet Fever ? * * On the 4th of March 1856, I had the honour to read » paper on tJie 'Treatment of Scarlet Fever before the memberaof 11 ; CniLDIIOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETC. 17? Whfit to do. — Pray pay attention to my nili^s, and ci\iTy out my diroctions to the letter — I can then pro- inm\ f/ti(t if thft scarh't fever he neither maliffiunit nor comjtlicnted with diphtheria^ tlie plan I am about to advise will, with God's blessing, be usually successful. What is the first thing to be done ? Send the child to bed ; throw open the windows, be it winter or sum- mer, and have a thorough ventilation ; for the bedroom must be kept cool, I may say cold. Do not be afraid of fresli air, for fresh air, for the first few days, is essential to recovery. Fresh air, and plenty of it, in scarlet ferer, is the best doctor a child can have : let these words be written legibly on your mind.* If the weather be either intensely cold, or very damp, tlifve is no objection to a small fire in the grate, pro- vided there be, at the same time, air — an abundance of fresli air — admitted into the room. Take down the curtains of the bed ; remove the valances. If it be summer-time, let the child be only covered wiih a sheet : if it bo winter-time, in addition to the sheet, he should have one blanket over him. Now for the throat. — The best external application is a barm and oatmeal poultice. How ought it to bo Queen's College lledico-Chiiugical Society, Birmin^fham, — which Paper was afterwards jmblislicd in the Association Journal (March 15, 1S56) ; and in Braith.waite's Retrospect of ^fe^I icine (3 Mmary — June, 1856) ; hxid in Rawkin^/s Naif- Yearly Abstract of the Medi- cal Sciences (July — December, 1856) ; besides in other publica' tions. Moreover, the Paper was translated into German, and published in Cansf/itt's Jahresbericht, iv. 456. 1859. * In tlie Times of Sept. 4, 1863, is the following, copied from the Bridijeicatcr Mercury : — "Guess SurEUSTiTioN. — In one of the streets of Taunton, there resides a man and his wife who have the care of a child. This child was attacked with scarlatina, and to all appearance death was inevitable. A jury of matrons was, as it were,- em- ]«inelled, and to prevent the child 'dying liard,' all the doors in the house, all the drawers, all the boxes, all the cupboards were thrown wide open, the keys taken out, and thti body of the child Vlai'tid under a beam, whereby a sure, certain, and easy passage iuto »t«i»)ity could b§ secured, >yptc:lj§r8 bald their vigiU *■; ni IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) i.O I.I 1.25 Si Ki 1 2.2 114 ill 1.6 Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 ■ 178 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. made, and how applied ? Put half a tca-ciipfiil of barm into a saucepan, put it on the fire to boil ; as soon as it boils, take it off the fire, and stir oatmeal into it, until it be of the consistence of a nice soft poultice ; then j>lace it on a rag, and apply it to the throat ; carefully fasten it on with a bandage, two or three turns of the bandage going round the throat, and two or three over tlic crown of the head, so as nicely to apply the poultice where it is wanted — that is to say, to cover the tonsils. Tack the bandage : do not pin it. Let the poultice bo changed three times a day. The best medicine is the Acidulated Infusion of Hoses, sweetened with syrup : — Take of — Diluted Sulplmric Acid, half a drachm ; Simple Syrup, one ounce and a half ; Acid Infusion of Roses, four ounces and a half: To make a Mixture. A table-spoonful to be taken every four hours. It is grateful and refreshing, it is pleasant to take, it abates fever and thirst, it cleanses the throat and ton"ue of mucus, and is peculiarly efficacious in scarlet fever ; as soon as the fever is abated it gives an appetite. My belief is that the sulphuric acid in the mixture is a specific in scarlet fever, as much as quinine is in ague, and sulphur in itch. I have reason to say so, for, in numerous cases I have seen its immense value. throughout the weary night, and in the morning the child, to the surprise of all, did not die, and is now gradually recovering." These old women — this jury of matrons — stumbled on the r ght remedy, " all the doors in the house .... were thrown wide open, and thus they thoroughly ventilated the apartment. What was the consequence ? The child who, just before the opening of the doors, nad all the appearances "that death was inevitable," as soon as fresh air was let in showed symptoms of recovery, "and in the morning the child, to the surprise of all, did not die, and is now gradually recovering." There is nothing wonderful— there is nothing surprising to my mind- in all this. Ventilation— thorough ventilation— is the grand remedy for scarlatina ! Oh, that there were in scarlet fever cases a good many such old women's— such a "jury of matrons'" —remedies ! We should not then be horritied, as we now are, at tbe fearful records of death, which the lieturus of the lli^gistrar. General disclose 1 CHILDHOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETC. 179 Now, with regard to food. — If the child he at the breast, keep him entirely to it. If he be weaned, and under two years old, give him milk and water, and cold water to drink. If ho be older, give him toast and water, and plain water from the pump, as much as ho chooses ; "let it be quite cold — the colder the better. AVeak black tea, or thin gruel, may be given, but not caring, unless he be an infant at the breast, if he take nothing but cold water. If the child be two years old and upwards, roasted apples with sugar, and grajies, will be very refreshing, and will tend to cleanse botli the mouth and the throat. Avoid broths and stimulants. When the appetite returns, you may consider the patient to be safe. The diet ought now to be gradually improved. Bread and butter, milk and water, and arrow- root made "with equal parts of new milk and water, should for the first two or three days be given. Then a light batter or rice pudding may be added, and Ji a few days, either a little chicken or a mutton chop. The essential remedies, then, in scarlet fever, are, for the first few days — (1) plenty of fresh air and venti- lation, (2) plenty of cold water to drink, (3) biirm poultices to the throat, and (4y the Acidulated Infusion of Koses Mixture as a medicine. Kow, then, comes very important advice. After the first few days, i)robably five or six, sometimes as early as the fourth day — watch carefully andwarihi, avd note the time, the skin mill siuldeidij hecome cool, the child will say that he feels chilly ; then is the time you must now change your tactics — instantly close the windows and pid extra clothing, a blanket or two, on his bed. A flannel night-gown should, until the dead skin have peeled off, be now worn next to the skin, when the flannel night-gown should be discontinued. The patient ought ever after to wear, in the day time, a flannel waist- coat.* His drinks must now be given with the chill olK; • On the importance — the vital importance — of the woftriog of flannel next to the skin, see ♦' f Iftwnel WaistcojitH " 180 ADVICE TO A MOTHER, ■I I he ought to have a warm cup of tea, and gradually his diet should, as 1 have previously advised, be improved. There is one important caution I wish to impress upon you, — do not give oj)enmg medicine during the time the eruption is out. In all probability the bowels will be oj)ened : if so, all well and good ; but do not, on any account, for the first ten days, use artificial means to open thenL It is my firm conviction that the adminis- tration of purgatives in scarlet fever is a fruitful source of dropsy, of disease, and death. When wo take into consideration the sympathy there is between the skin ai:d the mucous membrane, I think that we should pause before giving irritating medicines, such as purga- tives. The irritation of aperients on tlie mucous membrane may cause the poison of the skin disease (for scarlet fever is a blood-poison) to be driven internally to the kidneys, to the tliroat, to the pericardium (bag of tlie heart), or to the brain. You may say. Do you not purge if the bowels be not open for a week 1 I say emphatically, No ! I consider my great success in the treatment of scarlet fever to be partly owing to my avoidance of aperients during the first ten days of the child's illness. If the bowels, after the ten days, be not properly opened, a dose or two of syrup of senna should be given : that is to say, one or two tea-spoonfuls should be admin- istered early in the morning, and should, if the first dose does not operate, be repeated in four hours. In a subsequent Conversation, I shall strongly urge you not to allow your child, when convalescent, to leave the house under at least a month from the commence- ment of the illness ; I, therefore, beg to refer you to that Conversation, and hope that you will give it your best and earnest consideration I During the last twenty years I have never had dropsy from scarlet fever, and I attribute it entirely to the plan I have just recom- mended, and in not allowing my patients to leave the house under the month — until, in fact, th§ fikitt that Jiad peeled off has been renewed, CniLDHOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETC. 181 Let me now sum up the plan I adopt, and which I l)cg leave to desi.Ljnato OvS — Pyo Chavusse's Fresh Air Treatment of Scarlet Fever : — 1. Thorough ventilation, a cool room, and scant clothes on the bed, for the first five or six days. 2. A change of temperature of the skin to be carefully regarded. As soon as tlie skin is cool, closing tho windows, and putting additional clothing on the bed. 3. The Acididatcd Infusion of Roses with Syrup is the rjedicine for scarlet fever. 4. Purgatives to be religiously avoided for the first ten days at least, and even afterwards, uidess there be absolute necessity. 5. Leeches, blisters, emetics, cold and tepid spongings, and painting the tonsils with caustic, inadmissible in scarlet fever. 6. A strict antiphlogistic (low) diet for tho first few days, during which time .cold water to be given ad libitum. 7. The patient not to leave the house in the summer under the month ; in the winter, under six weeks. What NOT to do. — Do not, then, apply either leeches or blisters to the throat ; do not paint the tonsils with caustic ; do not gi^;e aperients ; do not, on any account, give either calomel or emetic tartar ; do not, for the first few days of the illness, be afraid of cold air to the skin, and of cold water as a beverage ; do not, emphatically let me say, do not let the child leave the house for at least a month from the commencement of the illness. My firm conviction is, that purgatives, emetics, and blisters, by depressing the patient, sometimes cause ordinary scarlet fever to degenerate into malignant scarlet fever. I am aware that some of our first authorities advocate a dilferent plan to mine. They recommend purgatives, which I may say, in scarlet fever, are my dread and abhorrence. They advice cold and tepid spongings — a plan which I think dangerous, as it will probably drive the disease internally. Blisteis, too, have been pre- ADVICE TO A MOTHKR. 8cril)(5(l ; tlieso I consider weakoninj:^ injurious, and l)firbiiroiis, and likely still more to inll.une the already inflameil skin. They recommend leeches to the throat, which I am convinced, by depressing,' the patient, will lessen the chance of his battling against the disease, and will increase the ulceration of the tonsils. Again, the j)atient has not too much blood ; the blood is only l>ois()ned. I look upon scarlet fever as a specific poisoii of the blood, and one which will be eliminated fi-om the system, not by bleeding, not by purgatives, not by emetics, but by a constant supply of fresh and cool air, by the acid treatment, by cold water as a beverage, and for the first few days by a strict antiphlogistic (low) diet. Sydenham says that scarlet fever is oftentimes " fatal through the otiiciousness of the doctor." I conscientiously believe that a truer remark was never made ; and that, under a different system to the usual one adopted, scarlet fever would not be so much dreaded.* Dr Budd, of Bristol, recommends, in the British Medi- cal Jommaly that the body, including the scalp, of a scarlet fever patient, should, after about the fourth day, be anointed, every night and morning, with camphorated oil ; this anointing to be continued until the patient is able to take a warm bath and use disinfectant soap : this application will not only be very agreeable to the patient's feelings, as "there is usually great irritation and itching of the skin, but it will, likewise, be an important * If any of my medical brethren should do me the honour to read these pages, let me entreat them to try my plan of treatinut the contagion of scarlet fever is so sul)tlean(lso uncertain in its duration, that it is imi)ossil)lo to fix the exact tinio when it ceases. Let mo most earnestly implore you to ponder well on the above important facts. If these remarks should ho the means of saving only one ckild from death, or from broken health, my labour will not have been in vain. 22G. What means do you acUise to purify a house^ clothes, and furniture, fror,i the coidayion of Scarlet Fever i Let every room in the house, together with its contents, and clothing and dresses that cannot be washed, be well fumigated with sulphur — taking care the while to close both windows and door ; let every room be lime-washed and then be white-washed ; if the contagion have been virulent, let every bedroom be freshly papered (tlie walls having been previously stripped of the old ;japer and then lime-washed) ; let the bed, the bolsters, the pillows, and the mattresses be cleansed and purified ; let the blankets and coverlids be thoroughly washed, and tlien let them be exposed to the open air — if taken into a field 80 much the better ; let the rooms be well scoured ; let the windows, top and bottom, be tlirown wide open ; let tlie drains be carefully examined ; let the pump water be scrutinised, to see that it be not contaminated by fiecal matter, either from the water-closet, froia the privy, from the pig-stye, or from the stable ; let privies bo emptied of their contents — remember this is most impor- tant advice — then put, into the empty places, either lime and powdered charcoal or carbolic acid, for it is a well- ascertained fact that it is frequently impossible to rid a house of the infection of scarlet fever without adopting fiuch a course. "In St George's, Southwark, the t'.i. 18; ADVICE TO A MOTHER. ''!ll modioal ofTiccr reports that scarlatina * has ra^oA fatally, almost oxolusivoly where privy or drain smoll.v are to })o ]>erceive(l in tlie liouscs.* "* Let the children, who liave not had, or who do not appear to ho sickening for scarhit fever, ho sent away from home — if to a farm house so much tho hettcr. Indeed, leave no storKi unturned, no means untried, to exterminate the disoaso from tho house and from the neighhourhood. Kememher the young are more prone to catch contagious diseases than ailults ; for " in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contart'SHion of sj)irit« and Uchility, vinhn's,; sickiu'ss, hca^lache, ami occjusioiially dulirium. After the a))()vo symptoms have lasted aljoiit three days, the eruption shows itself. Tlio ininienso vahie of th(; ])revi(Mis vaccination, or the previous attack of small-pox, now comes into play. In a case oi.tinprotac.tcd small-pox, the api)earanco of the eruption wjurdrdtcs all the jihove symptoms, and the danger Lectins ; while in the moiUjiexl small-pox, the moment the eruption shows itself, the patient feels Letter, anil, as a rule, rapidly recovers. The eruption of moifijind small-pox varies materially from the eruption of the nnprofirfrd small- pox. The former erH])tion assumes a varicid character, and is com])Osed, first, of vesi'des (containing water) ; and, secondly, of pwstules (containing matter), each of which pustules has a depression in the centre ; and, thirdly, of several red pimples without either water or matter in them, and which sometimes assume a livid appearance. These "breakings-out" generally show themselves more upon the wrist, and sometimes up one or both of the nostrils. While in the latter disease — the im protected small-pox — the "breaking-out" is composed entirely of pustules containing matter, and which ]>us- tules are more on the face than on any other part of the body. There is generaUy a peculiar smell in both diseases — an odour once smelt i;ever to be forgotten. Now, there is one most important remark I have to make, — the modified small-pox is contagious. This ouglit to be borne in mind, as a person labouring undei the disease must, if there be children in the house, either be sent away liimself, or else the children ought to be banished both the house and the neighbourliood. Another important piece of advice is, — let all in the house — children and adults, one and all — be vaccinated, even if any or all have been previously vaccinated. Trmtment. — Let the patient keep his room, and if ho be very Ul, his bed. Let the cluiinber be well ventilated. It it bo wwte? time, » pmaU im m the grate will 100 ahvh'ic to a motiikiu iMicouvM^o v»»nlilii(inti. If it !»(> Miminicr, a lire in out of H»o «ju»'Ntit»n ; iiMloiMl, in hiicIi ji case, lll(^ window sash o\i^'lil. to bo o|HMu>(l, us llunonf^h vcnliliition is an iin|MM'tnnt ro<|iiisit<^ of v\u\\ bolli in sniali po\ and in ■iUihiijh'd small pox. Wliili^ Mu^ iMMiplion is out, «!«> iiol, on any ar«Mnint jj^ivi^ apiMi(«nt nu««lirini". In ten days fn>ni till' coninuMironuMiJ. of Uio illness a mild aju-ricnt iniiv l>o j^ivon. Tho lu>sl. mwdirino in ihcso cases is, lius swi'otiMuvl Aridnlaliui Infusion of l\ost>s,* which oiii^'lil, ti) h(> v^ivon from the comnionc(>mcnl. of the disease, and »slu»uld he continued wntil the fev(«r lu^ ahaliHl. l*'or I lie tirst few daY«, J«s \o\\\* as the fever lasts, the patient oujilit not to he alloweil either meat or hroth, hut shonM Ite kept on Ji low dit>t, su(di as (*n ^''''^'K arrow root, milk pudilini^s, kw As soon as the fever is ahatcd \w ought i^radually to resume his usual diet. When he is et>nvalei?cent, it is widl, where practicahle, that he should liavt* change of air ft»' a montli. *l\yi. How im)iifox ; indeed, in chicken-pox thcro is bttle or no fevor either befi)rc or after the eniption ; by the former disejk^e — the luodilied small-pox — consisting paii/i/ of Hustules (containing matter), each jnistnlo having ii tlepivjision in the centre, ami the favourite kicalitie« of the ])ust\ilea being the wrists ami the insido of tho nostrils ; while, in the chicken-pox, tho cnn)tion consists of vesicles (containing water), antl not pustules (contain- ing matter), and the vesicles having neither a depression ill tho centre, nor having any part.icular partiality to attack either tlie wrists or the insido of tho nosa. In nioilifiod snuill-pox each pustule is. as in uni)rotected pjuoll-pox, intlanied at the base; while in chickeu-jiox 1 'i! • See paf:e 178.. ciiii.i>MO()i>. -ON PiHKASK, r/rc I'Jl i!^ llioro i« only very Hli^'ht hmIih-hh around vnrh wnuh; Thr VrsirlrH ill cllickril pox Ul'*^ Hlliull llllicil Slii4i]l(;r fliiiii t)i(! iiiiHtiilrH in iiioilititMl hiiimII pox. L'il.'i. Ik Ifoojiinij nnojh an in/fanumi/ori/ li/srfiMf.f ll()opin;^'-C()ii^,'li in HhvU '\h imt. inllaiiiin.itory, it, Ih j>nn'ly HjiJiHinodic ; l)ut it in ^'ciKjnilly uccoiiiiuinicd with iiioro or IcMH of l)ron('liitiH~ indaiiiniiition of tho nin"(MiH iiu'iiiltraiid of tli(< lironcliial tulxH on which ac.connt it is ncccHsary, //* (dl rttsrH of ho<»j»in;^' coii^^h, to c.onKnlt a iiinlical man, that lie. may walch the jtro^'icHH of tho disrast! hikI nip inilammation in tho hud. L'.'ll. ir/// you lidvc. tin; tjooilnfHH fo tjive the Hijuqdoms^ ami II hrli'f fiitiiorij t)J\ JIoojti/iipe — the l^lottia— causing the peculiar " hoop ; " and alter a littio 1 m i in m *ii ' 1:. 1 tu rf ' ■I*. 4 192 ADVICB TO A MOTUKR. inoni coupluiig, ho brings up somo fijlfiiry niiirus from tlio ('host ; ami soniotimrs, by vomiting, food troiii ilio ploinacli ; ho is at onco roliovod, until tho noxt pjiroxysm occur, whon tlio aanio process is ropoatod, tho child during tho intervals, in a favourablo case, aj)pcarinjj5 quito well, and after tho cough ia ( vor, iiistantly returning either to liis play or to liis focnl. (Jonorally, after a paroxysm ho ia Inmgry, unless, indeed, there ho severe intlammatiou either oi the chest or of tho lungs. Sicluiosa, as I heforo remarked, freipioi.tly accompanies hooping-cough ; when it does, it might bo lookeil upim as a good sign. Tho oliild usually knows when an attack is coming on ; ho dreads it, and thoroforo tries to ju'ovont it; ho somi^timcs j>artially succeeds ; Imt, if he does, it only makes tho attack, when it does come, more severe. All causes of irritation and excitement ought, as nnich as possil)lo, to be avoided, as passion is aj)! to bring on a sovuro paroxysm. A now-liorn babe — an infant of ono or two months old — comuKudy escai>es the infection ; but if, at that tender ng(% he unfortunatoly catch hooping-cough, it is likely to fare harder with him than if ho were older — the younger the child, tho greater tho risk. Ihit still, in such a case, i\o not def!])air, as I have known numerous instances of new-born infants, with judicious care, recover perfectly from the attack, and thrive after it as though nothing of the kind had over hai>penod. A new-boni babe, labouring under liooping-cough, is liable to convulsions, which is in this disease ono, indeed tho great, source of danger. A chUd, too, who is teeth- ing, and la])ouring inidor tho disease, is also liable to convulsions. When tho patient is convalescing, caro ought to bo taken that ho does not catcli cold, or tho "hooj)" might return. . Hooping-cough may either pre('e ,/.). l>o not j^ivo ojIIkm* luiinily or wine, rts ii\|];nnn«atit»n of houu^ o^7,^'ln mi}rl>{. Im« al»oul. l.'ikiii|,' ]>1,\(M\ Po not M(lniii\iHl(l !>«' sonu^ " iMoakiiiij oiil " otmiiiig imi on Mio Hkiii, {in«l an ajMnitMil n\i!i;hl rh'M'k i(.. *J 10. .)/// ('///A/, (iv}hi}y)>ffif (>fhrrtvi{<<> /icifif/ii/, .sv/vi/^/m f>j// /;? //vr uithor. from wornis ; som('timj\'^, from nii^Iit man); • Tl\o !»l>ovo o\tr;>ot from TtM\nysoa is, \\\ \\\y limnM(> opiiiion, »M\o of" lUo ,most Iviuitit'ul nioi'rs «>f noclry in tlio l'',iii;li>-li 1;»ngu,\tr«'. It is jv povlVt't ,tf o\<|nisito. s«^ t'nll of tlu» tnost vahiiil>l(> n'lltnMioi.s ; Itir instanoo k\.) " Tho litll<> rift within tho Into." tlio liltlo t\il>(M\'lo within tin* ho\,i; "that hyaiul-hy will ninko tln^ iinisio lunto, anvi «>vor wiiloninix sl*>wly sih-nco all," and the imtiiiit ovt»nnial1y dii's of t'onsun^ptiojj. {'!.) Tin^ littlo n-nt -the lillln rift o{ A Yory minute vt>ssol in tho brain, proiinct's an atiatk nf ajH>ph>\y. antl tho it;\tiont dios. (.S.) Kaoh and all i)f uh, in niio loiin or anothor, sooner or lator, will have* *• tho littlo rift \\\\\\\\\ liio Into." But why vjivo nioro illustrations?— a littlo rolloclioij wUl brii'g uuuiorouii cxau^tics to my lair reader's mcmu}y« Mi'i oitii.iinoon — ON idrtRAon, kw. H)7 into, • will till ;;ifl Am m<»< m ii(4 M»«Mini<> liol, . on liiH linl, cU fV(MU IliM \ily or \viiH\ oil (.Ih> hIuii, //ll»in;4; night niiuo; |in\Mo tipiui"", (lu> KM>::li^li |ts(>lf, HO ti'ith- >|\»H'tioi.s ; for >/• tlio littlrt |\i\k(' tli(« niiisio Jul Uu« Viitifiit iiliivck of nrcnoKtiiu 11 V. r. Vll Is III) jl oi us. in "110 ill lo lilt vvithiu lliltlc volKnaioH lUtUUQVy. oiii i'iIImM' (li'iorilf'fcd mIihimmJi or liMVvr'lfi. Ivn'll of llin jilidVM r/il|J!''M will, of ri»\ir.i\ r<'<|ii(lM n tjiirrrnii iilnii of |»nin(|iirf ; il. will, Mmm for*', Iim lUM'PHWil'V lo rntifinlf. (I liMMliciil liiMtl ofi Dip hiiI>)C((, u Iim will wodii, Willi aj»|iio|tiiMln IrculiiMMit, lie alil«i In it linvn iiiin. 'J II. /Anv th>' (jiinihif'Hfi !n ih'Hri'lhr Ihi' romjifninf of i'/iifflrrn cnllnl l\fninpM. 'I'lin imiiii|in, inllMMiiii)ili(»n M' Hproml oil Ji Hoft piccn <»f \\hh\\ IcmIIut. I^ct h cliomiHt Hproiu! a piaster, about tlio hIzo of ilio Imud ; uihI, from iliiH \m\c\\ cut Hiniill ])IuHiorH, tlio hI/o of ,\, hIuIHu}; or 11 ilonii (ncctirdiu}^ 1() \\m (litmMiMJoiiH of tin; l»oil), whicli sui|> nrouiul luul iipply to tlio part. Tut ;i frosh ono on \\on it docH bri'iik, HipuM'Zis out ilm roultMjts — tlio corn aud tbo luattcr — aud tluMi apply dint of tho plasiiM-s as boforo, whicb, until tlio boil \m wi-ll, riMunv ovorv dny. Tho t)Kl-fasbion(Ml rouiody for a boil — uanidy, rounnon yellow Roap aud In'owii-sugar, in a ni|)it;il ono for tlio purpose. It ia uiado with (Mpial ])!irts of l)rowu sugar and of slnvddod yollow soap, and mixed by moans of a tablo-knifn on a plato, with a fcnv drops oif wat(M', uutil it bo all woll ))loiulod togcitlu^r, and of llio consistonoo of thick pasto ; it should thon bo hjuvikI oilhcr on a pioco of wash-l(>alhor, or on thick Imhmi, find a]>pliod to the boil, and ko])fc in its ])la('o by moans oitlicr of a bandage or of a foldoci handkorohiof ; and should Im romovoil onco or twice a day. This is an cxoiilciit ni>plication for a boil — soothing, comforting, and draw- ing — and ^^^ll soon ctlbct a euro. A paste of honoy and Hour, spivad on linen rag, is another popular and good application for a boil. If the hoilif ahouhl an'jio from the child heimj in a df'Iicafc state of hcaifh, give him cod-liver oil, meat onco a day, and an abundance of milk and farinaceous food. Let him have plenty of fresh air, exercise, and play. Jf the hoiL^ should arise from fjross mid t7uj)roper feeding^ then keep him for a time from meat, and let him live principally on a milk and farinaceous diet. /;' the child be fat and grosSy cod-liver oil wouiJ h improper ; a mild aperient, such as rhubarb and uiaj,'- nesia, would then be the best medicine. 244. What are the symptoms of Ear-ache ? A young child screaming shrilly, violently, and con- M bniT.DnooD. — on piflRAflR, Rta 190 l^uiuly pitch her. liCt. II f iho liimd ; 8i7.0 nf i\ isiouH of llio |)lU'i. Tilt !l )n ciuiHi^ Uii' |>('/(^ (Mil llll^ boil bo wi'li, )oil — luniicly, IH a n»]>it:il ^(|iuil parts of r>, and mixcil 1 a fow (Irops uT, ami of tlio on 1)0 spiviul ick I'luMi, ami ineaiis imIIht and should \w an oxccllt'iit ng, and dnuv- of honey ami ular and good I heiwj in a oil, luoat oiico inacoons food. and play. a7id wqmper meat, and li'i eons diet. oil wonli h )arb and m^- 'he ? ntly, and con- a ^«i li'anonflly, i« oftentinu^H owin^ to oar-acho ; can-ftilly, tlHTofon^, oxamiiio eiuli llon >vu(»l, uliich liml 1)t>iMI put ill tlio o.'ir, ilixl Ii.'kI ImmMI t'n||;i)|t(>il In Im> ViMiioViMl, nro llio iiMiml ninm'M of «liM(liMiy,''M fnnii tlio nn, II ;,;:<'iuM'allv roinnuMU'»\s willi ninn'lit'. riio tvrittiri' lit ooiiHiMlM in Ivorpiiij; Mie |»iu'1h clciiii, liy pvriui;iiij; llu» o;ir cvi'iv iiuiriiiii}!; willi wiinii wiifrr, hy HlltMilioii to f(>o«l Koi'piiiL; llio rliiM |triin'i|t(illy ii|mi|i li luilU Jiuil ii fiiviii!UM>ouH «li(>|., iiiid Ity <')iivii|,m» i»f nir iiiniv «\s)Mvijillv 1«> lln» »'o;im1. If rliaiij^o of ni" Im« not |tr;u'lii' nMo, gi<\-il M(i«Milioii Mlioiild ))(> ])jii(i to v«>iitilii(iun. A,i 1 liavo l»i'fi)io .itlvi.siMl, ill nl! niMOM of tliHi'lmi';L:o from lli(« iwv c:)ll ill ;v moiliral man, an a little juiiicioiiM niniiciin' is a«lv!saM«' iiuiotMl, i^sMiMilial ; and it may l»<* ncccsH.iiv vitli lotions, iiiMlc.'vl of willi warm wator ; and, of roiirso, it. is only a doctor who \vm nctually soon tlio i^atitMit >vlio oan d(>oido tlio«(^ niiitlcrH, and >vhat is host. U^ ho tlono in oacli oas(\ *Ji7. Wlhif is thr tnuiftnoif of a " /»///(• " o« tJn' rf/rlldf r>atli(» tho t\vo fn^ijiiontly with warm milk luid walcr, niid iipl^ly, ovory night at lu>tltiino, a warm wliito Im-ad jH>ultioo. No modioino is ivquinMl ; l)ut, if tli(> oliild ho ^ViW, kooj» liim for a fow days from iiH>at, and let iiim live on Invad an«l milk and fariiiacoons puddings. . *J•lv'^. //' a cJiHd have lanjr hotrffs, what vouJil ijon recommend an likehj fo reduce their airj'f It ought to ho horno in mind, that tlio howols of a cliild aiv largor in ]m>j)ortion than tlioso of an adult. r>ut, if tlioy ho actually larger than thoy ought h) ho, let thorn ho woll riihhod for a t|uartor of an liour, at a tiino iiiglit and morning, with soap linimont, antl thon apiily a hnvul tlannol holt^ " A hroad tiannol holt Avorn niijlit and dav, linn h\it not tight, is vi»rv sorviocaMo."* Tim child ought to ho pivvonted from drinking as umch as • Sir Charles Locook, iu a Letter to the Author. t( c'lmpnonn. — nv vinv.snp,, v.ra 201 ninit i)f ill.: " lurnKiiij;'! 1, wliii'h liml Mtlirn to lii> I'uMii 1Ih» i'lir. w\ wilier, liy |tiilly Mpnn II of nir more o not |»r;u'lii' itilnlion. Asi iiv;.^t> IVom I 111' oiiM nitMliciiic ' lio lUM'csHiirv )f willi wanii lor Nvl»<» liiit* tlioHo inuiti'is, 7/ tlint/i'-llin Ik JViitl Nviiirr, n whilo Itivail t liiin live on l . it would yon I lu)Avols of ft of an lulult. ^'lit to U\ lot our. ill ii tii>H^ I iluMi jiiti'ly 11, worn liiillit able."* 'Hh^ «: as much a3 1)0 liiiM Ih'oii in lli)< liiiltil of )|iiiii)f ; |rl. Iiint l)i> i>ri('otini[MM| to ('\rii'i,t(< liiiii.'U'ir Will Ml |Ih< n|icri air ; ami Id, Mtrirl li<;;iui| Im< paid 1(1 Ii:n iIh'I. 'Jl".>. W'/i'if nrf III)' hint dpt'/'ifufft J'nr n I'lilhl f 11' il, li(< ni'liiiilhi nrccKHiiiv !•► K'V '''"' "|"''iin^ iiirilirino, one or I wo Icii M|MMHifiilM of Hyniji of Srnria, n-piali'd, if nrccHHa? y, i" f""i" Ikhmh, will ^M-iMTnlly niiHWcr IIh' jiiir|ioH(' ; or, for a rliiin;^)', oim or Ivvo Ira H|MioiifiilH of <'aMlor<)il iti)>y l)i> HiiliKlihiliMl. Lchitivn I'.lrcl iiiirv (( 'oiii|Miiiii(| ( 'oiif»M lion of Sfjiiia) in aiiollitT rxciilriit aprrii'iil. for llio yoiiii;.^ il, ln-in;^ niilil in ibi opmilioii, and pIcaHiiiil to lak«^ ; a cliild furii'yin;^ it, i^ iioi'iiii;.^ iiioif tliaii j.'ini, and wliidi it. nnicji r<',".i ndilr-H liolli ill app<'iinin('<* iind in laMi(\ 'I'lic iIomm ia lialf or Olio It'll fy it,fof»nfiilH, or even more, of tile infusion (aeeordin^ to tlie a^'e of the cliild, and the obstinacy of the bowels), to act as an aperient. Of course, you yorrself will be al»lc, from time to time, as iiw. need ariseH, to add the milk and tlu; sugar, and thuH to make it palatable. It oucht to be given warm, so an tho more to reseinblu tea. T Waring s Manual of l*ractical Therapeutics. 202 AnVirU TO A MOTIIHR. sn^fir. Thf> a(lvani{i,L,'«'s whi(;]i it li.is nvor llio oM soliil form am, iliat it is colourlcsM and nearly taslcK'SH, ainl iiovtT forniM coiicri'tiona in tlu) bowols, as tlio unh'il inajjjncsia, if pcM'scvcTiMl in for any l(in)^'tli of tinio, h(hii(«- tinios oonfuls of tho iluid, eltlior by itself or in Ilia food, rej»eaMn<^ it (iVory four liourn until tlio l)owi!ls 1)0 opcin. When tho child ia ol»l enou^'h to drink tho draught oil" •inmirditttchf^ tho addition of uihi or two t<'a-sj)oonful« of Lemon duico to each doso of tlio .Fluid Ma|;nesia, malv(v«» a pleasant ("H'ervcscing drau^'ht, and increases its ollicacy as an aperient. J>ran-hro;Ml* and trcttrhi will frecpUMitly oju'u t];o "bowels ; and as treacle is wholesome, it may ho sul). atituted for butter when tho bowels are inclined to ])o costive. A roasted a])ple, eaten with raw su<,'ar, in another excellent mild aperient for a child. Milk «»ruel — that ia to vsay, milk thickened with oatmeal— forma an excellent food for him, and often k(M'[)s his bowels rofijular, and thus {which is a tvr// importunt am- mdoration) sujiersedea the necessity of jjjivin^ him an aperient An orange (takiiig caro ho does not eat tho j>eel or tho pul]>), or a lig after dinner, or a f(!W Muscatel raisins, will frequently regulate tho bowels. Stowed prunes ia another admirable remedy for tho costivencss of a child. Tho manner of stowing them is as follows : — Put a pound of prunes in a brown jar, add two table-spoonfuls of raw sugar, then cover tho prunes and the sugar with cold water ; place them in tho oven, and let them stew for four hours. A child should every morning eat half a dozen or a dozen of them, until tho bowels be relieved, aking care that he does not swallow the stones. Stewed prunes may be given in treacle- treacle increasing the aperient properties of the prunes. A suppository is a mild and ready way of oi)ening the bowels of a child. When he is two or three years old One part of bran to three parts of flour, mixed together and made into bread. CniLDnOOD. — ON DISnA.SK, KTO. 203 and iipw;ir(lB, ft Cundlr suppoMitory iH Ix'ttrr tlinn ^Soop BnppoHitnry. TIms way f tlircn inclicH — antl insert it iw yon wonM a clyHtcr pip'*, al»»ut two incluH np \\w fnndatncnt, allowing Um ifniainiii;^ indi to ]»(! in sij^'ht, ami ilu'ic let tho Hnppository ivnuiiii nntil t)i(i ])owi'ls 1>« ojxMU'd. Another excellent method of openirj^ a cliiM's howel.s is by nieanH of an enema of warm water, — fri>m half a tea-cu])fid to a tea-cujifid, or even more, ae^'ordin^' to i\w a^'e of tho child. I cannot Kpeak too liif^'hly of thi.s plan a.s a remedy for costiveness, an it entirely, in tho generality of cases, prevents the necessity of administer- ing^ a ])article of aperient medicine l)y tho mouth. Tho fact of its doing so stamp.s it ft.s a most valua])lo n^medy * — opening physic lu'ing, as a rule, moat objectionahle, and injurious to a cluld's howel.s. l>ear this fact — for it is a fact — in mind, and let it ])0 always remembered. 450. What are the viud frequent causes of Prat run! on of the loiuer-tnrwel ? Tho too common and reprehensible practice of a ])arent administering frequent aperients, r'specially calomel and jalap, to her child. Another cau.se, is allowing him to remain for a rotrnsion of tho bowel have been l)rought on by tlie abuse of aperients, abstain for the future from giving them ; but if medicine bo absolutely reipiinMl, give tho mildest — such as either Syrup of Senna or Castor on — and the less of those the better. If the external application of a purgative will have tho desired etl'ect, it will, in such cases, be better than the internal administration of aperients. Castor Oil used as a Liniment is a good one for the purpose. Let the bnwels be well rubbed, ©very night and morning, for five minutes at a time with the oil. A wet compress to tho bowels will frequently open I! hi I : ! ! ! i ifei ■Hi! m 204 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. them, anil will thus do away with the necessity of giving an a|)orient — n moi^i important consitJeration. Fold a napkin in six thicknesses, soak it in w/(i water, and apply it to the howels ; i>ver which put either a thin covering or sheet of gutta-percha, or a piece of oiled-silk ; keep it in its place witii a broad flannel roller ; and let it remain on the bo\\als for tiu'ee or four houra, or until they he opened. Try what diet will do, as opening the bowels by a regulated diet is far preferable to the giving of aperients. Let him have either bran-bread or Eobinson's Patent (iroats, or Robinson's Pure Scotch Oatmeal made into gruel with neAv milk, or Du Barry's Ai'abica Revalenta, or a slice of Iluntly and Palmer's lump gingerbread. I.ct liim eat stewed prunes, stewed rhubarb, roasted apples, strawberries, raspberries, the insi'le of grapes and goose- berries, figs, tfec. Give him early every morning a draught of cold water. Let me, again, urge you not to give aperients in those cases, or in any case, uiiless you are absolutely compelled. r>y following my advice you will save yourself an immense deal of trouble, and your child a long catalogue of misery. Again, I say, look well into the matter, and whenever it be practicable avoid purgatives. Now, with regard to the best manner of returning the •bowel, lay the child upon the bed on his face and bowels, with his liipfi a little raised ; thea smear lard on the fore- finger Oi your right hand (taking care that the nail be cut close), and gently with your fore-finger press the bowel into its proper place. Eemember, if the above methods be observed, you cannot do the slightest injury to the bowel ; and the sooner it be returned, the better it will be for the child ; for if the bowel be allowed to remain long down, it may slough or mortify, and death may ensue. The nurse, every time he has a motion, must see that the bowel does not come down, and if it does, she ought instantly to return it. Moreover, tlie nurse should be careful not to allow the child to remain on his chair more than two or three minutes at a tima 6- :l # t CHILDHOOD. — ON DI8EA8E, ETC. 206 Another excellent remedy for the protnision of the lower bowel, is to use every morning a cold sidt and water sitz batL There need not be more than a depth of three inches of water in the bath ; a small liandfnl of table salt should be dissolved in the water ; a.diish of warm water in the winter time must be added, to take oil" the extreme cliill ; and the cliild ought not to be allowed to sit in the bath for more than one minute, or whil.-;t the mother can count a hundred ; taking care, the while, to throw either a square of flannel or a small shawl over his shoulders. The sitz bath ought to bo continued for months, oi untilthe complaint be removed. I cannot speak in too high praise of these baths. 252. Do you adcifay re- main in the ho\V(^l. If the child he sinking, eithc^r a dessert-spoonful of hrandy, or half a wine-glassful of i)ort wine, ought to he added to each enema, 1'ho ahovo plan ought only to he adopted if there h] no diarrlioea If there bo diarrluiea, an enema nnist not Thj used. Then, provided there he great wasting away, and extreme exhaustion, and other remedies having faiKiil, it would be advisable to give, by the mouth, raw hccf of the finest quality, wliich ouglit to bo taken from tlio liip bone, and shouhl bo shredded very fine. All fat and . \m must bo carefully removed. One or two tea-spoon- fuls (according to the jige of the child) ouglit to he given e\cry four hours. The giving of raw meat to children in exhaustive diseases, such as excessive long-standing diarrhoea, was introduced into practice by a Kussian physician, a Professor Wiesso of St Petersburg. It certjiiidy is, in these cases, a most valuable remedy, and lias frequently been the m«vins of snatching such patients from the jaws of death. Children usuaUy take raw meat with avidity and with a relish, • An enema apparatus is an important requisite in every iinrsory ; it may be procured of any respectable surgical iiistiu- meat maker. The India-rubber Enema Bottle is, for a chiM's use, a great inq>rovemont qn the old syringe, as it is not SQ likely to get out of order, and, morcoveri in luurc easily used. U -rf ' cniLonooD.— ON disease, etc. 207 rrovoniivo ISO of a ])nv non, and a }(ly, without it plan cm id thm pro- ' to aviso from -ln'oth or of r hoiuvs.* It [it it may nv ing, cither a assf III of port sd if tlicro 1)« ' ^ oma imiHt not irastin^ away, jhaving faiiinl, til, raw l)W'f kcii from the All fat ami wo toa-spooii- t to 1)0 given to children in oiig-staiiding )y a Kiissian itorsburg. It remedy, and such patients ako raw meat 254. If a child he naturally delicate^ what plan would you rtronnnmd to strengthen him ? I Hhould adviso strict attention to the rules above men- tioned, and change of air — more esi)e(;ially, if it bo jioHflible, to the coast. Change of air, sometimes, upon a delicate child, acts like magic, and may restore him to health when all other means liavo failed. If a girl bo (hdicate, " carry her off to the fann, there to undergo tho - jjocrates, the father of medicine, says — **In longis morbis sohim intitHre." (In tedious diseases to change the place of residence.) A child who, in tho winter, is always catching cold, whose life during half of the y(.'ar is one continued catarrh, who is in conseciuence, likely, if he grow up at all, to grciv up a confirmed invalid, ought, during the winter months, to seek another clime ; and if the parents can atl'ord the expense, they should at tho beginning of October, cause him to bend his stei)8 to the south of I'^urope — Mentone being as good a place as they could probably fix upon. 255. Do you ajyprove of sea lathing for a delicate yiiung child ? !No : he is frequently so frightened by it that the alarm would do him more harm than tlie bathing would do him good. The better phiii would be to liuvc luw every 208 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. morning well sponged, especially his back and loins, with sea water ; and to have him as much as possible carried on the beach, in order that he may inhale the sea breezes. "When he be older, and if* not frightened at being dipped, 6ca bathing will be very beneficial to him. If bathing is to do good, either to an adult or to a child, it must bo anticipated with pleasure, and neither with dread nor with distaste. 256. What is the lest method for admimstenng medi- ciiie to a child 1 If he be old enough, appeal to his reason , for, if a mother endcav^our to deceive her child, and ho detect lier, he will for the future suspect her. If ho be too young to be reasoned with, then, if he will not ta^'ie his medicine, he must be compelled. Lay liim across your knees, let both his hands and his nose be tightly held, and then, by means of the patent medicine-spoon, or, if that be not at hand, by either a tea or a dessert-spoon, pour the medicine down his throat, and he will be obliged to swallow it It may be said that this is a cruel procedure ; but it is the only way to compel an unruly child to take physic, and is much less cruel than running the risk of his dying from the medicine not having been administered.* 257. Ourfht a sick child to he roused from his sleep to give him physic, when it is time for him to take it ? On no account, as sleep, bei7.ig a natural restorative, must not be interfered with. A mother cannot be too pa ' ticular in administering the medicine, at stated periods, whilst he is awake. * If any of my medical brethren should perchance read these Conversations, I respectfully and earnestly recommend them to take more pains in making medicines for children pleasant and palatable. I am convinced that, in the generality of instances, provided a little more care and thought were bestowed on the subject, it may be done ; and what an amount of both trouble and annoyance it would save ! It is really painful to witness the struggles and cries of a child when ncmseous medicine is to be given ; the passion and fhe ^.'^ffitement often 4q V\o^Q \^^^. CHILDHOOD. — ON DISEASE, Eia 209 258. Have you any remarks to make on the manage- ment of a sick-room^ and have you any directions to give an the nursing of a child ? In sickness select a large and lofty room ; if in the town, the back of the house will be preferable — in order to keep the patient free from noise and bustle — as a sick- chamber cannot be kept too quiet. Be sure that thevo be a chimney in the room — as there ought to be in every room in the house — and that it be not stopped, as it will help to carry off the impure air of the apartment. Keep the chamber well ventilatedj by, from time u) time, open- ing the window. The air of the apartment cannot be too pure ; therefore, let the evacuations from the bowels be instantly removed, either to a distant part of tho house, or to an out-house or to the cellar, as it might be necessary to keep them for the medical man's inspection. Before using either the night-commode, or the pot-de- chambre, let a little water, to the depth of one or two inches, he put in the pan, or pot ; in order to sweeten the motion, and to prevent the foccal matter from adhering to the vessel Let there be frequent change of linen, as in sickness it is even more necessary than in health, more especially if the complaint be fever. In an attack of fever, clean sheets ought, every other day, to be put on the bed ; clean body-linen every day. A frequent change of linen in sickness is most refreshing. If the complaint be fever, a fire in the grate wUl not be necessary. Should it be a case either of inflammation of the lungs or of the chest, a small fire in the winter time is desirable, keeping the temperature of the room as nearly as possible at 60° Fahrenheit. Bear in mind that a large fire in a sick-room cannot be too strongly con- demned ; for if there be fever — and there are scarcely any complaints without — a large fire only increases if: Small fires, in cases either of inflammation of the lunga or of the chest, in the winter time, encourage ventilation of the apartment, and thus carry off impure air. II it be summer time, of course fires would be improper. A iP in i!l 210 ADVICK TO A MOTnER i'i ihi^rmomotor is an iiulispoiisahlo rocpiisito in a sick- room. Til fovor, free ami Ihorougli voniilniion is of vital ini- ])oi'taiu',o, moro oapocially in wcarlot fcvef ; thon a paiicmt cannot havo too nuich air ; in scarlet fevor, for tlio iirst fnw days tho windows, bo it winter or snninior, must to tlio widest extent bo opened. Tiio fear of tlio patient eutt'hinjiif cold by doing so is one of tho luimerous pro- judi(!es and basi^leas fears that haunt tlio nursery, and the sooner it is explodiul tho better it will bo for human life. The valances and bed-curtains ought to bo lo- nioved, and tliero should bo as liltlo furniture in tho room as possible. If it bo a case of measles, it will be necessary to adopt a did'erent course ; then tho windows ought not to bo opened, but tho door must from time to time be hift ajar. In a case of measles, if it bo winter time, a sm til fire m tho room will bo necessary. In inflammation of tho lungs or of tho chest, tho windows should not bo o['.en(Ml, but tho door ought occasionally to bo left unfastened, in order to change tho air and to mako it pure. Komcnilitr, then, that ventilation, cither by oj)en window or by open door, is in all diseases most necessary. Ventilation is one of the best friends a doctor has. In fever, do not load the bed with clothes ; in tlio sunnner a sheet is sufficient, in winter a sheet and a blanket. In fover, do not be afraid of allowing tho patient plenty either of cold water or of cold toast and water ; !Naturo will toll him when lie has had enough. In measles, let the chill bo taken off the toast and water. In croups have always ready a plentiful supply of hot water, in case a warm bath might be required. In child-crovnng^ have always in the sick-room a supply of cold water, ready at a moment's notice to dash upon the face. In fever, do not let the little patient lie on the lap ; lio ■will rest more comfortably on a horse-hair mattress in liis crib or cot If ho have pain in the bowels, the lap i3 1 ' 'ilj j i(iij— WW B CTHW * ^niLt)itooD.— OK rtflKAsfc, etc. ^11 moflt aj^ceal)lo to liim ; thn warmtl; of tlio Itody, oitlior of the niotlicr or of the uurao, soothoa liiin ; Ix'sidcs, if Ijo he on tho laj), bo caii ha turnod 0:1 liis Htoni.'U'h and on bis bowels, wbicb often aflbrdM liiin ^roat ndief ami comfort. If be bo much omaciat(Ml, when ho is nursed, place a pillow upon tho lap and bit him li(} upon it. In head affectiim.% darken the room with a (jrfni calicf* blind ; keep the chambjir more than usually (itiiet ; let what little talking; is necessary be carried on in whispers, but the less of that the better ; and in hcAul (ijfrrfiims, never allow smellin«ij salts to be apj)lied to thi; nose, as they only increase the flow of blood to the bead, and consequently do barm. It is often a good sign for a child, who is seriously ill, to suddenly become cross. It is then he begins to feel bis weakness and to give vent to his feolingvS, *' Cliil- dnni aro almost always cross wlien recovering from an illness, however patient they may have been during its severest moments, and the phenomenon is not ])y any means confined to children." — Geo. McDonald. A sick child must not be stufl'ed with rnwli food at a time. Ho will take either a table-spoonful of new milk or a table-spoonful of chicken broth every half hour with greater advantage than a tea-cupful of either tho one or the other every four hours, which large (piantity would very probably be rejected from his stomach, andm;iy cause the unfortunately treated child to die of star^'ation ! If a sick child be peevish, attract his attf^ution either by a toy or by an ornament ; if he be cross, win him over to gqpd humour by love, affection, and caresses, but let it bo done gently and without noise. Do not hit visitors see bim; they will only excite, distract, and irritate him, and help to consume the oxygen of the at- mosphere, and thus rob the air of its exhilarating health- giving qualities and purity; a sick-room, therefore, is not a proper place, either for visitors or for gossips. In selecting a sick-nurse, let her be gentle, pauient^ cheerful, quiet, and kind, but firm withal ; she ouglit to be neither old nor young : if she be old she is often i''? 212 ADVICE TO A MOTHEB. gamilcus and prejudiced, and thinks too mnch of her trouble ; if she bo young, she is frequently thoughtless and noisy ; therefore choose a middle-aged woman. Do not lot there be in the sick-room more than, besides tho mother, one efficient nurso ; a greater number can be of no service — they will only be in each other's way, and will distriict the patient. Let stillness, especially if the head bo the part affecteil, reign in a sick-room. Creaking shoes* and rustling silk dresses ought not to be worn in sick-chambers — they are quite out of place there. If tho child be asleep, or if he bo dozing, perfect stillness must he enjoined, not even a whisper should be heard : — " In the sick-room be calm, Move gently and with care. Lest any jar or sudden noise, Come sharply unaware. You cannot tell the harm, The mischief it may bring, To wake the sick one suddenly, Besides the suffering. The broken sleep excites Fresh pain, increased distrrsg } The quiet slumber undistnrb'd Soothes pain and restlessness. Sleep is the gift of God : Oh ! bear these words at heart, *He giveth His beloved sleep,' And gently do thy part." * If there be other children, let them be removed to a * Nurses at these times ought to wear slippers, and not shoes. The best slippers in sick-rooms are those manufactured by the North British Rubber Company, Edinburgh ; they enable nurses to walk in them about the room without causing the slightest noise ; indeed, they might truly be called " the noiseless slipper," a great desideratum in such cases, more especially in all head affections of children. If the above slippers cannot readily be obtained, then list slippers — soles and all being made of list- will answer the purpose equally as well. * Household Verses on- Health and Happiness. London : Jarrold Mid Sons. A most delightful little volume. MHllI OHILDnOOl). — ON DISEASE, BTa 213 adon : Jarrold distant part of the house ; or, if tlio disease ho of an infectious nature, let them he sent away from homo altogether. In all illnesses — and hear in mind the following is most important advice — a child must ho encouraged to try and make water, whether ho ask or not, at least four times during the twenty -four hours ; and at any other tiuie, if he express the slightest inclination to do so. I liave known a little fellow to hold his water, to liis great detriment, for twelve hours, because either tho mother had in her trouble forgotten to inquire, or tho child himself was either too ill or too indolent to make the attemi)t. Sec that the medical man's directions are, to the very letter, carried out. Do not fancy that you know beiter than ho does, otherwise you have no business to employ him. Let him, then, have your implicit confidence and your exact obedience. What you may consider to be a trilling matter, may frequently bo of the utmost import- ance, and may sometimes decide whether the case shall end either in life or death ! Lice. — It is not very poetical, as many of the grim facts of every-day life are not, but, unlike a great deal of poetry, it is unfortunately too true that after a severe and dangerous illness, especially aftera bad at tack of fever, a child's head frequently becomes infested with vei*min — with lice ! It therefore behoves a mother herself to thoroughly examine, by means of a fine-tooth comb,* her child's head, in order to satisfy her mind that there be no vermin there. As soon as he be well enough, lie ought to resume his regular ablutions — that is to say, that he must go again regularly into his tub, and have his head every morning thoroughly washed with soap and water. A mother ought to be particular in seeing • Wliich fine-tooth comb ought not to be used at any other time except for the purpose of examination, as the constant use of a fme-tooth comb wouhi scratch the scalp, aud would encourage a quantity of scurf to accumulate . . -.v ■ 1 '1 1 V,. j_ !, m M il^ i! 11 214 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. that the nurso washes the hair-brush at least once every "weok ; if she does not do so, the dirty brush wliich liad during the illness been used, might contain the " nits " ■ — the eggs of the lice — and would tlius propagate tlio vermin, as they will, when on the head of the child, soon hatch. If there be already lice on the head, in addition to the regular washing every morning with ilio soap and water, and after the head has been thorouglily dritul, let the hair be well and plentif idly dressed with camphorated oil — the oil being allowed to remain on until the next washing on the following morning. I.ico cannot live in oil (more especially if, as in camphorated oil, camphor be dissolved in it), and as the camphorated oil will not, in the slightest degi'ee, injure the hair, it is the bc«t application that can be used. But as soon as the vermin have disappeared, let the oil be discontinueel, as the natural oil of the hair is, at other times, the only oil that is required on the head. The " nit " — the egg of the louse — might be distin- guished from scurf (although to the naked eye it is very much like it in appearance) by the former fastening firmly on one of the hairs as a barnacle would on a rock, and by it not being readily brushed off as scurf would, which latter (scurf) is always loose. • 259. My child, in the summer time, is much tormented with fleas : what are the best remedies ? A small muslin bag, filled with camphor, placed in the cot or bed, will drive fleas away. Each flea-bite should, from time to time, be dressed by means of a. camel's hair brush, with a drop or two of Spirit of Cam- phor ; an ounce bottle of which ought, for the purpose, to be procured from a chemist. Camphor is also an excellent remedy to prevent bugs from biting. Bugs and fleas hsive a horror of camphor; and well they might, for it is death to them ! . There is a famous remedy for the destruction of fleas manufactured in France, entitled " La Poudre Insecti- cide," which, although perfectly harmless to the human economy, is utterly destructive to fleas. Bugs are best OHILDflOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETa 215 dfifltroycd either by Creosote or by oil of Ttirpentine : tlio pljices they do love to congregate in shouhl bo w(^ll saturated by means of a brush, with the creosote or with tlie oil of turpentine. A few dressings will oirectually (li'stroy both them and their young ones. liGO. Js not the puhe a great sign either of health or of (ItWaae ? It in, and every mother should have a general idea of what the pulse of children of different ages should bo both in health and in disease. " Every person should know how to ascertain the state of the pulse in health ; then, by comparing it with what it is when he is ailing, he may have some idea of the urgency of his case. I'arents should know the healthy pulse of each child, since now and then a person is born with a peculiarly slow or fast p\iLsc, and the very case in hand may be of such peculiarity. An infant's pulse is 140, a child of seven about 80, and from 20 to 60 years it is 70 beats a minute, declining to 60 at fourscore. A healthful grown person beats 70 times in a minute, declining to 60 at fourscore. At 60, if the pulse always exceeds 70, there is a disease ; the machine working itself out, there is a fever or inflammation somewhere, and the body is fci'ding on itself, as in consumption, when the pulse is quick." 261. Suppose a child to have had an attack either of iiijlammation of the lungs or of hrcnchitisy and to he much predisposed to a return : what precautions would yoa take to jn'event either the one or the other for the future ? I would recommend him. to wear fine flannel instead of lawn shirts ; to wear good lamb's- wool stockings above the knees, and good, strong, dry shoes to his feet ; to live, weather permitting, a great part of every day in the open air ; to strengthen his system by good nourishing food. — by an abundance of bath milk and meat (the former esi)ecially) ; to send him, in the autumn, for a coui)le of months, to the sea-side ; to administer to him, from time to time, cod-liver oil ^ In short, to thhk oidy of hia 216 ADVKE TO A MoTlIKK. ■-• . .i lioaltli. anfl to lot loanuiij^, until ho ha strongOT, ho left alono. I ftlHO advise (utluT tiiblo Halt or hay salt, or Tid- in.'in's S(»a Suit, to bo miibnl to tho watijr in which tlio chilli is washod with in tint niornin*;, in a similar maimer as rct'omnnimh'tl in answur to a [ircvious ([iicHtion. 2(52. T/u'fi o made both to walk atitl to sit uprij^'lit, uixl li;t him hi) kejtt ii8 iiiiich as possible ujion a milk diet,* and ^ivo him as much as li(< can cat of frosh meat every day. Cotldivnr oil, a tea sj)oonful or a en air, and throw his 1)Ooks to the winds. Of what use is learning' without liealthi In such a cas(^ as this you cannot have both. 'jr>4. J/ a child bf ro/fftd-,s/i()uhlt'rc|{i ^'■i HI !ill; I ■ water be made tepid. Let either two handfiils of tahle Halt or a handful of bay salt be dissolved in the water. Let the salt and water stream well over his shoulikw and ut, bear in mind, let there be in these cases no mechanical restraints — no shoulder-straps, no abomin a)»le stays. Maka him straight by natural means — by making him strong. Mechanical means would only, by weakening and Avasting the muscles, increase the mis- chief, and thus the deformity. In this world of ours there is too much reliance placed on artificial, and too little on natural means of cure. 265. What are the causes of Bow Legs in a child ; and what is the treatment 1 Weakness of constitution, poor and insufficient nourishment, and jjutting a child, more especially a fat and heavy one, on his logs too early. Treatment. — Nourishing food, such as an abuntlanco of milk, and, if he be obi enough, of meat ; iron medi- cines ; cod-liver oil \ thorough ablution, every morning, of tlip whole body ; an abundance of exercise, eithoi* on CHILDUOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETC. 219 in a cliild ; and pony, or on donlcey, or in carriage, but not, until his legs be stronger, on foot. If they are much bowed, it will be necessary to consult an experienced surgeon. ,266. //"a c?iild, while asleep^ ''^ wet his bed" is there amj method of preventing him from doing so ? Let him be held out just before he himself goes to bed, and again when the family retires to rest If, at the time, he be asleep, he will become so acciLstonied to it, that he will, without awaking, make water. He ought to be made to lie on his side ; for, if he be put on his back, the urine will rest upon an irritable part uf the bladder, and, if he be inclined to wet his bed, ho will not be able to avoid doing so. Ho must not bo allowed to drink much with his meals, especially with his supper. Wetting the bed is an infirmity witli soiiio children — they cannot help it. It is, therefore, cruel to scold and chastise them for it. Occasionally, however, wetting the bed arises from idleness ; in which case, of course, a little wholesome correction might be neces- sary. Water-proof Bed-sheetin,<7 — one yard by thre '-quarters of a yard — will efiectually preserve the bed from l)eiiig wetted, and ought always, on these occasions, to bo used. A mother ought, every morning, to ascertain for her- self, whether a child have wet his bed ; if he have, and if, unfortunftt<}ly, the water-proof cloth have not been used, the mattivss, sheets, and blankets must be instantly t;iken to the kitchen lire and be properly dried. Inatten- tion to the above hsis frequently caused a child to sutler eitlier from cohl, from a fever, or from an^ intlamma- tion ; not only so, but, if they be not dried, he is wallow- ing in filth and in an oflensive elHuvium. If both mother and nurse were more attentive to their duties — in frequently holding a child out, whether he ask or ni)t — a child wetting his bed would be the excej»tiun, Jind not, as it frerjuently is, the rule. If a cliild be dirty, you may depend upon it, the right persons to blame di"0 the mother and the uui'se, and not the child I 220 ADVICE TO A MOTHEa iliiil .■i:,!i' 267. If a child should catch Small-poXy what are the best means to prevent pitting ? He ought to "be desired neither to pick nor to ruh the pustules. If he be too young to attend to these direc- tions, his hands must be secured in bags (just large enough to hold them), which bags should be fastened round the wrists. The nails must be cut very close. Cream smeared, by means of a feather, frequently in the day, on the pustules, affords great comfort and benefit. Tripe liquor (without salt) has, for the same purpose, been strongly recommended. I myself, in several cases, have tried it, and with the happiest results. It is most soothing, comforting, and healing to the skin. 268. Can you tell me of any plan to prevent CJiilhlauis, or^ if a child be suffer ing from them, to cure them ? First, then, the way to prevent them. — Let a child, who is subject to them, wear, in the winter time, a square piece of wash-leather over tho toes, a pair of warm lamb's- wool stockings, and good shoes; but, above all, let him be encouraged to run about the house as much as possible, especially before going to bed ; and on no account allow him either to warm his feet before the fire, or to bathe them in hot water. If the feet be cold, and the :;hild be too young to take exercise, then let them be well rubbed with the warm hand. If adults suffer from chilblains, I have found friction, night and morn- ing, with horse-hair flesh-gloves, the best means of pre- venting them. Secondly, the way to cure them. — If th^y be unbroken: the old-fashioned remedy of onion and s.t^t is one of the best of remedies. Cut an onion in t>V(> ; ^aVo one-half of it, dip it in table salt and well rub, for tv:o or three minutes, the chilblain with it. The onion and salt is a famous remedy to relieve that intolerable itching which sometimes accompanies chilblains : then let them be covered with a piece of lint, over which a piece of wash- leather should be placed. If they he broken, let a piece of lint be spread with spermaceti-cerate, and be applied, every morning, to tho CfilLDHOOD. — OK DISEASE, ETC. 221 iort and benefit. part, and let a wliite-bread poultice I used every niglit. 269. During the winter time my child s handsy legSy ^c.j chap very much ; what ought I to do 1 Let a tea-cupful of bran be tied up in a muslin bag, and be put, over the night, into either a largo water-can or jug of rain water ; * and let this water from the can or jug be the water he is to bo washed with on the following morning, and every morning until the chaps be cured. As often as water is withdrawn, either from the water-can or from the jug, let fresh rain water take its place, in order that the bran may be constantly soak- ing in it. The bran in the bag should be renewed about twice a week. Take particular care to dry the skin well every time ho be waslied ; then, after each ablution, as well as every night at bed-time, rub a piece of deer's suet over the parts atrected : a few dressings will perform a cure. The deer's suet may be bought at any of the shops where venison is sold. Another excellent remedy is glycerine,! which should be smeared, by means of the fmger or by a camel's hair brush, on the parts affected, two or three times a day. If the child be very young, it might be necessary to diluie the glycerine with rose-water ; fill a small bottle one- third with glycerine, and fill up the remaining two-thirds of the bottle with rose-water — shaking the bottle every time just^before using it. Tho best soap to use for chapped hands is the glycerine soaj) : no other being required. 270. Wliat is the best remedy for CJmj^ped Lips ? Cold-cream (which may be procured of any rqspect- • liain water ought always to be used in the washing of a child ; pump water is Hkely to chap the skin, and to make it both rough and irritable. t Glycerine prepared by Price's Patent Candle Company is by far the best. Sometimes, if the child's skin be very irritable, tlie glycerine requires diluting with water— say, two ounces of glycerine to be mixed in a bottle with foiy- ounces of rain water— the bottle to be well shaken just before using it. m 222 AiiVlOlL TO A MOTHER !l!ll l|.!|I,lll able chemist) is an excellent application for chappnd If'ps. It ought, by means of tho finger, to bo frequently smeared on the parts affected. 271. Have the goodness to inform me of the different varieties of Worm^ that infed a chihVs bowels ? Principally three — 1, The tape-worm ; 2, the long round- worm ; and 3, the most frequent of all, the com- mon thread or maw-worm. The tape-worm infests the whole course of the bowels, both small and large : the long round-worm, principally the small bowels, occasion- ally the stomach ; it sometimes crawls out of the child's mouth, causing alarm to the mother ; there is, of course, no danger in its doing so : the common thread-worm oi maw-worm infests the rectum or fundament. 272. What are the causes of Worms ? The causes of worms are : weak bowels ; bad and im- proper food, such as unripe, unsound, or uncooked fruit, and much green vegetables ; pork, especially underdone pork ; * an abundance of sweets ; the neglecting of giving salt in the food. 273. Wliat are the symptoms and the treatment of Worms 1 The symptoms of worms are — emaciation ; itching and picking of the nose ; a dark mark und<^,r the eyes ; grat- ing, during sleep, of the teeth ; starting in the sleep ; foul breath ; furred tongue ; uncertain appetite — some- times voracious, at other times bad, the little patient sitting down very hungry to his dinner, and before scarcely tasting a mouthful, the appetite vanishing; large bowels ; colicky pains of the bowels ; slimy mo- tions ; itching of the fundament. Tape-worm and round- warm, more especially the former, are apt, in children, * One frequent, if not the most frequent, cause of tape-worm is the eating of pork, more especially if it be underdone. Under- done pork is the most unwholesome food that can be eaten, and is the most frequent cause of tape-worm known. Underdone beef also gives tape-worm ; let the meat, therefore, be well and pro- perly cooked. These facts ought t« be borne in mind, as preven- tion is always better than cure. CniLDnoOD. — ON DISEASE, ETC. 223 M ipppfl cntly ferent long J com- ts the 3 : the casion- chikVe course, orm 01 d fruit, ierdono f giving ment of ing and , grat- sleep ; — some- patient before nishing ; imy mo- d round- children. ape-worni Under- aten, and rdone beef 1 and pro- as preven- to produce convulsions. Tape-worm is very weakeninjj to the constitution, and usually causes groat emaciation and general ill-health ; the sooner, therefore, it is ex- pelled from the bowels the better it will be for the patient. Many of the obscure diseases of children arise from worms. In all doubtful cases, therefore, this fact should be borne in mind, in order that a thorough investigation may be instituted. With regard to treatment, a medical man ought, of course, to be consulted. He will soon use means both to dislodge them, and to prevent a future recurrence of them. Let me caution a mother never to give her child patent medicines for the destruction of worms. There is one favourite quack powder, which is composed principally of large doses of calomel, and which is quite as likely to destroy the patient as the worms ! No, if your child have worms, put him under the care of a judicious medical man, who will soon expel them, without, at the same time, injuring health or constitu- tion ! 274. Hoio may worms he prevented from infesthuj a child's bowels ? Worms generally infest weaJc bowels ; hence, the moment a child becomes strong worms cease to exist. The reason why a child is so subject to them is owing to the improper food which is usually given to him. When he be stuffed with unsound and with unripe fruits, with much sweets, with rich puddings, and with pastry, and when he is oftentimes allowed to eat his meat without salt, and to bolt his food without chewing it, is there any wonder that he should suffer from worms'? The way to prevent them is" to avoid such things, and, at the same time, to gi\c him plenty of salt to his fresh and weU-cooked meat. Salt strengthens and assists digestion, and is absolutely necessary to the human economy. Salt is emphatically a worm destroyer. 'Phe truth of this statement may be readily tested by '•rf tr 224 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. sprinkling a little salt on the common eartli-worm. ** What a comfort and real requisite to human life is salt ! It enters into the constituents of the human hlood, and to do without it is wholly impossible." — The Grocer. To do without it is wholly impossible ! These are true words. Look well to it, therefore, ye mothers, and beware of the consuviuenccs of neglecting such advice, and see for yourselves that your children regularly eat salt with their food. If they neglect eating salt with their food, they must of necessity have worms^ and worms that will eventually injure them, and make them miserable. All food, then, should be " flavoured with salt ; " flavoured^ that is to say, salt should be used in each and every kind of food — not in excess , hut in moderation. 275. You have a great objection to the frequent ad- ministration of aperient medicines to a child : can you advise any method to prevent their iise ? Although we can scarcely call constipation a disease, yet it sometimes leads to disease. The frequent giving of aperients only adds to the stubbornness of the bowels. I have generally found a draught, early every morning, of cold pump water, the eating either of Huntley and Palmer's loaf ginger-bread, or of oatmeal gingerbread, a variety of animal and vegetable food, ripe sound fruit, ^Muscatel raisins, a lig, or an orange after dinner, and, when he be old enough, coffee and milk instead of tea and milk, to have the desired effect, more especially if, for a tune, aperients be studiously avoided. 276. Have you any remarJcs to make on Rickets 7 Kickets Is owing to a want of a sufficient quantity of earthy matter in the bones ; hence the bones bend and twist, and lose their shape, causing deformity. Rickets generally begins to show itself between the first and second years of a child's life. Such cliddren are generally late in cutting their teeth, and when the teeth do come they are bad, deficient of enamel, discoloured, and readily decay. A rickety child is generally stuuleU °»'^nBooa-o.v m,,^„_ „^ ID stature • h(^ ha i '^-^ bend; he ,)!„.' *'"* ^""S bonesof hkh^T .'"^ ^'''s SW „e a child tUf • • ^'""'' "^ prove that it ,- • "*' >« "clcetr and T poor mUk H „°T« '» Poor liv^ 1^ "*" ^^.'"'"'"y f '^o.sarSa'rf *i^f ' -e" be co^M^ered Je of'^/i-' fl 226 ADVIC15 TO A MOTHEH. rii'l AVlien will mothers arouse from their slumhers, nih their eyes, and see clearly the importance of the subject? AVhcn will they know that all the symptoms of rickets I have just enumerated usudlly proceed from the want of nourishment, more especially from the want of genuine, and of an abundance of, milk 1 There are, of, course, other means of warding off rickets besides an abundance of nourishing food, such as thorough ablutit)n, plenty of air, exercise, play, and sunshine • but of all these 8plendi(' T'^medies, nourishment stands at the top of the list I ao not mean to say that rickets ahmys proceeds from poorness of living — from poor milk. It sometimes arises from scrofula, and is an iiiheritanoe of one or of both the parents. Kickety children, if not both carefully watched and managed, frequently, when they become youths, die of consumption. A mother, who has for some time neglected the advice I have just given, will often find, to her grievous co.^t, that the mischief has, past remedy, been done, and that it is now " too late ! — too late ! " 277. Hoio may a child he prevented from becoming riclcety ? or^ if he be ricJcetyy how oufjht he to he treated ? If a child be predisposed to be rickety, or if he be actually rickety, attend to the following rules : — Let him live well, on good nourishing diet, such as on tender rump-steaks, cut very fijie, and mixed with mashed potatoes, crumb of bread, and with the gravy of the meat. Let him have, as I have before advised, an abundance of good new milk — a quart or tluee pints during every twenty-four hours. Let him have milk in* every form — as milk gruel, Du Barry's Arabica Eevalenta made with milk, batter and rice puddings, suet puddings, bread and milk, &c. To harden the hones j let lime water be added to the milk (a table-spoonful to each tea-cupful of milk.) Let him have a good supply of fresh, pure, dry air. Ho must almost live in the open ak — the country, i| \y' «M CHILDHOOD. — ON DISEASE, ETtt 227 nil) ntof i\ino. )UTse, lanco ity of tiieso of tho 3 from i arises )tV. tUo 3d auil die of 3 advico as cost, nd tliab icoming recited ? he be [\i as on Imaslied of the [sed, an pint3_ I milk in' ivaleiita iddings, to the I) • [dry aar. itry, il practicahle, in preference to the town, and the coast in summer and autumn. Sea bathing and sea breezes arc often, in tlieso casCvS, of inestimabk'- v.'due. lie ought not, at an early age, to be allowed to bear his weight upon his legs. He must sleep on a horse-hair mattress, .and not on a feather bed. He should use every morning cold baths in the summer and tepid baths in the winter, with bay salt (a handful) dissolved in tho water. Friction with the hand must, for half an hour at a time, every night and morning, be sedulously ai)plied to the back and to the limbs. It is wonderful how much good in these cases friction does. Strict attention ought to be paid to the rules of health as laid down in these Conversations. Wliatever is con- ducive to the general health is preventive and curative of rickets. Books, if he be old enough to read them, should bo thrown aside ; health, and health alone, must be tlie one grand object. The best medicines in these cases are a combination of cod-liver oil and tho \vine of iron, given in the following manner : — Put a tea-spoonful of wine of iron into a wine-glass, half fill the glass with water, sweeten it with a lump or two of sugar, then let a tea-spoonful of cod- liver oil swim on the top ; let the child drink it all down together, twice or three times a day. An hour after a meal is the best time to give the medicine, as both iron and cod-liver oil sit better on a full than on an emjity stomach The child in a short time will become fond of the above medicine, and will be sorry when it is dis- continued. A case of rickets requires great patience and steady perseverance ; let, therefore, the above plan have a fair and long-continued trial, and I can then promise that there will be every probability that great benefit will be derived from it. 278. If a child he mbject to a scahJjy eruption about the mouth, what is the best local application i 228 AT)V1CE TO A MOTHEn. m Lmvo it to imturo. Do not, on any account, .i])))ly any local api)lication to heal it ; if you «lo, you may pro- iluco injury ; you may oithcr brin^' on an attack of in- llammation, or you may tlu'ow him into convuLsionH. No ! 'J'his 'M)rcakin<;-out " is frequently a safoty-valvo, an«l must not therefore bo neodlesaly interfered willi. Should the eruption be severe, reduce the child's diet; ki'ep him from butter, from {,'ravy, and from fat meat, or, indeed, for a few tlaya from meat altogether ; and givo him mild aperituit nunlicine; but, above all things, do not (piack him either with calomel or with grey-pow- der. 279 Will !/(m huve the (jondnoAis to ih'scrlhe tlie er ii})- Hon on the face and on tlui head of a young child^ called Milh'-Crn,st or llunniinj Sndl ? Milk-crust ia a complaint of very young children — of those who are cutting their teeth — and, as it is a nasty looking complaint, and frecjuently gives a mother a great deal of trouble, of anxiety, and annoyance, it will bo well that you should know its symptoms, its causes, and its probable duration. Si/mptom.'i. — When a child is about nine months or a year old, small pimples are apt to break out around tho ears, on tho forehead, and on the head. These pimj)les at length become vesicles (that is to say, they contain water), which run into one large one, break, and form a nasty dirty-looking yellowish, and sometimes greenish, scab, which scab is moist, indeed, sometimes quite wet, and gives out a disagreeable odour, and which is some- times so large on the head as actually to form a skull- cap, and so extensive on the face as to form a m^isk 1 These, I am happy to say, are rare cases. The child's beauty is, of course, for a time completely destroyed, and not only his beauty, but his good temper ; for as the eruption causes great irritation and itching, he is con- stantly clawing himself, and crying with annoyance tho great part of the day, and sometimes also of the night — the eruption prev-enting him from sleeping. It is not coutagiousy and soon after he has cut the whole of his CITIM)IIO()I). — ON DIHKAHR, KTO. 229 pro- of in- riioiis. v'iilvo, >vith. (lii't ; at, 01', il give irrs, llo y-pow- er up- , called ix\\\ — of a niisly a j^i'eat will 1)0 is(3S, and IS or a ml tho )iini)le3 contain form a reenisli, lite wet, is sonie- a skull- luask I 3 cliild's yed, and r as the is con- ce tho night — t is not e of his first flot of teeth it will ^'et well, ])rovidcd it hofl not been iniproj)('rly inierfenHl witli. Causca. — Irritation from teething ; stufrmg liim with overnnieli meat, thus jjroduciii^ a lnnnour, which Naturo tries to j^'et rid of ])y tlirowin;^' it out on tho Hurfac(5 of the hotly ; tlu; safest j)lace she could fix on for the ]»ur[)ose ; hence the folly and dan^'er of giving niedieines jin«l ai)|)lyin«^ rxternal a])i)licati()ns to drive the eru])tion in. " Diseased nature oftentimes hreaks fortli in strange rruj)ti()ns," and cures herself in this way, if she he; not too nnich interfered with, and if tho eru|)tion 1)0 not driven in hy injudicious treatment. I have known in such cases disastrous consequences to follow over- oHiciousness and meddlesomeness. Naturo is trying all she can to drive the humour out, while some wiseacres are doing all they can to drive the humour in. Duration, — As milk-crust is a tedious afl'air, and will reciuire a variety of treatment, it will he necessary to consult an experienced medical man ; and although he will ho ahle to afford great relief, the child will not, in all probahility, he quite free from the eruption until ho have cut the whole of his first set of teeth — nntQ he ho ujiwards of two years and a hidf old — when, with judicious and careful treatment, it will gradually dis- appear, and eventually leave not a trace heliind. It will he far hotter to leave tho case alone — to get well of itself — rather than to try to cure the complaint either by outward applications or by strong internal medicines ; " the remedy is often worse than the disease," of this I am quite convinced. 280. Have you any advice to give me as to my conduct towards my medical man • Give him your entire confidence. Be truthful and be candid with him Tell him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Have no reserva- tions ; give him, as near as you can, a plain, unv imished statement of the symptoms of the disease. Do not magnify, and do not make too light of any of them. Be prepared to state the exact time tho child first showed I! fw 230 ADVK.'R TO A MOTHER. Jl' flymptomfl of illnosfl. Tf ho havo Imd a filiivorin^' fit., liowovor sli;:,'ht, do not fail to toll your medical man of it. Note tho fiiato of the skin ; if th(;ro bo a " broakinf;- out" — 1)0 it ever so triflin*,' — let it bo pointed out to liim. Make yourself acquainted with tho quantity and with the ai)pcaranco of tlio urine, taking? care to have a littlo of it saved, in case the doctor may wish to see and examine it. Take notice of the state of tho motions — their number during the twenty-four hours, their colour, their snudl, and their consistence, keeping one for his inspection. Never leave any of these questions to bo answered by a servant ; a mother is the proper person to j^'ive the necessary and truthful answers, which answers frequently decide tho fate of the patient, liear in mind, then, a mother's untiring care and love, attention and truthfulness, frequently decide whether, in a serious ilhiess, tho little fellow shall live or die ! Fearful re»ponsibility ! A medical man has arduous duties to perform ; smooth, therefore, his path as much as you can, an'^ you will be amply repaid by the increased good he bo able to do your child. Strictly obey a doctor's o.^.^^s — in di(!t, in medicine, in everything. Never throw obstacles in his way. Never omit any of his suggestions ; for, depend upon it that if he be a sensible man, directions, liowever slight, ought never to be neglected; bear in mind, with a judicious medical man, "That nothing walks with aimless feet." — Tennyson. If the case be severe, requiring a second opinion, never of your own accord caU in a physician, without first consulting and advising with your own medical man. It would be an act of srreat discourtesv to do so. In attention to the foregoing advice has frequently caused injury to the patient, and heart-burnings and ill-will among doctors. Speak, in tlie presence of your child, with respect and kindness of your medical man, so that the former may look ujiou the latter as a friend— as one who will strive, ^i^m CniLPnOOD. — WARM DATHS. 231 with God's blessing, to relievo hia pain and snfTorinj*. Ri'mcinlxT the increased power of doing good the doctor will have if the child be induced to like, instead of dislike, hini. Not only be careful that you yourself sj)eak before your child respectfully and kindly of the medical man, but see that your domestics do so likewise ; and take care that they are never allowed to frighten your child, as many silly servants do, by saying that they will send for the doctor, who will either give liim nasty medicine, or wiU perform some cruel operation upon him. A nurse-maid should, then, never for one moment be permitted to make a doctor an object of terror or of dislike to a child. Send, whenever it be practicable, for your doctor earli/ in the morning, as he will then make his arrange- ments accordingly, and can by daylight better ascertain the nature of the complaint, more especially if it be a skin disease. It is utterly impossible for him to form a correct opinion of the n.'iture of a " breaking-out " either by gas or by candle 1 :^ht. If the illness come on at night, particularly if it bo ushered in either with a severe i^liivering, or with any other urgent symptom, no time should be lost, be it night or day, iji sending for him. '* A little five is quickly trodden out , "Which, being sutFer'd, rivers cannot quench." Shakspeare, ¥ never ut first man. 0. In caused ill-wUl WARM BATH8. 281. Have the goodness to mention the complaints of a child for ivhich warmhaths are useful. 1. Convulsions ; 2. Pains in the bowels, known by the child drawing up his legs, screaming violentl} , kc. ; 3. Eestlessness from teething ; 4. Flatulence. The warm bath acts as a fomentation to the stomach and the bowela, and gives ease where the usual remedies do not rapidly relieve. 282. Will you mention the precautions^ and the rules to he observed in patting a child into a ioarm> bath t 232 ADVICE TO A MOTHEn. Carefully ascertain hofore he be immersed in ihe bath that tlie water be iieitlier too hot nor too cold. Careless- ness, or over-anxiety to put him in the Avater as quickly as possible, lias freciuently, from his beinf:^ immersed in tlie batli when \\n) water was too hot, caused him great paiTi and suiVerin>:j. From 96 to 98 degrees of b'ahrenheit is the pro])er tem]>eratnre of a warm bath. If it l)e necessary to add fresli warm water, let him be either removed the while, or let it not be put in when very hot ; for if boiling water be added to increase tho heat of tlie bath, it naturally ascends, and may scald him. Again, let the fresli water be i)ut in at as great a distance from him j\s possible. The usual time for him to remain in a bath is a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. Let the chest and the bowels be rubbed with the hand while he is in the batL I^et him be immersed in the bath as high up as the neck, taking care that he be the while supported under the armpits, and that his head be alfcO rested. As soon as he comes out of the bath, he ought to be carefully but quickly rubbed dry ; and if it be necessary to keep up the action on the skin, he should be put to bed, between the blankets ; or if the desired relief has been obtained, between the sheets, which oughc to have been previously warmed, where, most likely, he will fall into a sweet refreshing sleep. WARM EXTERNAL ArrUCATIONS. 283. In case of a child sviTering pain either in his stomach or in his bowels, or in case lie lias a feverish eoldj can you tell me of the best way of applying heat to them f In pain either of the stomach or of the bowels, there is notliiiig usually aflbrds greater or speedier relief than the ejcternal application of heat. The following are four diflferent methods of applying heat : — 1. A bag of hot salt-— that is to say, powdered table-salt — put either into the oven or into a frying-pan over the lire, and thus made hot, and placed in a tlannel bag, and then applied, as the case may be, either to the stomach ox to ik9 CHILDHOOD. — WARM EXTERNAL ArPLlCATIONS, 233 ie bath areless- n[uickly imersed cd him rccs of m bath, him be n when >}iso the aid him. distance ) remain minutes, lie hand i in the le be the head be bath, he and if it e should desired which re, most r in his feverish 7 heat to 3ls, there ilief than are four K of hot ther into md thus applied, \o tho bowels. Hot salt is an excellent remedy for these pains. 2. An india-nil)])er hot-water bottle,* half filled with hot water — it need not bo boiling — apj)lied to the stomach or to the bowels, will aflbrd great comfort. 3. Another and an excellent remedy for thesse cases is a hot luan ]»()\dtice. The way to malvo it is as follows : — Stir bran into a vessel containing either a j»int or a quart (accord- ing to size of poultice reijuired) of boiling water, until it be of the consistence of a nice soft poultice, then put into a flannel bag and aj)ply it to the prut afl'ected. "VVlien cool, dip it from time to time in hot water. 4. In case a child has a feverish cold, esjx'cially if it bo attended, as it sometimes is, with pains in the bowels^ the following is a good external ajtjdication : — Take a yard of flannel, fold it in three widths, then dip it in very hot water, wring it out tolerably dry, and aj)j»ly it evenly and neatly round and round the bowels ; over this, and to keep it in its place, and to keep in the mois- ture, put on a dry flannel bandage, four yaids long and four inches wide. If it be put on at bed-time, it ought to remain on all night. Where there are chihlren, it is desirable to liave the yard of flannel and the flannel bandage in readiness, and then a mother will be prepared for emergencies. Either the one or the other, then, of the above applications will usually, in pains of the stomach and bowels, afford great relief. Ihere is one great advantage of tlie external application of heat — it can never do harm ; if there bo uiflammation, it will do g(iod ; if there be either cramps or spasms of the stomach, it will be serviceable ; if there be colic, it will be one of the best remedies that can be used ; if it be a feverish cold, by throwing the child into a perspiration, it will bo beneficial. It is well for a mother to know how to make a white bread poultice ; and as the celebrated Abernethy was noted for his poultices, I will give you his directions, * Every house wlu're there are rlyltlnn ought to have one of these luiiia- rubber hot-water bottles. It may be procured at ftD^ respectable Vulcanised India-rubber warehouse, 234 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. and in his very words : — " Scald out a basin, for you can never make a good poidtice unless you have perfectly hoiling water, then, having put in some hot water, throw in coarsely crumbled bread, and cover it with a plate. AVhen the bread has soaked up as much water as it will iiiil3il)e, drain off the remaining water, and there will be left a light pulp. Spread it a third of an inch thick on folded linen, and apply it when of the temperature of a warm bath. It may be said that this poultice will be very inconvenient if there be no lard in it, for it will soon get dry ; but this is the very thing you want, and it can easily be moistened by dropping warm water on it, whilst a greasy poultice will be moist, but not wet." — South' s Household Surgery. ACCIDENTS. 284. Supposing a child to cut hisfingei'^ what is the best application 1 There is nothing better than tying it up with rag in its blood, as nothing is more healing than blood. Do not wash the blood away, but apply the rag at once, tak- ing care that no foreign substance be left in the wound. If there be either glass or dirt in it, it will of course be necessary to bathe the cut in warm water, to get rid of it before the rag be applied. Some mothers use either salt or Fryar's Balsam, or turpentine, to a fresh wound; these plans are cruel and unnecessary, and frequently make the cut difficult to heal. If it bleed immoderately, sponge the wound freely with cold water. If it be a severe cut, surgical aid, of course, wiU be required. 285. If a child receive a hlow^ causing a bruise, tchat had better be done 9 Immediately smear a small lump of fresh butter on the part affected, and renew it every few minutes for two or three hours ; this is an old-fashioned, but a very good remedy. Olive oil may — if fresh butter bo not at hand — be used, or soak a piece of brown-paper in one" third of French brandy and two-thirds of water, and immediately apply it to the part ; when dry renew iti Tpffi CHI rnnooD. — acci dents. 235 I can cctly hrow plate, b will ill bo ck on of a ill 1)6 t will t, and tor on wet." is the rag in . Do ie, tak- wound. nrse be id of it ler salt ound ; luently erately, it be a e, what r on the two or ry good not at in one" ter, and new iti Either of these simple plans — the butter plan is the best — will generally prevent both swelling and dis- figuration. A ^^ Black Eye." — If a child, or indeed any one else, receive a blow over the eye, which is likely to cause a ** black eye," there is no remedy superior to, nor more likely to prevent one, than well buttering the parts for two or three inches around the eye with fresh butter, renewing it every few minutes for the space of an hour or two; if such be well and perseveringly done, the disagreeable appearance of a " black eye " will in all probability be prevented. A capital remedy for a " black eye " is the Arnica Lotion, — Take of — Tincture of Arnica, one ounce ; "Water, seven ounces ; To make a Lotion. The eye to be bathed by means of a soft piece of linen rag, with this lotion frequently ; and, between times, let a piece of linen rag, wetted in the lotion, be applied to the eye, and be fastened in its place by means of a bandage. The white lily leaf, soaked in brandy, is another excellent remedy for the bruises of a child. Gather the white lily blossoms when in full bloom, and put them in a wide-mouthed bottle of brandy, cork the bottle, and it ^vill then always be ready for use. Apply a leaf to the part affected, and bind it on either with a bandage or with a handkerchief. The white lily root sliced is anotlier valuable external application for bruises. 286. If a. child fall upon his head and he stunned^ what oufjht to he done? If he fall upon his head and be stunned, he will look deadly pale, very much as if he had fainted. lie will in a few minutes, in all probability, regain his conscious- ness. Sickness frequently supervenes, which makes the case more serious, it being a proof that injury, more or less severe, has been done to the brain \ send, therefore, instantly for a medical man. In the meantime, loosen both his collar and necker- chief, lay him flat on his back, sprinkle cold water upon his face, open the windows so as to admit plenty of m 236 ADVICE TO A MOTHER frcali air, and do not let people crowd round him, nor shout at liim, as some do, to make him speak. Wliile he is in an unconscious state, do not on any account whatever allow a drop of blood to be taken froHi him, either by leeches or from the arm — venesection ; if you do, he ^vill probably never rally, but will most likely " sleep the sleep that knows not breaking." 287. A nurse sometimes drops an infant and injures his hack ; what ought to he done 1 Instantly send for a surgeon ; omitting to have proper advice in such a case has frequently made a child a cripple for life. A nurse frequently, when she has dropped her little charge, is afraid to tell her mistress ; the consequences might then be deplorable. If ever a child scream violently without any assignable cause, and the mother is not able for some time to pacify him, the safer plan is that she send for a doctor, in order that he might strip and carefully examine him ; much after Inisery might often be averted if this plan were more frequently followed. 288. Have you any remarks to make and directions to give on accidental poisoning hy lotions, hy liniments, ^c. ? It is a culpable practice of either a mother or nurse to leave external applications within the reach of a child. It is also highly improper to put a mixture and an external application (such as a lotion or a Hniment) on tho same tray or on the same mantel-piece. Many liniments contain large quantities of opium, a tea-spoon- ful of which would be likely to cause the death of a child. " Hartshorn and oil," too, has frequently been swallowed by children, and in several instances has caused death. Many lotions contain sugar of lead, which is also poisonous. There is not, fortunately, generally sufficient lead in the lotion to cause death ; but if there be not enough to cause death, there may be more than enough to make the child very poorly. All these accidents occur from disgraceful carelessness. A mother or a nurse ought always, before administer- ing a dose of medicine to a child, to read the label on CJniLDHOOD. -— ACCIDENTS. 237 the bottle ; by adopting this simple plan many serioua accidents and much afti^r misery might be averted. Again, I say, let every lotion, every liniment, and indeed everything for external use, be either locked up or be put out of the way, and far away from all medicine that is given by the mouth. This advice admits of no exception. If your child have swallowed a portion of a liniment containing opium, instantly send for a medical man. In the meantime force a strong mustard emetic (composed of two tea-spoonfuls of flour of mustard, mixed in half a tea-cupful of warm water) down his throat. Encourage the vomiting by afterwards forcing him to swallow warm water. Tickle the throat either with your finger or with a feather. Souse him alternately in hot and then in a cold bath. Dash cold water on his head and face. Throw open the windows. Walk him about in the open atr. Rouse him by slapping him, by pinching him, and by shouting to him ; rouse him, indeed, by every means in your power, for if you allow him to go to sleep, it will, in all probability, be the sleep that knows no waking ! If a child have swallowed " hartshorn am' oil," force him to drink vinegar and water, lemon-juice and water sweetened with sugar, barley water, and thin gruel. If he have swallowed a lead lotion, give him a mustard emetic, and then vinegar and water, sweetened either with honey or with sugar, to drink. 289. Are not lucifer matches poisonous ? Certainly, they are very poisonous ; it is, therefore, desirable that they should be put out of the reach of children. A mother ought to be very strict with servants on this head. ^loreover, lucifor matches are not only poisonous but dangerous, as a child might set himself on fire with them. A case bearmg on the subject has just come under my own observation. A little boy three years old, was left alone for two or three minutes, during which time he obtained possession of a lucifer match| and struck a light by striking the match I'T 238 ADVICE TO A MOTHEK. against the wall Instantly thoro was a Llaze. For* tunalcly for him, in liis fright, he tlnow tho match on tlic. lloor. Ilia mother at this momont entered tlio room. If liis clothes had taken iiro, which they might have done, had lio not liavo thrown tho niatt;]i .iway, or if his mother had not been so near at hand, he would, in all j)robal)ility, have either been severely burned or havo been burned to death. 290. If a dnliVs clothes taJicJirCj lohat ought to he done to extinguished them f Lay him on tho iloor, then roll him either in the rug, or in tho carpet, or in tho door-mat, or in any thick article of dress you may either have on, or havo at hand — if it be woollen, so much the better ; or, throw him down, and roll him over and over on the iloor, as, by excluding tho atmospheric air,"the Hame will go out : — lionco tho importance of a mother cultivating presence of mind. If parents were better prepared for suc^h emergencies, such homd disfigurations and deaths would be less frequent. You ought to have a proper fire-guard before the nursery grate, and should be strict in not allowing your child to play with fire. If he still persevere in playing with it, when he has been repeatedly cautioned not to do so, he should be punished for his temerity. If anything would justify corpor^d chastisement, it would surely be such an act of disobedience. There are only two acts of disobedience that I would flog a child for — namely, the playing with fire and the telling of a lie I If after various warnings and wholesome corrections he still per- sist, it would be well to let him slightly taste the pain of his doing so, either by holding his hand for a moment very near the fire, or by allowing him to slightly touch either the hot bar of the grate or the flame of the candle. Take my word for it the above plan will effectually cure him — he will never do it again. It would be well for the children of the poor to have pinafores made either of woollen or of stuff materials. The dreadful deaths from frightful CHILDnOOB. — ACCIDRNT8. 230 the burning, which so often occur in winter, too frequently arise from cotton i)inafor(\s first takiuj^' iire.* If all dresses after beinj^ washed, and just before being dried, were, for a short time, soaked in a sohition of tungstatc of soda, such ch^tlios, wlujn dried, would bo perfectly fire-proof. Tungstato of soda may be used cither witli or without starch ; but full directions for tlie using of it will, at the time of purchase, be given l)y the chemist. 291. Is a burn more dawjr.rous than a scald ? A burn is generally more serious than a scald. Burns and scalds are more dangerous on the body, especially on the chest, than cither on the face or on the extremities. The younger the child, the greater tliii danger. Scalds both of the mouth and the throat, from a child drinking boiling water from the spout of a tea-kettle, are most dangerous. A poor person's child is, from the unavoidable absence of the mother, sometimes shut up in the kitchen by himself, and being very thirsty, and no other water being at hand, he is tempted, in his ignorance, to drink from the tea-kettle : If the water bo unfortunately boiling, it will most likely prove to him to be a fatal draught I 292. WJiat are the best immediate applications to a scald or to a hum 1 There is nothing more efficacious than flour. It ouglit to be thickly applied over the part aflected, and should be kept in its place either with a rag and a bandage, or with strips of old linen. If this be done, almost instan- taneous relief will be experienced, and the bum or the scald, if superficial, wiU soon be well. The advantage of flour as a remedy, is this, that it is always at hatid. I have seen some extensive burns and scalds cured by the above simple plan. Another excellent remedy is, cotton- wool of superior quality, purposely made for surgeons. The burn or the scald ought to be enveloped in it ; layer *** It has been computed that upwards of 1000 children are Annually burned to death by accideot in England. 240 ADVICE TO A MOTHKlt after layer should be applied until it be several inchefl thick. Tlio cotton-wool must not bo removed for several it )r that \yr\ well vinegar ■water, ledicine spring eye lie t. The it of its ater for Air of an eh, drop (weet-oil, of linen ng more 'properly his eye- his kind, e cannot one ; for ed, let a Eimmation ime ; hut directions Dut, w^th Id who is of quick- 1 the form 1 he well R, as ])ve- -ic is souio- times called candir-limc : it well deaorvofl its nnmo, for it is a hurniu(j-Umc, and if proper means he not promj)tly used, will soon hum away the sight. '294. If anil other forcitjn i' fhe eye, what is the best method of removhuj it 9 If there he grit, or sand, or dust, or particle of coal, or gnat, or a hair, or an eye-lash in the eye, it ought to ho tenderly removed hy a small tightly-folded paper s])ill, holding down the lower lid with the fore-finger of tho left hand the while ; and the eye, if inflamed, should ho frequently hathed with warm milk and water ; hut gene- rally as soon as the cause is removed the effect will cease, and after trentmcnt will he unnecessary. If a j)article of metal be sticking on the cornea of the eye, as it sometimes does, it will require tho skilled hand of a surgeon to remove it. Any foreign suhstance, however minute, in the eye, ia very i)ainfid ; hut a piece of hurning lime is excruciating. Shaksp<»are giv(;s a graphic description of the pain from the presence of any foreign suhstance, however small, in the eye : — ** O heaven ! — that there were but a mote in yours, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wand'ring hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense ! Then, feeling what small things are boist'rous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible." 295. What oufjht to he done in a case of choking ? How often does a hungry little child, if not carefully watched, fdl his mo.uth so full, and swallow lumps of food in such hot haste, as to choke himself — ** With eagt 1 feeding, food doth choke the feeder." Shakspeare. Treatment. — Instantly put your finger into the throat and feel if the substance he within reach ; if it be food, force it do\vn, and thus liberate the breathing ; should it be a hard substance, endeavour to hook it out ; if you cannot reach it, give a good smart blow or two with th(r flat of the hand on the back j or, as recommended b^ a ;■ i ' ..I. 214 ADVU'K TO A MOTIIKR. '(■■ M V H . f roiitributor to tho Lufir.rf, on llu» fhosi, ialiinf,' raro to " 8oi7.o ilu» lilthr palitMit, and placo liiin between your knees sidt^ "vvayw, uinl in iliis or some otlnT niiuincr to roni/ircsfi tlic alulanu n [the Iti'lly], otherwise tlio jiower of the bhnv will be lost by tht^ yielding' of the idHJoiiiinal ])arieties [walls of tin* belly], and the resjiiratory etVortwill not be iirodueed." If that does not have tho desiretl elleet, tiekle the throat with yourtin«^er, so as to ensure iuiiuediate voinitiuL,', and tho 8ul)se(|uent ejeetion of tho oU'endin;^' substance. 29G. i>}iould mil child he hiltrn }>!/ a doij svjqiosrd to he jnad, what oiKjIit to In' dour ? Instantly w(dl rub f(>r th(> spaeo of live or ten sreoihh — Beeonds, not minutes — a stick of nitrate of silver (lunar- eaustie) into tlie wound. The stiek of bniar-eaustic should be j)ointed, likc^ a cethir pencil for writin*,', in order the more thorouj^hly to ent(T tho wound.* This, if ])ro|)erly done directly after tlie bite, will offeotually }»revont hydrophobiii. The nitrate of silver acts not oidy as a caustic to tho i)art, ])ut it appears efTectually to neutralise tho poison, and thus, by makinp; tlie virus ])erfoctly innocuous, is a comj)leto antidote. If it bo either tho lij), or the j)arts near tlu^ eye, or the wrist, that have been bitten, it is far preferable to apjdy tho caustic than to cut tho part out ; as tho former is lu ither Fo formidable, ir so dangerous, nor so disfiguring as the latter, and yet it is equally as efficacious. I am in- debted to tho lato ls\v Youatt, the celebrated veterinary Furgeon, for this valuable antidote or remedy for tho 2'rcrt'ntion of the most horrible, heart-rending, and in- curable disease known. Mr Youatt had an immenso jiractico among dogs as well as among horses. He was a keen observer of disease, and a dear lover of his pro- fession, and ho had paid great attention to rabies — dog- madness, lie and his assistants had been repeatedly bitten by rabid dogs ; but knowing that he was in pes- * A stirk oi pointed nitrate of silver, in a case, ready for use, may be procured of any respcctftbje chemist. CII I r.DIlOOn. — ACCI DKNTR. 215 ITP to ydiir UT to )niin:il >rtwill U'sircil of the I to ot^n (luniir- -I'iuistic Lin^, in This, ectually icta not actually n> vims f it bo c wrist, |)ly tlio lu'itlier liring as am iu- [tcrinary for tho aiul in- Inimeiiso Ho ^va3 lliis pro- ^s — dog- [peatecUy in poa- for use, ppssion of an infallil)ln prcvcaitivo rcinoily, li<^ lU'Vcr (In'udctl [hit woimds iiitlirlcd cither iijM>n Iiiiiisrlf or upon Ids assintants. Mr Yoimtt ncvrr knew hinar- caustic, if properly and itnincdiddhi a))plied, to fail. It is, of cdursc, only a j)rcvcntiv(!. If hyilroplKthia he oiicm dcveldjx'd in the human system, no antiiitde has ever yet, for this fell and intractable tiiseasc. been found. While walkin;^' the Lon(h)n llospitids, npwanls of forty years ago, I rcceivcid an invitation from Mi Youatt to attend a lecture on rabicts — dog-madness. He had, during the liuiture, a dog prcscMit lai)ouring under itK'ljiifiit madness. In a day or two after the lecture, Iu5 HMiuested me ami other students to call at his inlir- mary and see the dog, as the disease was at that time fully developed. We did so, and found tlu; poor aidmal raving mad — frothing at the mouth, and snapping at tho iriMi bars of his prison. I was particuhirly struck with a ]>eculiar brilliancy and wildness of the dog's eyes. JIo 8(H»nied as though, with all'right and consternation, ho btiheld objects unsojni by all around. It was pitiful to witness his frightened and anxious countenance. Death soon closed the scene ! 1 have thought it my duty to bring tho value of lunar- caustic as a preventive of hydrophobia i)rominently before your notice, and to pay a tribute of respecit to tho memory of Mr Youatt — a man of tahtnt and of genius. No /er kill a dog supposed to be mad who has bitten either a child, or any one else, until it has, past all doubt, been ascertained whether he be really mad or not. llo ought, of course, to be tied up ; and be carefully watched, and be prevented the while from biting any one else. The dog by all means should be allowed to live at least for pomo weeks, as the fact of his remaining well will be the best guarantee that there is no fear of the bitten child having caught hydrophobia. There is a foolish prejudice abroad, that a dog, be he mad or not, who has bitten a person ought to be imme' diatidy destroyed : that although the dog be not at the time mad, but should at a future period become so, tha ft';:; 24G ADVICE TO A MOTHER. person v/lio had Leen bitten when t*lie dog was vot mad, would, when the dog became mad, have hydropho ia ! It seems ahnost absurd to bring the subject forward ; but the opinion is so very general and deep-rooted, that I think it well to declare that there is not the slightest foundation of truth in it, but that it is a ritlieulous fallacy ! A cat sometimes goes mad, and its bite may en use hydrophobia ; indeed, the bite of a mad cat is n)ore dangerous than the bite of a mad dog. A bite from a mad cat ought to be treated precisely in the same manner — namely, with the lunar-caustic — as for a mad dog. Hydrophobia was by our forefathers graphically called water-fri(jht : it was well named, for the horror of swallow- ing water is, by an hydrophobic patient, most intense, and is the leading symptom of this fell and incurable disease. A bite either from a dog or from a cat n^ho is not mad, from a cat especially, is often venomous and diHicult to heal The best application is, immediately to apply a large hot white bread poultice to tlie part, and to renew it every four hours ; and, if there be much i)ain in the wound, to well foment the part, every time before apply- ing the poultice, v ith a hot camomile and popi>y-head fomentation. Scratches of a cat are best treated by smearing, and that freely and continuously for an hour, and then after- wards at longer intervals, fresh butter on the part affected. If fresh butter be not at hand, fresh lard — that is to say, lard withoid salt — will answer the purpose. If the pain of t^io scratch be very intense, foment the part affected v ith hot water, and then apply a hot white bread poultice, which should be frequently renewed. 297. What are the best remedies in case of a sting from either a bee or a wasp ? Extract the sting, if it have been left behind, either by means of the pair of dressing forceps, or by the pressure of the hollow of a small key — a watch-key will answer tho •/ mad, ilu/ ia ! rward ; il, that li^'liti'st liculoua y cause is n)ore from a lg same c a mad ly called swallow- intense, ncurablo jwt madj tTicult to apply a to renew n in the )re apply- ipy-liead :mg, and len af ter- the part ill lard — purpose, ment tlie hot white lewed. a sting 1(1, either e pressure nswer the CHILDHOOD. — ACCIDENTS. 247 purpose ; thf^n, the hlue-baf:^ (which is used in washing) moisttaied with water, should ho applied to the part j or a few drops of solution of potash,* or " apply moist snuff or tobaccc, rubbing it well in,"t and renew from time to time either of them : if either of these bo not at hand, either honey, or treacle, or fresh butter, will answer the purpose. Should there be much swelling or intlamma- tion, foment the part with hot water, and then apply hot bread poultice, and renew it fre(iuently. In eating apri- cots, or peaches, or other fruit, they ought beforehand to be carefully examined, in order to ascertain that no wasp is lurking in them ; otherwise, it may sting the throat, and serious conseiiuences will ensue. 298. If a child receive a fall, caimng the skin to be grazed, can you tell me of a good aj^plication ? You will find gumme^ paper an excellent remedy : the way of preparing it is as follows : — Apply evenly, by means of a small brush, thick mucilage of gum-arabic to cap-paper ; hang it uj) to dry, and keep it ready for use. "When wanted, cut a i)ortion as large as may be requisite, then moisten it with your tongue, in the same manner you would a postage stamp, and apply it to the grazed part. It may be removed when necessary by simply wetting it with water. The part in two or three days will be welL There is usually a margin of gummed paper sold with postage stamps ; this will answer the purpose equally well. If the gummed paper be not at hand, then frequently, for the space of an hour or two, smear the part affected with fresh butter. 299. In case of a child swallowing by mistake either landanum, or imrcgoric, or Godfrey's Cordial, or any other preparation of opium, what ought to be done f Grive, as quickly as possible, a strong mustard emetic ; that is to say, mix two tea-spoonfuls of flour of mustard in half a tea-cupful of water, and force it down his throat. If free vomiting be not induced, tickle the • Which may be instantly procured of a drug^st. t A Bee-master. The Times, July 28, 1864. f 248 ADVtOW TO A MOTHKU. U|>|>f»r jmvl of (ln» MUiillow witlni IVitllifr; droiu'li ilie liitlo paliont'H hIimuiu'Ii \\\\\\ Imi^v (piaiililirM of wiinii wutor. Ah Hoot\ iih it ci\\\ ho olilninnl from v ilruggiHt, givo hiiu tho follnwing onu'lir ilia'if^hl : — Take of S\ilpl\al«> of Zino, ono winitlo; Siinj>!»> Synip, ono dnu'lnn ; Pistilloil NViittM, Hi'voii ilnu'lmiH; To mako !\ Pi;i\iglil. SmarU lus !>nUo<'ks nu-\ Ium bark ; \\i\\k Inin, ov lon«l hini, or oarrv him aboiil in I ho fnv^h air ; Hliako hiiu hy tho shiUihl a Nvarin hath untl iluM\ into a rolil hath alt«M'natoly ; woll spongo his hoatl aiul faoo with co\d wator ; «lasl> oolil watrr »»n his ht«a«!, faoi\ anil n(>rk ; antl »lo woi, on any arcoutit, ntitil tho ollorts of tlio «»piat(> aiv goni^ oil". aUow liini to ^'t» to 8hM»l> ; if \ou do, \\o \\\\\ \\v\ov >vaki> aj^ain ! Whilo doing all th(^si^ things, oi ronrso, you ought to loso no tinio in siMuling h>r a nu'ilival num. alhvn'fxj tho Prodh/ i\i(]/ifs/i(ftf<> — th<' Atropa liclliu/oinui — to caution you ?/('/ o\y any atvonnt to allow tho Bolhuhmna th»» l\\ully Nightshade to g'row u\ y«air ganhMi. riu' wholo plant -root, loav«'s, and horrics is jvnsv>nous ; and tho IxMTitvs, being attraotivo to tho oyo, Hix' viTy alluring to ehildixMi. oOl. Wluit /w flit' trrdfrntnt of poisoninif hi/ Brlhidoinui'f Instantly S(M\d for a uiodii'al man ; hut, in th(» nican- timo. givo an ouiotie — a nnistanl ometic: — mix Uvo tca- spoonfnls of llourof mustanl in half a toa-iMij)ful of warm >vator. and foroo it down tho child's throat : then drench him with warm wat(>r, auil tiekle the upper ])art of his swallow either with a feather m- with the linger, to make liim siok : as the grand iviueoi». — AcctnicNTH. 249 niPn ("f liiilhdomin jioiHuiiiii;^', in ^^'iviiii^' n lll1l^'.^lml ruwVu;, iiii*l ii'|M'jitiii<^ it, i\yj\\]\ mikI M).Miiii iiiilil lli«> riMiiiy l>«) iliHliulj'iil. I )||^4|| ri)|(l wiiItT ii|Mtii IiJM linul mill I'mc : ilio Im'hI, Uiiy nf (loiiij^f uliirli in liy tiiniiiH «»!' ii l;ir;^«i HjMUij^r, lii)|iliii!4 liJM lirtitl Mini liJM liicr ovnr it wnkli IdiikI IhimIii, liiilf lilli<(| Willi rii|)| wiiliM', mill lilliii^^ llin H|Min^i) fioiii llir liiiMin, mill Hi|niM7iii^ it ovnliiM ImmiI nml Iimc, nllow- iiit; llin NviiliT In ((tiilifiiioiisly Mlri'mii ovit llirrri for nri liuiir or l\\f llii> jioiHiiii li/iv<' pdHHril MW.'iy. TliiH HjM)ii;4iri;.Mi|" llic liriul mnl f)ir2. ^Ihtiilihi rhild jtiil rillirr tt pin or It I'linf, or any of/ii'rJhniijN sn/>.^fiijfi'i\ tt/i (lir niitii\ triiitf inn/lif In Itv ilmif f |)o not, Mlltiii|it. to rxinirt. it, yoiiiKcIf, or you misfit |)usli it. fiirtli. r in, bnt- ncnd inHliinily for a Miir^'iion, wlio will rrmlily uniovr it, litlicr wiili >i juiir of fonopH, or l»y nicunH ol a lirtil pinhc, or witli a dirrctor. If it, \)v a ]ir;i, and it, Ix^ nljowrd for any Icnf^ili of tinic to rcnitiin in, it will Hwcll, nnd will tJniH hrconic- didicult to //r/ino.st (!ar, and inoHt likily t}jc oil'cndin;^' suhstanic will drop out. ]*(»kirij^' at tin* far will, in the majority of cases, only Kcnd tliu Ku])htan(;o further ill, ard will niako it nioru dillicult (if the above siuiplu i)hu does nut uuccued) for thu lut'dical man to II ; I I 250 ADVICE TO A MOTHER r<^raove. Tlio surgeon will, in all probability, sjrringe tlie ear ; therefore have a supply of warm water in readi- ness for him, in order that no time may be lost. 304. I/im earwig or any other living thing^ should get inftt the ear of a chihlj what ought to be done ? Lay the child on his side, the allected ear being upper- most, and fill the ear, from a tea-spoon, with either water or sweet oil. The water or oil will carry the liv- ing thing, whp ever it be, out of the ear, and the child is at once relieved. 305. If a child dwallow a piece of broken glasSf what ought to be done ? Avoid purgatives, as the free action on the bowels would be lik(;ly to force the spiculae of glass into the mucous membrane of the bowels, and thus would wound them, and might cause ulceration, and even death. " Tlie object of treatment will be to allow them to pass througli tlie intestines well enveloped by the other con- tents of the tube ; and for this purpose a solid, farinaceous diet should be ordered, and purgatives 8cru])ulously avoided." — Shaw*s Medical Remembrancer, by Hutchinson. 306. // a child »walloio a pin, what shoidd be done ? Treat him as for broken glass. Give him no aperients, or it might, in action, force the pin into the bowel. I have known more than one instance where a child, after swallowing a pin, to have voided it in his motion. 307. If a child swallow a c^in of any kind, is danger lihiy to ensue, and what ought to be done ? There is, as a rule, no danger. A dose or two of castor oil will be all that is usually necessary. The evacuations ought to be carefully examined until the coin be dis- covered. I once knew a child swallow a pennypiece, and pass it in his stool. 308. If a child, while playing loith a small coin (such as either a threepmmy or a fourpenny piece), or any other substance, shoidd toss it into his mouth, and inad- vertenily allow it to enter the windpipe, what ought to he done f OniLDHOOD. — ACCIDENTS. 251 Take hold of him by the legs, allowing his head to hang downwanls ; then give him with the palm of your hand several sharp blows on his back, and you may liavo the good fortune to see the coin coughed out of his mouth. Of course, if this plan does not succeed, send instantly for a medical man. 309. How can a mother jpreveiit her child from having an accident ? By strict supervision over him on her own part, and by not permitting her cldld ' o be left to the tender mercies of servants ; by not allowing him to play with fire, to swing over banisters, and to have knives and playthings of a dangerous character ; to keep all poisonous articles and cutting instruments out of his reach ; and, above all and before all, insisting, lovingly, affectionately, but firmly, upon implicit obedience. Accidents generally arise from one of three causes, namely, either from wilful disobedience, or from groaa carelessness, or from downright folly. I quite agree with Davenant, that they do not arise from chance — "If we consider accident, And how, repugnant unto seiui% It pays desert with bad event, We shall disparage Frovidenfla** -fli' PART in. BOTnOOD AND GIELIIOOD, Jutt at the age 'tteixt boy and youth. Wlten thought it speech, and speech it truth.—ScoTt. *Tit with him e'en standing water. Betteeen man and boy. - Shaksi'kasb. . fitanding with reluctant feet. Where the brook and river meet. Womanhood and chilahood Jleet !—LovQWKiMolt . ABLUTION, ETC. 310. Have you any remarks to maJce mi the ahluiion of hoys and girls ? How is it that a mother thinks it absolutely necessary (which it really is) that her babe's tvJiole body should, every morning, bo washed ; and yet who does not deem it needful that her girl or boy, of twelve years old, should go through the process of daily and thorough ablution ? If the one case be necessary, sure I am that the other is equally if not more needful. Thorough ablution of the body every morning at least is essential to health. I maintain tluil no one can be in the enjoyment of perfect health who does not keep his skin — the whole of his skin — clean. In the absence of cleanliness, a pellicle forms on the skin which engemlers disease. Moreover, a person who does not keep his skin clean is more susceptible of contracting contagious disease, such as small-pox, typhus fever, cholera, diphtheria, scarlet fever, Jic. Thorough ablution of the body is a grand requisite of YOUTH. — ABLUTION, ETC. 253 health. I maintain tliat no one can he porfoctly healthy unless hft tliorou^'hly wash his hody — the whole of his hody ; if lilth accumulate which, if not washed ofl", it is sure to do, disease must, as a matter of course, follow. Besides, al)hition is a delightful proc(;ss ; it makes one; feel fresh and sweet, and young and healthy ; it makes the young look handsome, and the old look young ! Thorough ahlution might truly he saitl hoth to renovate; and to rejuvcnise ! A scrupulously clean skin is one of the grand distinctive characteristics both of a lady and of a gentleman. Dirty people are not only a nuisance to themselves, but to all around ; they are not oidy a nui^'..'m('e but a danger, as their dirty bodies are apt to carry frtni pla'jo to place contagious diseases. It is important that jjarts that arc covered should bo kept cleaner than parts exposed to the air, as dirt is more apt to fester in dark places ; besides, parts exposed to the air have the advantage of the air's sweetening j)r()perties; air acts as a bath, and purifies the skin amazingly. It is desirable to commence a comi)lete system of washing early in life, as it then becomes a second nature, and cannot afterwards be dispensed with. One accustomed to the luxury of his morning ablution, if any- thing prevented him from taking it, would feel most uti- comfortaljlc ; he would as soon think of dispensing with his breakfast as with his bath. Every boy, every girl, and every adult, ought each to have eithir a room or a dressing-room to himself or to herself, in onler that he or she might strip to the skin and thoroughly wash themselves; no one can wash Dropevly and elFectually without doing so. !Now, for the paraphernalia required for the proc(\ss :— (1.) A large nursery basin, one that wUl hold six or eight quarts of water (AVedgwood's make being considered the best) ; (2.) A piece of coarse flannel, a yard long and half a yard wide ; (3.) A large sponge ; (4.) A tablet either of the best yellow or of curd soap ; (b.) Two to\vels--oiife being a diaper, and the other a Xuikish rubbor. Now, 'zoi ADVICK TO A MOTHER. as to tho manner of performinj^ ablution. You ought to fill the basin three parts full with rain water ; then, having well-soaped and cleansed your hands, re-soap them, dip your head and face into the water, then with the soaped hands well rub and wash your head, face, neck, chest, and armpits ; having done which, take tHo wetted sponge, and go over all the parts previously travelled over by the soaped hands ; then fold the ilannel as you would a neck-kerchief, and dip it in the water, then throw it, as you would a skipping-rope, over your shoulders and move it a few times from right to left and from left to right, and up and down, and then across the back and loins ; having done which, dip the sponge in the water, and holdii ;^' your head over the water, let the water stream from the sponge a time or two over your head, neck, and face. Dip your head and face in the water, then put your hands and arms (as far as they will go) into the water, holding them there while you can count thirty. Having reduced the quantity of water to a third of a basinful, place the basin on the floor, and sit (while you can count fifty) in the water ; then put one foot at a time in the water, and quickly rub, with soaped hands, up and down your leg, over the foot, and pass your thumb between each toe (this latter procedure tends to keep away soft corns) ; then take the sponge, filled with water, and squeeze it over your leg and foot, from the knee downwards, — then serve your other leg and foot in the same way. By adopting the above plan, the whole of the body will, every morning, be thorouglily washed. A little warm water might at first, and during the winter time, be added, to take off the chill ; but the sooner quite cold water is u.^ed the better. The body ought to be quickly dried (taking care to wipe between each toe), first with the diaj)er, and tnen with the Turkish rubber. In drying your back and loins, you ought to throw as you would a skipping-iojje, the Turkish rubber over your slionldcrs, and move it a few times from aide to side, until the parts be dry. YOUTH. — ABLUTIOy, ETC. 255 ater ; uickly rev the latter le the UT leg your ; the rning, g the it the body Itween the voii V livkisU from Although the ahove description is necessarily prolix, the washing itself ought to be very expeditiously per- formed ; there should be no dawdling over it, otherwise the body will become chilled, and harm instead of good will be the result. If due dispatch be used, the whole of the body might, according to the abov^ method, be thorouglily washed and dried in the space of ten minutes. A boy ought to wash his head, as above directed, every morning, a girl, who has much hair, once a Mcek, with soap and water, with flannel and sponge. The hair, if not frequently washed, is very dirty, and nothing is more repulsive than a dirty head ! It might be said, " Why do you go into particulars ? why dwell so much upon minutiie 1 Every one, without being told, knows how to wash himself ! " I reply, " That very few people do know how to wash themselves properly ; it is a misfortune that they do not — they would be healthier and happier and sweeter if they did !" 311. Have you any remarks to make on hoys and girls leaniing to sicim ? I^et me strongly urge you to let your sons and daughters be early tau^^ht to swim. Swimming is a glorious exercise — one of the best that can be taken ; it expands the chest ; it promotes digestion ; it develops the muscles, and brings into action some muscles that in any other form of exercise are but seldom brought into play ; it strengthens and braces the whole frame, and thus makes the swimmer resist the liability of catcning cold ; it gives both boys and girls courage, energy, and self-reliance, — splendid qualities in this rough world of ours. Swimming is oftentimes the means of saving human life ; this of it-self would be a great recommenda- delightful amusement ; to tion of its value. It is a breast the waves is as exhilarating to the spirits as clearing on horse-back a five-barred gate. Tlie art of learning to swim is <[uite as necessary to be learned by a girl as by a boy ; the former has similar Piiiscles, lungs, and other organs to develop as the latter, 256 APVICR TO A MOTHRTl, Tt. is very dosiniLlo that in larj^o towns swiniminR- \Y,\i\\A for liuliea should f>o instituted. Swimming' ou^ht, tluMi, to bo a part and jKircel of the eduoation of every V)oy and of every ^'irl. Swiunuiu;^' does not always a;;ree. This sometimes arises fri)Ui a jK-rson Iumu.l,' ^uite eold ])efore he i>lun<;e8 into the water. Many people have an idea that they ou^ht to j^o into tlie water wliile their Inxlies are in a i'ool state. Now this is a mistaken notion, and is likely to produce dan<,'erous conse(]nenees. The skin ouL^ht to 1)0 comfort ahly warm, neither very liot nor very cold, and then the bather will receive every advanta^L^e th.it cold balhin.ij can jm)du('e. If lie ^o into the l)ath \vhilst the body is cold, the blood becomes chilled, and is driven to internal i)arts, and thus mischief is fre- quently produced. A boy, after usinj^ cobl bathinj:^, ouji^ht, if it nrjrro with him, to exjx'rience a pleasing' «^dow over the mIioIo surface of his body, s spirits and appetite should bo increased, and 1 e ouu^dit to feel .stront^^er; but if it reviously to entering the bath, warm himself by walking briskly for a few minutes. AMiere cold se.i M'ater bathing does not agi*ee, wann sea bathing should be substituted. 312. Which do ijou prefer — sexi hathing orfrcih water hdthiiu}? »Sea bathing. Sea bathing is incomparably superior to fresh wjiter bathing ; the salt water is far more T'if resiling and invigorating ; the battling with the waves is laore exciting ; the sea breezes, blowing on the nude body, breathes (for the skin ja a breathing a|iparutus) TOITTIT. — ABLtTTION, RTC. 257 in of imoa tlu'y in a likely ;ht to coUl, I tlmfc hath il, and is fro- , nr/vcti I whole )ulil ho it ld sen should water |iperior more I waves nude initus) hoaUh and stvon^^'lh into tlie franit\ and ronioHnesR info tlie face ; tlu! sea water and the scji }>reezes an'- splendid cosmutius ; the saltwater is one of thr finest applicat ions, hoth for stre!i;;thenin^ the roots and hri«;hteriinf^ tlio colour of th(! hair, provided grcusu and pomatum havo not hec^n j)reviously used. 313. //f/ V' yun amj dirfctions fo give ns to fhn time ami tht' masouiiy tnnl the hrst iiuulc <>f sea l'ther day, or even only twice a week. The bather, after leaving the machine, ought for half an hour to take a brisk walk in order to promote a reaction, and thus to cause a free circulation of the blood. 314. Do you think (itppid bath* may he more safely used f A tepid bath may be taken at almost any time, and a bather may remain longer in one, with safety, than in a cold batL • A tepid batli from 62 to 96 degrees of Fulirenhett. il ! I = • !• ! 11 ^|. 258 ADVICE TO A MOTHKn, .T15. Do l/oit. n/^prarf! of iinirni hatliuitj? A Wjirm ImiIIi* iniiy with .'ulvanta;;!? ])0 ocraHionally used — siiy, oiico a wct'k. A warm bath cloiinscs tho «kin morii oHVuituiilly than cither a cold or a tepid batli ; })iit, lus it is more relaxin<*, ()U<^ht not to be einj)h)yed so often as eitlier of them. A perHon shoidd not eoutinuo lt)nger than ten minutes in a warm bath. ()n(te a week, aa H rule, is ([uite often enouj^di for a warm bath ; and it would ])e an excellent plan if every boy an9 iiivily lath ; (mI so timio mil it [•I anil nhtdij iso to 3 pores ic li'nn- •option r usini; lit is to iieitluT iiUl boy to wear socks not stockings, as he will then be able to dis- pense with garter?. Garters, as I have remarked in a j)revious Conversation, arc injurious — ti:ey not only in- terfere with the circulation of the blood, but also, by pressure, injure the bones, and thus the shaj^e of the legs. l)oys and girls cannot be too particular in keeping their feet warm and dry, as cold wet feet arc one of the most frequent exciting causes of bronchitis, of sore throats, and of consumption. 324. \Vh(ni shoidd a girl begin to wear stays She ought never to wear theuL 325. Do not stays strengthen the hody ? No; on the contrary, they weaken it (1.) Tfiey ^ weidcen the muscles. The pressure upon them causes them to waste; so that, in the end, a girl cannot do without them, as the stays are then obliged to })erforni the duty of the wasted muscles. (2.) They weaken the lungs by interfering with their functions. Every in- spiration is accompanied by a movement of the ri})s. If tills movement be imjjcded, the functions of the lungs are impeded likewise ; and, consequently, disease is likely \ i I I 262 ADVICE TO A MOTUER. , to follow ; and cither difficulty of brcathinj?, or cou;;h, or consumption, may ensue. (3.) They WiHiken the heart's action^ and thus frequently produce palpitation, and, perhaps, eventually, organic or incurable disease of the heart. (4.) 77/ e// wcal-cn the dir/estioriy by pushing down the stomach and the liver, and by compressing the latter ; and thus induce indigestion, flatulence, and liver- diticase.* (5.) llicy wcahm the hoxceh, by impeding their proper peristaltic (spiral) motion, and thus might produce either constii)ation or a rupture. Is it not pre- Buiiiptuous to imagine that man can improve upon God's works ; and that if more support had been reuuired, tho Almighty would not have given it 1 — '* God never made his work for man to mend.'' — Drydcn. 326. Have you any remarks to make on female drpss f There is a perfect disregard of health in everything appertaining to fashion. Parts that ought to be kept warm, remain unclothed ; the wj^jser portion of the chest, most prone to tubercles (consumption), is comjdetcly exposed ; the feet, great inlets to cold, are covered with thin sto "kings, and with shoes as thin as paper. Parts that should have full play are crajuped and hampered ; flie chest is cribbed in with stays, the feet with tiyht shoes,^ — hence causing deformity, and preventing a free circulation of blood. The mind, that ought to be calm and unruflled, is kept in a constant state of excitement by balls, and concerts, and playe. Mind and body Bympathiso with each other, and disease is the con- sequence. Night is turned into day ; and a delicate girl leaves the heated ball-room, decked out in her aivy iinery, to breathe the damp and cold air of nighc. Sho goes to bed, but, for the first few hours, she is too much t'xciteil to sleep ; towards morning, when the air is pure and i vigorating, and, when to breathe it, would be to * Several years ago, while prosecuting my anatomical studios in London University College Dissecting-rooms, on ojiening a young M omen, 1 discovered an immense indentation of the liver large enougli to admit a rolliiig-j.)iu, j)roduccd by tight-lacing I \ YOUTH. — DIET. 263 studios H'liiiip a lie liviT ,-laciiig I inhale health and lifo, slie falls into a feverish sliimher, and wakes not nntil noon-day. C)]i, that a mother should he so hlinded and so infatuated ! 327. l[((ve you uny ohseiratlons to rnakc on a girl iccdrhici a (jrctm dr(ji^t< t It is injurious to wear a green dress, if the colour have hcen imparted to it by means of ^rfteele's (;ree.7i, which is arsenite of copper — a deadly poison. I have known the arsenic to tly olf from a green dress in the form of powder, and to produce, in consequence, ill-health. ( J as-light green is a lovely gi*een, and free from all danger, and is fortunately superseding the Scheele's green both in dresses and in worsted work. I sliould advise my fair reader, when she selects green as her colour, always to choose the gas-liglit green, and to wrar and to use for Avorsted work no other green besides, uidess it be imperial green. DIET. 328. Wliieh is the more wholesome^ coffee or tcOy tvhere 1)1 ilk does }H)t agree f for a yoidh's h'ealifdst ? Coffee, j)rovided it be made properly, and provided the buy or the girl take a great deal of out-door exercise ; if a youth be much confined witliin doors, black tea is ])referable to cofl'ee. The usual practice of making coil'ee is to boil it, to get out the strength ! But the fact is, the i)rocess of boiling boils the strength away ; it drives olf that aromatic, grateful pjiuciple, so wholesome to tho stomach, and so exhilarating to the sj)irits ; and, in lieu of which, extracts its dregs and impurities, which are both heavy and difficult of digestion. The cotfee ought, if practicable, to be freshlf/ ground every morning, in order that you may be quite sure tlipt, it be jw-rfectly genuine, and that none of the aroma of the coil'ee has 11 own off from long exposure to the atmosphere. If a youth's bowels be inclined to be costive, collee is prefer- alile to tea for breakfast, as colfee tends to keej) the bowels regular. Fresh milk ought always to be added to thp colice in the j)roportioji of half coil'ee and half new 264 ADVICE TO A MOTIIKR ■ m. A w 4^^^K i^^U •'• . ^^m BlHi Ut. jiiilk. If coffoo (loos not agree, tli(ni hiack tea sliould bo Hu])stitiiti'(l, wliicli ouglit to 1)0 taki'ii with j)lenty of fr-.'sh milk in it. Milk may ])o frccjuently given in tea, ulicii it otlicrwise would di.sagnMi. When a yoiitb is (Iclicalc, it is an excellent plan to give liini, every morning Lcfore Jie leaves his hed, a tiimlilcrful of ift'w milk. 'J he draught of milk, of course, is not in any way to interfere with his regular l)reakfast. 329. Do you approve of a hoy eating meat with hi^ hreakfast 1 This will depend upon the exercise ho uses. If he have had a good walk or run Ix'fore hreakfast, or if he inteml, after breakfast, to take j>lenty of athletic out-door exercise, meat, or a riwhcr or two of bacon, may, with advantage, be eaten ; l)ut not otherwise. 330. What is the hed dinner for a youth f Fresh, mutton or beef, a variety of vegetables, and a farinaceous pudding. It is a bad practice to allow him to dine, exclusively, either on a fruit ])udding, or on any other pudding, or on pastry. Unless he be ill, he must, if he is to be healthy, strong, and courageous, eat meat every day of his life. *' All courageous animals aio carnivorous, and greater courage is to be exj)(!cted in a people, such sis the English, whose food is strong and hearty, than in the half-starved commonalty of other countries." — Sir W. Temple. Let him be debarred from rich soups and from high- seasoned dishes, which only disorder the stomach and inflame the blood. It is a mistake to give a l)oy or a girl broth or soup, in lieu ot meat for dinner; the Btoraach takes such slops in a discontented way, and is not at all satisfied. It may be well, occasionally, to give a youth with his dinner, m addition to his meafj either good soup or good broth not highly seasoned, made of good meat stock. But after all that can be said on the subject, a plain joint of meat, either roast or boiled, is far superior for health and sl^Migth than either soup Of bj'oth, let it be ever so goo;! '>r sv w c,U mad^ YOUTH. — DIET. 265 i[\ and y or a ; the and is illy, to >• meafi asoned, be said oast or either ude, He should ho desired to take j)l('nty of time over Ins dinner, so that lie may he ahh*, to clien' liis food well, and thus that it may he reduced io an imj^ilpahle mass, and he Mcll mixed with the s;iliva, — whieli the netiun of the jaws will cause to he seereled — hcfctre it j)aKses into the stomach. If such werensually tlie c;ise, tht; stomach wonld not hav(? douhle duty to jiciform, and a hoy wouhl not so fre(iU(Mitly lay the foundation of iudij^M'stion, ;,'eta])les, bread, and hunger for sauce (which exercise will readily give), is the best, and, indeed, should be, as a rule, the only dinner ho should liave. A youth ought not to dine later than two o'clock. 3.*U. J)o you amsider broths and smt,\'^' wholcxomc ? The stomach can digest solid much m')re readily thnn it can licpiid food; on which account the dinner, specifiei above, is far jtreferable to one either of broth or of souj). Fluids in large quantities too much dilute the gastric iuice, and over-distend the stomach, and hence weaken it, and thus produce indigestion : indeed, it might truly ])e saiil that the stomach often takes broths and soups in a grundding way ! 332. Do you approve of a hoy drinking beer ivith his dinner ? There is no objection to a little good, mild table-beer, but dronfj ale ought never to be allowed. It is, indeed, questionable whether a boy, unless he take unusual exercMse, requires Ji'iything but water with his meals. 333. Do you ap,yroi'c of a youth, more cyHrially if he he weaJdy, ha.inj a ylass or two of icine after dinner ? I disapprove of it : his young blood does not require to 1)0 intiamed, and his sensitive nerves excited, with wine ; and, if he be delicate, I should 1)0 sorry to endeavour to stnaigthen him by giving him such an intlaiumable lluid. If he be weakly, he is more predis- posed to put on either fever or iulliimmation of some organ ] and, being thus |iredis|)osed, wine wuidd beiikelv' 266 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. 'i to excite cither the one or the action. Ihcr of them into *• AVine ami youth arc fire upon fire." — Fielding. A parent ()n«^'ht on no account to allow a hoy to touch R])irits, liowevur riuch diluted ; they are, to tlie young, Btill more deadly in tlieir elfeets than wine. . 334. Have you any ohjectwn to a youth (Irhli'iuj ten ? Not at all, provided it be not yrecm tea, that it he not made strong, and that it have i)lenty of milk in it. (jire(;n tea is apt to make people nervous, and hoys and girls ought not even to know what it is to T)e nervous. 335. Do you ohject to s}q}per for a yoiitli ? Meat suppers are highly imgudicial. If he he hungry (and if h(^ have heen much in the open air, he is jdmost sure ta l)e), a piece of bread and cheese, or of bread and butter, with a draught either of new milk or of table beer, will form the best 8upi)er he can have. He ought not to sup later than tight o'clock. 336. Do you approve of a hoy havlnrj anything be- tween meals ? I do not ; let him have four meals a day, and he will reijuire nothing in the intervals. It is a mistaken notion that " little and often is best" The stomach reipiircs rest as much as, or perhaps more than (for it is frecpuuitly sadly over-worked) any other part of the body. I do not mean that he is to have " much and seldom : " moderation, in everything, is to be observed. Give him as much as a gro'. 'ing boy requires {and that is a great deal), but do n<^t let him eat gluttonously, as many indulgent parents encourage their children to do. In- temperance in eating cannot be too strongly condemned. 337. Have you any objection to a hoy having pocket money ? It is a bad practice to allow a boy much pocket money ; if he be so allowed, he will be loading his Btomach with sweets, fruit, and }):i^stry, and tlius his stomach will become cloyed and disordered, and the keen appetite, so characteristic of youth, will be blunted, md O'll YOUTH. — AIR AND EXERCISE. 267 ill health will ensue. " In a public education, boys cnrly learn intemperance, and if the parents and friends would give them less money upon their usual visits, it would be much to their advantage, since it may justly be said that a great part of their disorders arise from surfeit, spills occidit gKliKjuam (jladlus* (gluttony kills more than the sword). " — GohiUmith. How true is the saying that " many people dig their graves with tlieir teeth." You may depend upon it that more die from stuffing than from starvation ! There would l)e little fur doctors to do if there were not so much stuffing and imbibing of strong driiiks going on in the world ! I he- le will notion ki[uire8 uently I do llo.n : " e him { on. A boy or a girl, to l)e in the enjoyment of good health, ought to walk at least ten miles (»very day. I do not mean ten miles at a stretch, biit at dillen'nt times of the day. Some young ladies think it an awfully long walk if they manage a couple of miles ! How can they, with such exercise, expeiit to be well ? How can their muscles be o/?y exercise for hot/s and girh 1 Most certainly I do ; ])ut still it ou^'ht not to super- sede walking. Hoi'so or \\s\\s exercise is very benetH-ial, and cannot lui tov) stroi^^ly reeounuended. One gr<'.it advantage for those living in t »N\na, whuh it lias over walking, is, that a peixon may go fmther itito the country, and thus be enabled to breatlii! a j)un r and more healthy ahnwsphcre. Again, it is a much m(»re umuMiKj exenMMO than walking, and this, for the young, is a grv'at consideration indeed. Jlorse exercise is for both boys and girls a splendid exercise ; it improves the figure, it gives gractJ to the movements, it strengthens the chest, it braces tho muscles, and gives to the character vith ten- )e taught ised, will \r a girl ? le hand- nong the jack the jlops the lise for a ^on by it. roves the imusing ; llf -reliant. Ithe arms, lack, and throws out the chest. Croquet is for girls and women what cricket is for boys and men — a glorious giinio. Croquet has improved both the health and the happiness of womankind more tlian anj* game ever before invented. Croquet, in the bright sunsliine, with the winds of heaven blowing about tlie players, is not like a ball in a stilling liot ball-room, with gas-lights poisoning the air. Croqutit is a more sensible amusement than dancing ; it brings the intellect as well as the muscles into i)]ay. The mnu who invented croquet has deserved greater glory, and has done more good to his species, than many philoso- phers whose names are emblazoned in story. Hand- swing is a ca])ital exercise for a girl, the whole of the body is thrown into cction by it, and the spine, the shoulders, and the stiouldcr-blades, are especially benefited. The fly-pole, too, is good exercise for the whole of the nniscles of the body, especially of the legs and the arms. Skating is for a girl excellent exercise, and is as exhilarating as a glass of champagne, but will do her far more good ! Skating improves the figure, and makes a girl balance and carry herself upright and well ; it is a most becoming exercise for her, and is much in every way to be commended. Moreover, skating giv(»s a girl courage and self-reliance. Dancing, followed as a rational amusement, causes a free circulation of the" blood, and provided it does not induce her to sit up late at night, is most benelicial. 347. If dancing he so hrnrjickd iclnj are halls such /rnifful sources of conghs, of coldsy and consnmjitions? On many accounts. They induce young ladies to sit up late at night ; they cause them to dress more lightly than they are accustomed to do ; and thus thinly chul, they leave their homes while the Aveather is perhaps l)iercingly cold, to })lunge into a suffocating, hot ball- room, made doubly injurious by the immense number of lights, which consume the oxygen intended for the duo jKuformance of the healthy functions of the lungs. Tlieir partners, the brilliancy of the scene, and the music, tjxcite tbeif jiervc^ to undue, awd thus to unnatural, m ■ii 274 ADVICE TO A MOTIIi:a i '4i I'mm i;S' action, and what is the consequence? Fatigue, weak- ness, hysterics, and extreme de])rcssion follow. They leave the heated ball-room, when the morning h:)s far advanced, to breathe the bitterly cold and frequently damp air of a winter's night, and what is the result 1 Hundreds die of consunij^tion, who might otherwise have lived. Ought there not, then, to be a distinction between a ball at midnight and a dance in the evening 1 348. Bid stilly loould you have a girl hrouglit up to forego the pleasures of a hall ? If a parent prefer her so-called pleasures to her health, certainly not ; to such a mother I do not address myself. 349. Have you any remarlcs to mahe on sinjing, or on reading aloud ? Before a motlScr allows her daughter to take lessons in singing, she should ascertain that there be no actual ♦lisease of the lungs, for if there be, it will probably excite it into action ; but if no disease exist, singing or leading aloud is very conducive to health. Public eingers are seldom known to die of consum}»tion. Singing expands the chest, improves the pronunciation, enriches the voice for conversation, strengthens the lungs, and wards ofif many of their diseases. EDUCATIOX. 350. Do you approve of corporal pu7iishmcnts in schools ? I do not. I consider it to be decidedly injurious both to body and mind. Is it not painful to witness the pale cheeks and the dejected looks of those boys who are often flogged? If their temi)ers are mild, their spirits are broken ; if their dispositions are at all obstinate, they become hardened and wilful, and are made little better than brutes.* A boy who is often * ** I would have given him, Captain Fleming, had lie l>een my son," quoth old Pearson the elder, *' siieli a good sound ilnib- bing as he never would have forgotten — never !" " Pooh ! pooh ! my good sir. Don't tell me. Never saw llt»g. YOUTH. — EDUCATION. 275 weak- They i33 far ^ucutly result ] sc have )etwccu t up io <: health, address )?^, or on e lessons no actual probably linging or , Public mniption. iinciation, bens the nncnts in Irious both litness tbo hoys ^vho did, their iro at all and are lo is often liacl 1h' boon souiuUhub- Iver saw lU>g* flogged loses that noble ingenuousness and fine sensibility so characteristic of youth. lie looks upon his school as his prison, and his master as his gaoler, and as he grows up to manhood, hates and despises the mm who has flogged him. Corporal punishment is revolting, disgusting, and demoralising to the boy ; and is degrad ing to the schoolmaster as a man and as a Christian. If schoolmasters must Hog, let them Hog their own sons. If they must ruin the tempers, the disj)osition8, and the constitution of boys, they have more right to jH'actiso upon their own than on other people's children ! Oh ! that parents would raise — and that without any imcertain sound — their voices against such abominations, and the detestable cane would soon be banished the school-room ! "I am confident that no boy," says Addison, " who will not be allured by letters without blows, will never be brought to anytliing with them. A great or good mind must necessarily be the worse for such indignities ; and it is a sad change to lose of its virtue for the improvement of its knowledge. No one has gone through what they call a great school, but must have remembered to have seen children of excellent and ingenuous natures (as have afterwards appeared in their manhood). I say, no man has passed through this way of education but must have seen an ingenuous creature expiring with shame, with pale looks, beseecliing sorrow, and silent tears, throw up its honest sighs, and kneel on its tend(}r knees to an inexorable blockhead, to be forgiven the false quantity of a word in making a Latin verse. The child is punished, and the next day he commits a like crime, and so a third, with the same consequence. I would fain ask any reasonal)le man whether this lad, in the simplicity of his native inno- cence, full of shame, and caj^able of any impression from that grace of seul, was not fitter for any pur})ose in this life than after that spark of virtue is extinguished in gim ill the navy do good. Kept down lnutcs ; nevt-r inadti a mat' yet."— Dr I^onnan Macjeod in Good JVvrUnf May 1861, 276 ADVICE TO A MOTITER. 11 in ■■'I liim, thoiif,'h lie is able to write twenty verses in an evening ? " How often is corj)oral punishment resorted to at school hecause the master is in a passion, and he vents his rage nj)on the poor s(;hool-l)oy's unfortunate back ! Oh ! the mistaken notion that Hogging will make a bad-behaved boy a good boy ; it has the contrary effect. " * I dunno how 'tis, sir,' said an old farm labourer, in reply to a question from his clergyman respecting the bad behaviour of his children, * I duimo how 'tis ; I beats 'era till they're black and blue, and when they won't kneel down to pray I knocks 'em down, and yet they aint good.* " — The Birminf/ham Journal. In an excellent article in Temple Bar (November 18G4) on flogging in the army, the following sensible remarks occur : — " In nearly a quarter of a century's experience with soldiers, the writer has always, and without a single exception, found flogging makes a good man bad, and a bad man worse." With equal truth it may be said that, without a single exception, flogging makes a good boy bad, and a bad boy worse. How many men owe their ferocity to the canings they school-boys ! The early soured them, and blunted floggings their leceived when liardened and sensibility. I)r Arnold of Rugby, one of the best schoolmasters that England ever produced, seldom caned a boy — not more than once or twice during the half year ; but when he did cane him, he charged for the use of the cane each time in the bill, in order that the parents might know how many times their son had been punished. At some of our public schools now-a-days, a boy is caned as many times in a morning as the worthy doctor would have caned him during the whole half year ; but then the doctor treated the boys as gentlemen, and trusted much to their honour; but now many schoolmasters trust much to fear, little to honour, and treat them as brute b(/ ists. It might be md that tilt? discipline of ^ scjiool Qmno{ in an to at i vents ick ! lako a effect, irer, in ns the 'tis; I n they md yet >vember sensible entury's ,ys, and 3 a good truth it [flogging How they YOUTH. — EDUCATION. 277 gs loggings their Imasters loy — not ut when the cane ts might iunished. is caned or would but then trusted Imasters them as be maintr'ned unless the boys be frequently caned, that it must be either caning or expulsion. I deny these assertions. Dr Arnold was able to coi^duct his scliool with Ijonour to himself, and with immense benefit to the rising generation, without either frequent canings or expulsions. The humane plan, however, requires at Ih'st botli trouble and patience ; and trouble some school- masters do not like, and patience they do not possess ; the use of the cane is quick, sharj), decisive, and at the time effective. If camng be ever necessary, which it might occasionally be, for the telling of lies for instance, or for gross immorality, let the head master himself be the only one to perform the operation, but let him not be allowed to delegate it to others. A law ouglit in all public schools to be in force to that effect. High time that something were done to abate such disgraceful practices. Never should a schoolmaster, or any one else, bo allowed, on any pretence 7ihatci'ei% to strike a boy upon his head. Boxing of the ears has sometimes caused laceration of the drum of the ear, and consequent partial deafness for life. Boxing of the ears injures the brain, and therefore the intellect. It niiglit be said, that I am travelling out of my province in making remarks on corporal chastisement in schools? But, with deference, I reply that I am strictly in the path of duty. ]\Iy office is to inform you of everything that is detrimental to your children's health and happiness; and corporal punishment is assuredly most injurious both to their health and happiness. It is the bounden duty of every man, and especially of every medical man, to lift up his voice against the abominable, disgusting, and degrading system of Hogging, and to warn parents of the danger and the mischief of sending boys to those schools where flogging is, except in rare and flagrant cases, permitted. 351. Have you any ohsermtions to make on the selec- tion of a female hoarding-school 1 Home education, where it be practicable, is fui* prefer- i I'! i * 1 :,.! ai li ■ % i 278 ADVICE TO A MOTIIEH. al)lo to sending a girl to school ; as at Iiome, her Iiealth, her morals, and \\(\v liousehold duties, eau he attended to much more effectually tlian from home. Moreover, it is a serious injury to a girl, in more Avays than one, to separate her from her own hrothers : they very much lose tlieir affection for each oth(!r, and mutual conipanion- sliip (so delightful and beneiicial.hetween brothers and sisters) is severed. If home education bo not practicable, great care must be taken in making choice of a school. Boarding school eilucation requires great reformation. Accomplishments, superficial ac(piirements, and brain-work, are the order of the day ; health is very little studied. You ought, in the education of your daughters, to remember that they, in a few years, will be the wives and the mothers of England ; and, if they liave not healtli and strength, and a proi)er knowledge of household duties to sustain their characters, what useless, listless wives and mothers they will make I Remember, then, the body, and not the mind, ought, in early life, to be principally cultivated and strengthened, and that the growing brain will not bear, with impunity, much book learning. The brain of a school-girl is fre- quently injured by getting up voluminous questions by rote, that are not of the slightest use or benefit to her, or to any one else. Instead of Uiis ridiculous system, edu- cate a girl to be useful and self-reliant. " From babyhood they are given to understand that helplessness is feminine and beautiful ; helpfulness, except in certain received forms of manifestation, unwomanly and ngly. The boys may do a thousand things which are *not proper for little girls.' " — A Woman's Thoughts about Women. From her twelfth to her seventeenth year, is the most important epoch of a girl's existence, as regards her future health, and consequently, in a great measure, her future happiness ; and one, in which, more than at any other period of her life, she requires a plentiful suppl\' of fresh air, exercise, recreation, a . variety of innooeut tOUXn. — EDUCATION. 279 health, ulcd to er, it is in OHO, y iiiiich pHuion- ors and re must ^ scliool liments, 10 ordor lught, ill lat they, thers of igth, and ain their lers they i, ought, gthened, npunity, .'rl is fre- 3tions by to her, or em, edu- jabyhood ssness is n certain nd ugly. are *not hts about the most jards her asure, her an at any suppl^' of innocent amnsomonts, and an abundance ()f good nourishment — more ; j)ecially of i'resli meat ; if therefore you liave de- termi.f ^d on sending your girl to school, you must ascer- tain iliat the pupils have as nnich plain wholesome iiourisliing food as they can eat,* thtrt the school he situatcul in a healthy spot, tliat it bo well-drained, that theni be a large play-ground atta<"hed to it, that the young people are allowed plenty of exercise in the ui)en air — • indeed, that at least one-third of the day is spent there in croquet, skij)ping, archery, battle-dore and shuttlecock, gardening, walking, running, tkc. Take care that the school-rooms arc well-ventilat(3d, that they are not over-crowded, and that the pui)ils are allowed chairs to sit upon, and not those aljonvinations — forms and stools. If you wish to try the effect of them upon yourselves, sit for a couple of hours without stirring upon a form or upon a stool, and, take my word for it, you will insist that forms and stools be banished for ever from the schoolroom. Assure yourself that the pupils are compelled to rise early in the morning, and that they retire early to rest ; that each young lady has a separate bed ;t and that many are not allowed to sleep in the same room, and that the apartments arc large and well-ventilated. In fine, their health and their morals ought to be preferred far above all their accomplishments. 352. JViey use, in some schools, stralght-haclied chairs * If a girl have an abundance of good nourishment, the school- mistress must, of course, be remunerated for the necessary and costly expense ; and how can this be done on the paltry sum charged at cheap boarding schools ? It is utterly impossil)le ! And what are we to expect from poor and insufficient nourish- ment to a fast-gi'owiug girl, and at the time of life, remember, when she requires an extra quantity of good sustaining, sup- porting food ? A poor girl, from such treatment, becomes either consumpti/e or broken down in constitution, and from which she never i-ecovers, but drags out a miserable existence. t A horse-hair mattress should always be preferred to a feather-bed. It is not only better for the health, but it im- proves the figure . * m 280 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. ■Si',; !■■> to riKilce a fjirl sit upright, and to fjive sti'emjth to litT back : do ijoa appron) of tlumi ? Cortainly not : the natural and the graceful curve of the ])ack is not the curve of a straight-l)ac;kc(l chair. Straight-backed chaii-s are instruments of tortun^, and are more liktjly to make; a girl crooked than to make hei straight. Sir Astley Coo]»er riprove of a girl lounging and lolling on a sofa ; but, if she be tired and wants to rest herself, let her, like any other reasonable being, sit upon a comfortable ordinary chair. If you want her to be straight, let her be made strong ; and if she is to be strong, she must use plenty of exercise and exertion, such as drilling, dancing, skipping, archery, croquet, hand-swinging, horse-exercise, swimming, bowls, &c. This is the plan to make her back straight and her nniscles strong. Why should Ave bring U]) a girl ddl'erently from a boy? Muscular exercises, gymnastio performances, and health-giving exertion, are unladylike, forsooth ! HOUSEHOLD WORK FOR GIRLS. 353. Do you recommend household work as a means of health for my daughter 1 Decidedly : whatever you do, do not make a fine lady of her, or she will become puny and delicate, listless, and miserable. A girl, let her station be what it might, ought, as soon as she be old enough, to make her own bed. There is no better exercise to expand the figure and to beautify the shape than is bed-making. Let her make tidy her own room. Let her use her hands and her arms. Let her, to a great extent, be self-reliant, and let her wait upon .hv3rself. 'J'here is nothing vulgar in her being useful. Let me ask. Of what use are many girls of the present day ? They are utterly useless. Are they happy ? Nu, for lo fier irvc of chiiir. t^, aiul kc lu'i biickctl [ill foi , such inieiils is lllDSt ig and to rest it upon strong ; ?,xevciso ircliery, , bowls, [ind lior a girl miiastio idylike, means mc lady ess, and ;, ought. There Deautify tidy her Let her, it upon useful, mt day ? No, for YOUTH. — cnoicn op a rnornssioN' on rnxm, 281 the want of enipL yniriit, iliev are niiserahle — I mean hodily cinploynicni, housclioM work. Many girls, now-a-cluys, unfortuiiati'ly, are made to look upon a pHitty faee, dress, and acconiplislinients, a.s the oidy things needed I And, when they do heconie women and wives — if ever ^liey do become women and wives — what miserable liiekadaisieal wives, and what senseless, useless mothers they will make ! CHOICE OP. rR0FEH8I0N OR TRADE. 351. Wlifd profession or trade icould yon rrcoinmnid a ho// of a fh'Jicafe or of a ('onsnm2>tive habit to foltoiv i If a youth 1)0 delicate, it is a common ja-actice among parents either to put him to some light in-door trade, or, if they can ailbrd it, to one of the Iciarned ])rofessions. Such a practice is absurd, and fraught with danger. The close confinement of an in-door trade is highly jire- judicial to liealth. The hanl reading retpiisite to fit a man to fill, for instance, the sacred office, only increases delicacy of constitution. The stooping at a desk, in an attorney's office, is most trying to the (diest. The harass, the anxiety, the disturbed nights, the interrujited meals, and the intense study necessary to lit a man for the medical profession, is still more dangerous to health than either law, divinity, or any in-door trade?. " Sir Walter Scott says of the country surgeon, that he is w^oi'se fed and harder wrought than any one else in the parish, except it bo his horse." — Brown's Hone ^iihseciva'. A modern writer, speaking of the life of a medical man, observes, "There is no career which so rajndly wears away the powers of life, because there is no other which requires a greater activity of mind and body. Ho lias to bear the changes of weather, continued fatigue, irregularity in his meals, and broken rest ; to live in the midst of miasma and contagion. If in the country, he has to traverse considerable distances on horseback, exposed to wind and storm ; to brave all dangers to go to the relief of suffering humanity. A fearful truth for Hfi ' U: 282 ADVICK TO A MOTIIRfl, ;: ill < H I iiti '■ '■ I ■ .i ■ 31, mo'lical iiK'ii lias Immmi cslaljlishcil by t,1i(> t.iM*^ of mitrtiility of I)r (Jaspar, piihlislicd in tlii^ lirlllah Jirrifta. Of 1000 incnilinrs of t!u5 mi'dical ijrofcssioii, 000 (li(nl Itrfort! Micir sixty-sccoiid year; whilst of ikthohs ItNulin^' a (jiiict lif(! — Hiich an a^'ficulturists or thcoloj^iaiiH— tho mortality is only 347. If wo tako 100 individuals of rach (»f thcso classes, 4.'3 tlicoloj^'ians, 40 Uf^'ricndtu lists, .'^') (dcrks, 152 soldirrs, will ''.nidi tluiir sovinitit^tli yt'iir ; of 100 professors of the healing art, 24 only will reaeli tliat age. Tiiey are the sign-posts to health ; they can sliow the road to old agc^, but rarely tread it tiieni- 8elves." If a boy, tluuvfore, be of a delicatii or of a consump- tive- hal)it, an out-iloor calling should be advised, such as that of a farmer, of a tanner, or a land-surveyor ; but, if he be of an inferior station of society, the trade of a butcher may bo recommentled. Tanners and butchers are seldom known to die of consnmi)tion. I cannot refrain from re])robating the too common })ractice among parents of bringing up their boys to the jtrofessions. The anxieties and the heartaches "which tliey undergo if thoy ilo not succeed (and how can many of them succeed when there is such a superabundance of candidates 1) materially injure their health. " I very much wonder," says Addison, " at the humour of parents, who will not rather choose to place their sons in a way of life wdiere an honest industry cannot but thrive, than in stations where the greatest probity, learning, and good sense, may miscarry, llow many ■ m(ui are country curates, that might have made them- selves aldermen of London by a right improvement of a smaller sum of money than what is usually laid out npon a leai'ned education'? A sober, frugal person, of sleifder paros and a slow apprehension, might have thriveil in trade, though he starves upon physic ; as a man would be well enough pleased to buy silks of one "whom he could not venture to feel his pulse. Vagellius is careful, studious, and obliging, but withal a little thick-skulled; he has not a single client, but might hh of lirricin. 10 (lied li!iulin}; [IS — the [iuiIh of Itiirists, li yi'iir; 11 rciu^U ,hey t'iui t tliciii- oiisuiiip- c(l, su(;U 'or ; but, '!i(lo of a butchers common ys to tho »s -svliich ;an many dance of " I very iiiour of [heir sons [inot but probity, )\v many lie tliem- Inent of a laid out )erson, of tht have |sic ; as a Ls of ono 'agellius a Uttlo it might votJTti.— sLri:r. L>s:i have had abuiidancc (if customers. Tlie ndsforluiu', is tliat iKircnts take a Hkinj^' to a jiarlifular profession, and tluTeforc d(!sin; tlicir suns iiiay \n' of it ; wlicrras, in so great an allair of life, tliey should considta* the <^'eniiis and aliilities of their eliildren more than their own inelinati(»nH. It is the <^'reat advanta,L,'e of a trailing' nation, that there are very fi'W in it so dull and heavy "who may not l)e i)laee(I in stations of life uhich may give them an oppt)rtunity of makin;^' their fortunes. A well-re^'ulated comnuuee is not, like law, physic, or divinity, to be overstocked with hands; but, on the contrary, tlourishcs by multitudes, auil gives employment to all its professors. Fleets of mercha):tmen are so many S(piadrons of lloating shoj)s, that vend our wares and manufactures in all the markets of the world, antl lind out chapmen under both the tropics." 355. llieiif do you rccoinmrnd a drluudv, youth to he hrouxjlit up either to a 2rrofefi>per ]>art of the clmmber door, and the same imiiil)er of holes iu the lower part of the door, so as constantly to admit a free current of air from the jKUssaj^Ts. If this cannot readily be done, then let the htMlroom door be left ajar all night, a door chain being on the door to previuit intrusion; and, in the summer time, during the night, let tlie window-sash, to the extent of about two or three inches, be left oi)en. If there be a dressing-room next to the bedroom, it will be well to have the dressing-room window, instead of the bedroom window, open at night. The dressing- room door will regulate the quantity of air to be ailmitted into the bedroom, opening it eitiier little or much, as the W'jather might be cold or otherwise. Frct>h air durin(j deep is indiftpcnsahle to health. — If a bedroom he close, the sleej), instead of being calm and refreshing, is broken and disturbed ; and the boy, when he awakes in the morning, feels more fatigued than when he retired to rest. If sleep is to bo refreshing, the air, then, must be pure, and free from carbonic acid gas, which is constantly being evolved from the lungs. If sleep is to be health- giving, the lungs ought to have their })roper food — • • •xygen, and not to be cheated by giving them instead a poison — carbonic acid gas. It wouJd be well for each boy to have a separate room to himself, and each girl a separate room to herself. If two boys are oljliged, from the smallness of the house, to sleep in one room, and if two girls, from the same caus(», are compelled to occupy the same chamber, by all means let each one have a separate bed to himself and to herself, as it is so much more healthy, and expedient for l)oth boy and girl to sleep alone. The roof of the bed should be left open — that is to say, the top of the bedstead ought not to be covered with beil furniture, but should be open to the ceiling, in ortler to encourage a free ventilation of air. A bed- curtain may be allowed on the side of the bed where there are windv currents of air j otherwise bed-curtaius /• YOUTH. — SLEEP. 285 and valanroR ou^ht on no account to bo allowc«l. Tliey I>revent a fnsc circulation of tlic air. A youth bIiouM slcej) on a liorse-liair mattress. Sucli raattressca m^reatly improve the figure and strengthen the frame. l)uring the (hiy-tirnc, provided it does not rain, the windows nnist 1)0 tlirown wide oj)en, and, directly after he has risen from bed, the clothes ought to be thrown entirely ])ack, in order tliat they may become, ])efore the bed be made, well ventilated and purified by the air : — '• Do you wish to be lioalthy ? — Then ktu'p the liouse sweet ; » As soon as you're up Shake each blanket and sheet. Leave the beds to f^el frcsli. On the close crowded floor Let the wind sweep right through- Open window and door. The tad air will rush out As the good air conies in, Just as coodness is stronger And better tlian sin. Do this, it's soon done, In the flesh morning air, ' It will lighten your labour And lessen your care. You are weary — no wonder, Tlien^'s weight and there's gloom Hanging heavily round In each over-full room. Be sure all the troublo Is profit and' gain, For there's head-ache and heart-ache, And fever and i>ain Hovering round, settling down In the closeness and heat ; Let the wind sweep right through Till the air's fresli and sweet. And more cheerful you'll feel Through the toil of the day ; More refreshed you'll awake When the night's passed away. '* • Household Verses on Jferllh and llajypiness. LondoQ { JArrol4 w^l ?o))s, Kvery motfji; sljou)4 ref^d X]\^m Verses, » rf \[l '2m ADVICE TO A MOTHER. mm^^ nothing Plants and flowpva oiiglit not to l)c allowed to remain in a chan\l)cr at night. Experiments have proved that j)lants and flowers take up, in the day-time, cf^rbonic acjid gas (the refuse of respiration), and give off oxygen (a gas so necessary and beneficial to health), but give out, in the night season, a poisonous exhalation. ]'iarly rising cannot be too strongly insisted upon; is more conducive to health and thus to long life. A youth is frequently allowed to spend the early part of the morning in bed, breathing the impure atmo- si)here of a bedroom, when he should be up and about, inhaling the balmy and health-giving breezes of the morning : — " Rise with the lark, anil with the lark to bed : The breath of night's destructive to the hue Of ev'ry llower tliat blows. Go to the field, And ask the humbh; daisy wliy it sleeps Soon as the sini departs ? "Why close the eyes Of blossoms intinite long ere the moon Her oriental veil puts off? Think why, Nor let the sweetest blossom Nature boasts Be thus ex]>osed to night's unkindly damp, AVell may it droop, and all its freshness lose, Compell'd to taste the rank and pois'nous steam Of midnight theatre and morning ball. Give to repose the solemn hour she claims ; ' And from the forehead of the morning steal The sweet occasion. Oh ! there is a charm Which morning has, that gives the brow of age A smack of youth, and makes the lip of youth Shod perfume exquisite. Expect it not Ye who till noon upon a down-bed lie, Indulging feverish sleep." — Ilurdis. If early rising be commenced in childhood it becomes a habit, and will then probably be continued through life. A boy ought on no account to be roused from his sleep ; but, as soon as he bo awake in the morning, ho should be encouraged to rise. Dozing — that state between slee|)ing and waking — is injurious ; it enervates botli body .' id mind, and is as detrimental to health as dram drin]^ ug ! liut if he ris'3 early he must go to bed butiuK.'S ; it is a bad practice to keep him up until the TOUTII. — ON THE TEETH AND THE GUMS. 287 family retire to rest. He ouglit, winter and siininier, to seek his pillow by nine oclock, and should rise as soon as he awake in the morning. Let me urge upon a parent the groat importance of 7fot allowing the chimney of any bedroom, or of any room in the house, to be stopped, as many are in the habit of doing to prevent, as they call it, a draught, but to prevent, as I should call it, health. 357. How Diany hours of sleep oiKjht a hoij fo hcwef This, of course, wid depend upon the exercise he takes : but, on an average, he should have every night at least eiglit hours. It is a mistaken notion that a boy does Letter with little sleep. Infants, children, and youths require more than those who are further advanced in years ; hence old people can frequently do with little sleep. This may in a measure be accounted for from the quantity of exercise the young take. Another reason may be, the young have neither racking pain, nor hidden sorrow, nor carking care, to keep them awake ; while, on the contrary, the old have frequently, the one, the other, or jdl : — ** Care keeps his watch on every old man's eyo, And wliere care Imlges, sleep will never lie." — Shakspcare. ON THE TEETH AND THE GUMS. 35S. What are the best means of keejniuj the teeth and the gums in a healthy state ? I would recomniend the teeth and the gums to be well brushed with warm salt and water, in the propor- tion of one large tea-spoonful of salt to a tuml)ler of water. I was induced to try the above plan by the recommendation of an American writer — 2odd. The Siilt and water should be used every 7iiyht. The following is an excellent tooth-powder : — Take of — Finely-powder Peruvian Bark ; Prejtared Corn I ; rre])ared Chalk ; Myrrh, of each, half an ounce Orri.s root, a <|uarter of an ounce : l^Iix them well to<;ether in a mortar, and preserve the powosed to lie and '^es, pro- T, rosy k, high Lowols, i person entirely IS black 3ut yet, ark able crofula, often infancy senteric ]uently J* life ia loans to t, ought in the open air, and his residence should he a healthy coantry place, where the air is dry and bracing ; if it be at ^ farm-house, in a salubrious neighbourhood, so much the better. In selecting a house for a patient predisposed to scrofula, good pure water slioidd he ar important requisite ; indeed for every one who values his health. Early rising in such a case is most beneficial. Wine, spirits, and all fermented liquors ought to be avoided. Beef-steaks and mutton-chops in abundance, and plenty of milk and of farinaceous food — such as rice, sago, arrowroot, &c., should be his diet. Scrofula, if the above rules be strictly and perseveringly followed, may be warded off; but there must be no half measures, no trying to serve two masters — to cultivate at the same time the health and the intellect The brain, until the body becomes strong, must not be taxed. "You may prevent scrofula by care, but that some children are originally predisposed to the disease there cannot be the least doubt, and in such cases the educa- tion and the habits of youth should be so directed as \o ward off a complaint, the effects of which are so frequently fatal." — Sir Astley Cooper on Scrofula. 364. Bid suppose the disease to he already formed^ what must then he done ? The plan recommended above must still be pursued, not by fits and starts, but steadily and continuously, for it is a complaint that requires a vast deal of patieiu-e and great perseverance. Warm and cold sea-bathing in such a case are generally most beneficial. In a patient with confirmed scrofula it will of course be necessary to consult a skilful and experienced doctor. But do not allow without a second opinion any jdan to be adopted that will weaken the system, which is already too much depressed. No, ra'lier build uji the body by good nourishing diet (as previously recom- mended), by cod-liver oil, by a dry bracing almos|ihen', such as, either Brighton, or Eamsgate, or Llandudno ; or if the lungs be delicate, by a more sheltered coast, such as, either St Leonards or Torquay, 292 ADVICE TO A MOTUER. m m mi Let no active purging, no mercurials, no violent, desperate remedies bo allowed. If the patient cannot bo cured toithout them, I am positive that he will not be cured with thenL But do not despair ; many scrofulous patients are cured by time and by judicious treatment. But if desperate remedies are to bo used, the poor patient had better hj Jar be left to Nature : " Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; f(jr very great are his mercies ; but let mo not fall into the hand of man." — Chronicles. 365. Have you any remarlcs to make on a girl stoojnng? A girl ought never to be allowed to stoop : stooping spoils the figure, weakens the chest, and interferes with the digestion. If she cannot help stooping, you may depend upon it that she is in bad health, and that a laedical man ought to be consulted. As soon as her health is improved the dancing-master should be put in requisi- tion, and calisthenic and gymnastic exercises should bo resorted to. Horse exercise and swimming in such a case are very beneficial. The girl should live well, on ^ood nourishing diet, and not be too closely confined eitlitn* to the house or to her lessons. She ought during the night to lie on a horsehair mattress, and during the day, for. two or three hours, flat on her back on a reclin- iiig board. Stooping, if neglected, is very likely to lead to consumption. 366. 1/ a boy he round-shouldered and slouching in hi^ gait, what ought to be done? Let him be drilled ; there is notliing more likely to benefit him than drilling. You never see a soldier round- sliouldered nor slouching in his gait. lie walks every inch like a man. Look at the difference in appearance between a country bumpkin and a soldier ! It is the drilling that makes the difference : " Oh, for a drill- sergeant to teach them to stand upright, and to turn out their toes, and to get rid of that slouching, hulking gait, ■which gives such a look of clumsiness and stupidity ! "^ A» K. U, U., F/Wf;r'.:ijlcigame, October 1861, !• TOUTH. — PREVENTION OP DISEASE, ETC. 293 very ;aiice the ■diiU- out t 367. Mf/ daufjhter his groicn out of shapn^ slie hia rfnnvn on one sidCj her »pinG is not stranjhty and hcY ribs huhje out more on the one side than on the other ; what is the cause, and can anything he done to remedy the defoiinity ? The causes of this lateral curvature of the spine, and consequent bulging out of the ribs that you have just now d(!scribed, arise either from delicacy of constitution, from the want of proper exercise, from too much learn- ing, or from too little play, or from not suflicient or proper nourishment for a rapidly growing body. I am happy to say that such a case, l)y judicious treatment, can generally be cured — namely, by gymnastic exercises, such as the hand- swing, the lly-pole, the patent parlour gymnasium, the chest-expander, the skipping rope, the swimming bath ; all sorts of out-door games, such as croquet, archery, &c. ; by plenty of good nourishment, by making her a child of Nature, by letting her almost live in the open air, and by throwing books to tho ■winds. But let mo strongly urge you not, unless ordered by an experienced surgeon, to allow any mechanical restraints or appliances to be used. If she be made strong, the muscles themselves will pull both tho spino and tho ribs into their proper places, more especially if judicious games and exercises (as I have before advised), and other treatment of a strengthening and bracing nature, which a medical man will indicate to you, be enjoined. Mechanical appliances will, if not judiciously applied, and in a proper case, waste away the muscles, and will thus increase the mischief ; if they cause the ribs to be pushed in in one place, they mil bulge them out in another, until, instead of being one, there will be . a seriep of deformities. I^o, the giving of strength and the judicious exercising of the muscles are, for a* lateral curvature of the Bpine and the consequent bulging out of one side of the ribs, the proper remedies, and, in the majority of cases, are most effectual, and quite sufficient for the purpose. I think it well to strongly impress upon a mother's 'S!l If !! 294 ADVICE TO A MOTHErv. mind tlio f^Tout importance of early treatment. If the ubovo advice l)o followed, every curvature in the beginning might bo cured. Cases of several ^ ears' standing might, with judicious treatment, be wonderfully relieved. J]ear in mind, then, that if the girl is to be made straight, she is first of all to be made strong ; the latter, together with the proper exercises of the muscles, will lead to the former ; and the earlier a medical man takes it in hand, the more rapid, the more certain, and the more effectual will be the cure. An inveterate, long-continued, and neglected case of curvature of the spine and bulging out of the ribs on one side might require mechanical appliances, but such a case can only be decided on by an experienced surgeon, who ought always, in the first place, to bo consulted. 3G8. Is a slifjJit spitting of blood to be loolced upon as a dangerous symptom f Spitting of blood is always to be looked upon with suspicion ; even when a youth appears, in other respects, to be in good health, it is frequently the forerunner of consumption. It might be said that, by mentioning the fact, I am unnecessarily alarming a parent, but it would be a false kindness if I did not do so : — " I must be cruel, only to he-kind.'*— Shakspeare. Let me ask. When is consumption to be cured ? Is it at the onset, or is it when it is confirmed ? If a mother had been more generally aware that spitting of blood was frequently the forerunner of consumption, she would, in the management of her offspring, have taken greater precautions. ; she would have made everything give way to the preservation of their health ; and, in many in- stances, she would have been amply repaid by having the lives of her children spared to her. We frequently hear of patients, in confirmed consumption, being sent to Mentone, to Madeira, and to other foreign parts. Can anything be more cruel or absurd 1 If there be any disease that requires the comforts of home — and truly eara rould ] Is If a ing of m, she taken Lggive hear mt to Can any truly YOUTH. — PREVENTION OF DISEASE, ETC. 295 may an Englishman's dwelling ho called home! — and good nursing more than another, it is consumption. 369. What is the death-rate of consumption in Eng- land ? At what aye does coiununption most frequenthj occur? Are girls more liable to it than hoys? What are the symptoms of this disease ? . It is assorted, on good authority, that there always aro in England, 78,000 cases of consumption, and that the yearly death-rate of this fell disease alone is 39,000 ! Consumption more frequently shows itself between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one : after then, the liability to the disease grad''.;dly diminishes, until, at the age of forty-five, it becomes comparatively rare. Boys are more prone to this comi)laint than girls. Some of the most important symptoms of pulmonary consumption are in- dicated by the stethoscope ; but, as I am addressing a mother, it would, of course, be quite out of place to treat of such signs in Conversations of this kind. The symptoms it might be well for a parent to recognise, in order that she may seek aid early, I will presently describe. It is perfectly hopeless to expect to cure con- sumption unless advice bo sought at the onsety as the only • effectual good in t) is disease is to be done at first. It might be well to state that consumption creeps on insidiously. One of the earliest symptoms of this dread- ful scourge is a slight, dry, short cough, attended with tickling and irritation at the top of the throat. This cough generally occurs in the morning ; but, after some time, comes on at night, and gradually tliroughout the day and the night. Frequently during the early stage of the disease a slight spitting of blood occurs. Now, this is a most dangerous symptom ; indeed, I may go so far as to say that, as a rule, it is almost a sure sign that the patient is in the^r*'^ stage of a consumption. There is usually hoarseness, not constant, but coming on if the patient be tired, or towards the evening ; there is also a sense of lassitude and depression, shgrtness of breath, a feeling of being quickly wearied — more especially on the slightest exertion. The hair of a con« :|t .It'. 296 ADVICE TO A MOTHER, I f ' :H/ Bumptivo person usually falls ofF, and what little romHinB is weak and poor ; the joints of the lingers become en- larged, or clubbed as ifc is sometimes called ; tlu? patiinit loses flesh, and, after some time, night sweats make their ai»poaranco : then we may know that hectic fever has commenced.* Hectic begins with chilliness, which is soon followed by flushings of the face, and by burning heat of the hands and the feet, especially of the palms and the soles. This is soon succeedeil })y perspirations. The patient has generally, during the day, two decided paroxysms of hectic fever — the one at noon, which lasts above live hours ; the other in the evening, which is more severe, and ends in violent persi)irations, which perspirations continue the whole night through. He may, during the day, have several attacks of hectic flushes of the face, especially after eating ; at one moment he complains of being too hot, and rushes to the cool air; the next moment he is too cold, and almost scorches himself by sitting too near the fire. Whenever the circumscribed hectic flush is on the cheek, it looks as though the chei'k had been painted with vermilion, then is the time when the palms of the hands are burning hot. Crabbe, in the* following lines, graphically describes the hectic flush : — ** When his thin cheek assumed a deadly huo, And all the rose to one small spot withdrew : They call'd it hectic ; 'twas a tiery flush, More fix'd and deeper than the maiden blush." The expectoration at first is merely mucus, but after a time it assumes a characteristic appearance; it has a roundish, flocculent, woolly form, each portion of phlegm keeping, as it w^re, distinct ; p ad if the expec- toration be stirred in water, it has a milk-like appearance. The patient is commonly harassed by frequent bow^el com- plaints, which rob him of what little strength he has left. The feet and ankles swell. The perspiration, as before remaiKed, comes on in the evening, continues all night — more especially towards morning, and while the patient is asleep ; during the time he is awake, even at night, he after a it litis ion of expec- imiice. 1 coni- s left, before night )atient jht, he YOUTn — PREVENTION OF DISEASE, ETC. 297 seldom .sweats much. Tln^ thrush ^'onorally fsliows itself* towards the closo of the dis^'ius*', attacking the tongue, tho tonsils, and the soft i)alato, and is a sure harlnngrr of appronrhing death. Emaciation rapidly sets in. If wo con.sider tho inmiense engines of destruetlon at work — viz., the colli(|uative (melting) sweats tho violent bowel complaints, the vital i)arts that are afieeted, tho liarassing cough, the jjrofuse expectoration, the hectic fever, thii distressing ex(^rtion of struggling to breathe — we cannot be surprised that " consumption had hung out her red ilag of no surrender," and that death soon ckK^es tho scene. In girls, provided they have been previously lingular, men.struation gradually declines, and then entirely disaj)i)ears. 370. What are the causes of conmiwptum ? The predisposiwj causes of consumption are tho tuberculous hal)ii of body, hereditary ])redis])osition, narrow or contracted chest, deformed spine, delicacy of constitution, bad- and scanty diet, or food containing but little nourishment, impure air, closo in-door coniinement in schools, in shops, and in factories, ill-ventilated apartments, dissipation, late hours, over-taxing with book-learning the growing brain, thus producing debility, want of proper out-door exercises and amuse- ments, tight lacing; indeed, anything and everything, that either will debilitate the constitution, or will inter- fere with, or will impede, the proper action of the lungs, >vill be the predisposing causes of this fearful and lamentable disease. An ill, poor, and insufficient diet is the mother of many diseases, and especially of consumption : " What- soever was tho father of a disease, an ill diet was tho mother." The most common exciting causes of consumption are slighted colds, neglected inflammation of the chest, long continuance of influenza, sleeping in damp beds, allowing "wet clothes to dry on the body, unhealthy employ- ments — such as needle-grinding, pearl button making, &c ..... . 298 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. 371. Supposimj a youth to have spitting of hlooa^ what precautions would you taJce to prevent ii from end- ing in consumption f Let his health be the first consideration ; throw books to the winds ; if he be at school, take him away ; if he be in trade, cancel his indentures ; if he be in the town, send him to a sheltered healthy spot in the country, or to the south coast ; as, for instance, either to St Leonaris- cn-Sea, to Torquay, or to the Isle of Wight I should be particular in his clothing, taking especial care to keep his chest and feet warm. If he did not already wear flannel waistcoats, let it be winter or summer, I should recommend him immediately to do so : if it be winter, I should advise him also to take to llannel drawers. The feet must be carefully attended to ; they ought to be kept both warm and dry, the slightest dampness of either shoes or stockings should cause them to be immediately changed. If a boy, he ought to wear double-breasted waistcoats ; if a girl, high dresses. The diet must be nutritious and generous ; he should be encouraged to eat plentifully of beef and mutton. Til ere is nothing better for breakfast, where it agree, than milk ; indeed, it may be frequently made to agree by previously boiling it. Good home-brewed ale or sound porter ought, in moderation, to be taken. Wine and spirits must on no account bo allowed. I caution parents in this particular, as many have an idea that wine, in such rases, is strengthening, and that rum and milk is a good thing either to cure or to prevent a cough ! If it be summer, let him be much in the open air, avoiding the evening and the night air. If it be winter, he should, unless the weather be mild for the season, keep within doors. Particular ftttention ought to be paid to the point the wind is in, as he should not be allowed to go out if it is either in the north, in the east, or ill the north-east ; the latter is more especially laugerous. If it be spring, and the weather bo favour- YOUTH. — PREVENTION OF DISEASE, ETC. 299 blooat 71 end- T books ; if ho e town, atry, or sonar is- especial did not nter or y to do take to ittended iry, tlio \ should boy, he ;irl, high should mutton. it agree, to agree ale or Wine caution lea that rum and event a pen air, winter, season, t to be I not be the east, pecially favour- able, or summer or autumn, change of air, more especially to the south-coast — to the Isle of Wight, for instance — would be desirable; indeed, in a case of spitting of blood, I kaow of no remedy so likely to ward off thiit formidable, and, generally, intractable complaint — con- sumption — as change of air. The beginning of the autumn is, of course, the best season for visiting the coast. It would be advisable, at the commencement of October, to send him either to Italy, to the SDuth of France — to Mentone* — or to the mUd parts of England — more especially either to Hastings, or to Torquay, or to the Isle of Wight — to winter. But remember, if he be actually in a confinyied consumption, I would not on any account whatever let him leave his home ; as then the comforts of home will far, very far, out-weigh any benelit of change of air. 372. Suppose a youth to he much predisposed to a sore throaty what precautioiui ought he to take to ward off "future attacks i He must use every morning thorough ablution of the body, beginning cautiously ; that is to say, commencing with the neck one morning, then by degrees, morning after morning, sponging a larger surface, until the whole of the body be sponged. The chill at first must be taken off the water ; gradually the temperature ought to be lowered until the water be quite cold, taking care to rub the body thoroughly dry with a coarse towel — a Turkish rubber being the best for the purpose. He ought to bathe his throat externally every night and morning with lukewarm salt and water, the tempera- ture of which must be gi'aduaUy reduced until at length no warm water be added. He should gargle his throat either with barm, vinegar, and sage tea,t or with salt and water — two tea-spoonfuls of table salt dissolved in a tumbler of water. He ought to harden himself by taking * See Winter and Spring on the Shores of the Mediterranean. By J. Henry Bennet, M.D., London : Churchill. t A wine-glassful of barm, a wine-glassful of vinegar, and the remainder sage tea, to make u half-pint bottle of gargle. J 300 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. > plenty of exercise in the open ftir. He must, as much as possible, avoid either sitting or standing in a draught ; if ho be in one, he shoiUd face it. Ho ought to keep his feet warm and dry. He should take as little aperient medicine as possible, avoiding especially both calomel and blue-pill. As he grows up to manhood he ought to allow his beard to grow, as such woidd he a natural covering for his throat : I have known great henefit +o arise from this simple plan. The fashion is now to wear the beard, not to use the razor at all, and a sensible fashion I consider it to be. The finest respirator in tho world is the beard. The beard is not only good for sore throats, but for weak chests. The wearing of the beard is a splendid innovation ; it saves no end of trouble, is very beneficial to health, and is a great improvement " to the human face divine." 373. Have you any remarlcs to maJce on the almost universal habit of hoys and of very young men smoldng ? I am not now called upon to give an opinion of tho effects of tohacco smoking on the middle-aged and on the aged. I am addressing a mother as to the desir- ability of her sons, when boys, being allowed to smoke. I consider tobacco smoking one of the most injurious and deadly habits .« boy or young man can indulge in. It contracts the chest and weakens the lungs, thus pre- disposing to consul, iption. It impairs the stomach, thus producing indigestion. It debilitates tho hrain and nervous system, thus inducing epileptic fits and nervous depression. It stunts the growth, and is one cause of the present race of pigmiea It makes the young lazy Imd disinclined for work. It is one of the greatest curses of the present day. The following cases prove, more than any argument can prove, the dangerous and deploralde effects of a boy smoking. I copy the first case from Public Opinion. " The France mentions the following fact as a proof of the evil consequences of smoking for boys : — ' A pupil in one of the colleges, only twelve years of age, was some time since seized with epileptic fits, which became worse and worse in spite of all the iich Jis ;lit ; if icp his )erient alomel Lght to latural lefit to io "wear ensiblo in tlio 'or sore 3 beard Lible, is vemont almost loldng / of tho and on desir- smoke. urioiis Lilge in. IS pre- tliiis and m lervous of the zy lind iirses of than )lorahh) e from Uowiiig ing for e years AC fits, the YOUTH. — PREVENTION OP DISEASE, ETC. 301 i-emedies employed. At last it was discovered that the lad had been for two years past secretly indulging in tho weed. Effectual means were adopted to prevent his obtaining tobacco, and he soon recovered.'" The other case occurred about fifteen years ago in my own practice. The i)atient was a youth of nineteen. He was an inveterate smoker. Erom being a bright in- telligent lad, he was becoming idiotic, and epileptic lits were supervening. I painted to him, in vivid colours, the horrors of his case, and assured him that if he still persisted in his bad practices, he would soon become a drivelling idiot ! I at length, after some trouble and contention, prevailed upon him to desist from smoking altogether. He rapidly lost all epdeptic symptoms, his face soon resumed its wonted inteUigence, and his mind asserted its former power. He remains well to this day, and is now a married man with a family. 374. }V1iat are the best methods to restrain a violent bleeding from the nose? Do not, unless it be violent, interfere with a bleeding from the nose. A bleeding from the nose is frequently an effort of Nature to relieve itself, and therefore, unless it be likely to weaken the patient, ought not to be re- strained. If it be necessary to restrain the bleeding, press firmly, for a few minutes, the nose between tho finger and the thumb ; this alone will often stop the bleeding ; if it should not, then try what bathing tho nose and the forehei i and the nape of the neck with >vater quite cold from the pump, will do. If that does not succeed, try the ohl-fiishioned remedy of putting a cold large door-key down the back. If these plans fail, try the effects either of powdered alum or of ])ow(lered niatico, used after the fasluoa of snuff — a pinch or two either of the one or of the other, or of botli, should be sniffed up the bleeding nostril. If these should not answer the purpose, although they almost invariably will, a[)ply a large lump of ice to the nape of the neck, and jiut a small piece of ic^ into \\vi J)uticut's month for him 302 ADVICE TO A MOTUER. (I, p4 < If these methods do not succeed, plunge the hand and the fore-arm into cold water, keep them in for a few minutes, then take them out, and either hold, or let be lield up, the arms and the hands high above the head : this plan has frequently succeeded when others have failed. Let the room be kept cool, throw open the windows, and do not have many in the room to crowd around the patient. Doubtless Dr Eichardson's local anaesthetic — the ether spray — playing for a few seconds to a minute on the nose and up the bleeding nostril, would act moat beneficially in a severe case of this kind, and would, before resorting to the.disagreeable operation of plugging the nose, deserve a tricl. I respectfully submit this suggestion to my medical brethren. The ether — rectified ether — used for the spray ought to bo perfectly pure, and of the specific gravity of 0723. If the above treatment does not soon succeed, send for a medical man, as more active means, such as plugging of the nostrils — which is not done unless in extreme cases — might be necessary. But before plugging of the nose is resorted to, it will be well to try the effects of a cold solution of alum : — Take of — Powdered Alum, one drachm ; Water, half a pint : To make a Lotion. A little of the lotion should be put into the palm of the hand and sniffed up the bleeding nostril ; or, it tLit does not succeed, some of the lotion ought, by means of a syringe, to be syringed up the nose. ' 375. In case of a young lady fainting, what had better be done ? Lay her flat upon her back, taking care that the head be as low as, or lower than, the body ; throw open the windows, do not crowd around her,* unloosen her dress * Sliaksi)oare knew the great importance of not crowding oiind a patient who has fainted. He says — So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons ; Come all to help him, and so stop the air py which be should revive." ' aroiin TOUTH. — PREVENTION OF DISEASE, ETC. 303 1 ,1 id and a few let be head : 3 have en the crowd le ether [le nose ificially jsorting deserve to my used for specitic send for )Uigging me canes it will liim : — palm of it tL.' r I^ Take of — Wine of Iron, one ounce and a-half ; Distilled Water, six ounces and a-half To make a Mixture. Two table-spoonfuls to be taken three times a day. Iron medicinec ought always to be taken after instead of he fore a meaL The best times of the day for taking either of the above mixtures will be eleven o'clock, four o'clock, and seven o'clock. 376. You had a great ohjed I on to a mother adminis tcrin(j calomel either to an infant or to a child, haveyou . the same ohjection to a hoy or a girl taking it ichen he or she requires an aperient ? ]^](liially avS great. It is my firm belief that the fre- quent use, or rather the abuse, of calomel and of other j)roparations of mercury, is often a source of liver disease and an exciter of scrofula. It is a medicine of great value in some diseases, when given by a judicious medical man ; but, at the same time, it is a drug of great danger when either given indiscriminatel}'', or when too often prescribed. I will grant that in liver diseases il freiiuently gives temporary relief ; but when a patient lias once commenced the regular use of it, he cannot do without it, until, at length, iha functional ends in organic disease of the liver. The use of calomel predisposes to cold, and thus frequently brings on either inflammation or concumption. Family aperient pills ought never to contain, in any form whatever, a particle of mercury. 377. Will you give me a list of remedies for the pre- vention and for the cure of constipation 1 If you find it necessary to give your son or daughter an aperient, the mildest should be selected ; for instance, an agreeable and efi'ectual one, is an electuary composed of the following ingredients : — Take of-l^est Alexandria Senna, powdered, one ounce ]>t'st figs, two ounces ; Best llaisins (stoned), two ounces ; All chopped very fine. The size of a nutniog or two to be eaten, either early in the morning ot at bedtime. Or, one oj two tea-spoonful^ of Compouncl Couf^ytiva TOUTH. — PREVENTION OF DISEASE. ETa 305 three istead iakiiig :, four • minis we you hen he lie f re- : other disease f great dicio continui'd until you ex|ierienre a Blight j»ain, -which tells you that the end of the corn is approaching. Many cases of hard corn that have resisted every other ])lan of treatment, have been eiiiirrlf/ cured by means of the lile. One great advantag(! of tho lile is, it cannt)t j^ossihly do any harm, and may 1)0 used hy a timid person — by one who would not readily submit to any cutting instrument being applied to the corn. The lile, if properly used, is an eflft^ctual nnnedy for a hani corn on the sole of tho foot. I myself ha\e sei^n tho value of it in several cases, particidarly in one case, that of an old genth^nan of ninety-five, who ii:ul had a corn on the solo of his foot for upwanls of half a century, and which had resisted numerous, indeed almost innumerable remedies ; at length I recommended the lile, and after a few api)lications entire relief was obtained, and the corn was comi)letely eradicated. The corns between the toes are called soft corns. A goff corn is (piickly removed by the strong Acetic Acid — Acid. Acetic Fort. — which ou^'lit to be a])plied to the corn every night by means of a camel's hair brusk The toes should be kept asunder for a few minutes, in order that the acid may soak in ; then a])ply between the toes a small piece of cotton wooL Galbanum Plotter spread either on wash leather, or on what is better, on an old white kid glove, has been, in one of our medical jourr./'s, strongly recommended as a corn -plaster ; it certaiiiiy is an admirable one, and when the com is between tho toes is sometimes most comfortable — aifording immense relief. Corns are like the little worries of life — very teazing and troublesome : a good remedy for a corn — wliich the Galbanum Plaster undoubtedly is — is therefore worth knowing. ,,.,.• Hard corns, then, on the sole jind on the side of the foot arc best treated by the lile ; hard corns on the toea TOUTn. — rnEVKNTION OP DIflRASP:, ETC. 311 sing hy tlio scissors ; and soft coma l)otwoon tlio Iocb citlior Ly ih(! Htron;,' Acetic Acid or l>y tho Oalbanuni IMoHtcr. In tho generality of caa«is tlio plana rcconimendi*(l alutv^ if properly perfornu'd, will elFect a euro ; but if this corn, from j>reMvSuro or from any other cause, should return, removo it again, and proceed aa before directed. If the corn have been caused either by tiglit or by ill- litting shooii, tho only way to j)revent a nscurroncc is, of course, to have the shoes j)roperly made l)y a clever sho(!inaker — by oiio who thorougldy understands his business, and who will have u pair of lasts mudo purposely for the feet.* The Gorman method of making boots and shoes is a capital 0110 for tho prevention of corns, as tho boots jind shoes arc made, scientifically to lit a real and not an ideal foot. Owe of tho bei^t preventatives of as well as of the best remedies for corns, especially of soft corns between the toes, is washing the feet every morning, as recom- niendedina previous Conversation, f taking especial caro to wash with l^o thumb, and afterwards to wipe with thii towel between each toe. 383. What are the lest remedies to destroy a Wart? As loiif* as fashion instead of common sense, is followed in the niakiiit; of both hoots and shoes, men and women will, as a niiittor of course, suHer from corns. It has often struck me as singular, when all the professions ami trades are so overstocked, that there should be, as there is in every large town, such a want of chiropodists (corn-cutters) — of respectable chiropodists — of men who would charge a Jixed sum for every visit tlie patient may make ; for instance to every working-man a shilling, and to every gentleman half-a-crown or live shillings for each sitting, and not for each com (which latter system is a most unsatisfactory way oi doing business). 1 am quite sure that if such a plan were adopted, every town of any size in the kingdom would employ regularly one chiropodist at least. However Ave might dislike some few of the American customs, we may copy them witli advantage in this particular — namely, in having a regular stall" of chiropodists both in civ^l and in military life, t Youth— Ablution, pa^^e 2$0, 312 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. Iv 'J Pure nitric acid,* carefully api)lied to the wart by moans of a small stick of cedar wood — a camel's hair jtcncil-holder — every dtlier day, will soon destroy it. Care must be taken tlitit the acid does not touch the healthy skin, or it will act as a caustic to it. The nitric acid should be preserved in a stoppered bottle and must be put out of the reach of children. Glacial Acetic Acid is another excellent destroyer of warts : it should, by means of a camel's hair brush, be api)lied to each wart, every night just before going to bed The warts will, after a few applications, completely disappear. 384. ]VJiat is the host remedy for tender feety for nweaiy feety and for s^inelUng feet ? Cold water : bathing the feet in cold water, beginning with tepid water ; but gradually from day to day reducing the warm until the water be quite cold. A large nursery-basin one-thii'd full of water, ought to be placed on the floor, and one foot at a time shoidd be put in the water, washing the while with a sponge the foot, and with the thumb between each toe. Each foot should remain in the water about half a minute. The f ijet ought, after each wjishing, to be well dried, taking care to dry with the towel between each toe. The above j)rocess must be repeated at least once every day — every morning, and if the annoyance bo great, every night as well. A clean pau' of stockings ought in these cases to be put on daily, as perfect cleanliness is absolutely necessary both to afford relief and to effect a cure. If the feet be tender, or if there be either bunions, or corns, the shoes and the boots made according to the German method (which are fashioned according to the actual shape of the foot) should alone be worn. 385. What are the causes of so many young ladies of the present day being weak^ nervous^ and unhappy 1 * A very small quantity of Pure Nitric Acid -just a drain at the bottom of a stoppered bottle — is all that is needed, 9,\x\ yi\^^^x may be j)rocured of ji chemistt YOUTH. — PRKVENTIOr OP DISEASE, ETC. 513 for of < ^\^ The principal causes are — ignorance of the laws ot health, Nature's laws being set at nought by fashion and by folly, by want of fiosh air and exercise, by want of occupation, and by want of self-reliance. Weak, nervous, and unhappy ! Well they might be ! What have they to make them strong and happy ? Have they work to do to brace tlie nmscles 1 Have they occupation — useful, active occupation — to make them happy] No ! they have neither the one nor the other ! 386. What diseases are girls most subject to ? TLe diseases peculiar to girls are — Clilorosis — Green- sickness — and Hysterics. 387. WJiat are the lunial causes of CJilorosis ? Chlorosis is caused by torpor and debility of the whole frame, es^nciaUy of the womb. It is generally produced by scanty or by improper food, by the want of air and of exercise, and by too close appliciition within doors. Here we have the same tale over again — close application witliin doors, and the want of fresh air and of exercise ! When wiU the eyes of a mother be opened to this im- portant subject 1---the most important ihat can engage her attention ! 388. WJiat is the usual age for Clilorosis to occur ami what are the syt7ip(om4i ? Chlorosis more frequently attacks girls from fifteen to twenty years of age ; although unmarried women, much older, occasionally have it I say unmarriedy for, jis a rule, it is a complaint of the single. The patient, first of all, complains of being languid, tired, and out of spirits ; she is fatigued with the slightest exertion ; she has usually palpit»\tion of the heart (so as to make her fancy that she has a disease of that organ, which, in all probability, she has not); she has shortness of breath, and a short dry cough ; her face is flabby and pale; her complexion gradually assumes a yellowish or greenish hue — hence the name of clUorosis ; there is a dark, livid circle around her eyes ; her lii)s lose their colour, and become almost wliite ; her tongue is generally "white and pasty, hei appetite is bad, and is frequently 314 ADVICE TO A MOTHKR. .1 > lis (loprnvcd — the patient often preferring clialk, slaio-poncil, cinder, and even dirt, to the daintiest food ; indi-^^e.stioii freqnmitly attends cliloroais ; slie has nsually ])ains over tlie sliort-ribs, on tlio left side ; slie sullers greatly from " wind "• — is fre(piently nearly clioket! by it ; her bowels are giMierally eostive, and tlie stools are nnhealtliy ; sho li;is pains in her liips, loins, and back ; and her feet and ankles are oftentimes swollen. Thr itu'nxfrual(li,^ch(triiG u either suspended or very partudltj jirrfornicd ; if the Iftller, it is \isually almost colourless, llysterieal tits not unfrequently occur during an attack of chlorosis. 381). Ifoio vuvj Chlorosis he firevented? If health were more and fashion were less studied, chlorosis would not be such a frecpient complaint. This disease generally takes its rise from mismanagement — from Nature's laws having been set at detiance. 1 have heard a silly mother expiv.ss an opinion that it is not ijeideel for a girl to eat heart il ij ! Kuch language is ])er- feetly absm'd and cruel. How often, too, a weak motlier declares tliat a healthy, blooming girl looks like a milk maid ! It would be well if slie did ! How true and sad it is, that "a pale, delicate face, and clear eyes, indicative of consumption, are the fashionable detiiderata at present for complexion." — Dublin Uni versify Matjazine. A growing girl requires jilenty of good nourishment — as much as her appetite demands ; and if she have it not, she will become either chlorotic, or consumptive, or delicate?. Besides, the greatest beavfijier in the world is health : therefore, by a mother studying the health of her daughter, she will, at the same time, adorn her body "with beauty ! I am sorry to say that too many jvarents think more of the beauty than of the health of their girls. '^ad and lamentable infatuation ! Nathaniel Hawthorne — a distinguished American — gives a graphic description of a delicate young lady. He says — " She is one of those delicate nervous young creaturcs not \incommon in New England, and whom I suppose to have become wliat we find them by the gradually refin- ing away of the physical system among young womeOt YOUTH.- - rUEVENTION OF DISEASK, ETC. 315 or Sonio philoRopliors <;hoo8e to glorify this liahit of })ody l)y teniiing it siniitiml ; hut in my opinion, it iH rather the circct of iinwlioltisome food, had air, lack of o\il-door cxprcise, and iicgloct of hathing, on the ])art of tlicso damsels and their female jjrogenitors, all resulting in a Ivind of hereditary dysi)ei»sia." Nathaniel Hawthorne wan right. Sncli ladien, -when he wrote, were not uncommon ; hut within tlie Iji.st two or three years, to their great credit l)e it sj)oken, '* a cliange has come o'er the s|)irit of their dreams," and they aio wonderfully imj)roved in heallli ; for, with all reverence he it sjjoken, " God helps them who help themselves," and they luive helped themselves hy atten(1ing to the rules of health : — " The women of America are growing more and more handsome every year for just this reason. They are giowitig rounder of chest, fuller of limh, g;iining sul)stan{'e and develojtment in every direction. Whatever may he urged to the contrary we helievo this to he a demonstrahle fact . . . "When the rising generation of American girls once Itegin to wear thick shoes, to take nnich exercise in the oj^en air, to skate, to play at crocpiet, and to affect the paddle, it not only hegins to grow more wise hut more health- ful, and which must follow as the night the day — more heautiful."— TA^ Hound Tahle. If a young girl had plenty of wholesome meat, varied from day to day, either i)lain roast or hoiled, and neither stewed, nor hashed, nor highly seasoned for the stomach ; if she has had an ahundance of fresh air for her lungs ; if she had plenty of active exercise, such as skipping, dancing, running, riding, swimming, for her musch-s ; if her clothing were warm and loose, and ada])ted to the season; if her mind were more occupied with active 7usrfui occupation, such as household work, than at I)resent, and if she were kept calm and untrouhled from the hurly-burly and excitement of fashionable life — chlorosis would almost be an unknown disease. It is a complaint of rare occurrence with country girls, but of great frciiuency with line city ladies. 316 ADVICE TO A MOTHER. 390. What treatment should you advise? The treatment which would prevent should be adopted when the complaint first makes its appearance. If the above means do not quickly remove it, the mother must then apply to a medical man, and he will give medicines which will soon have the deMred effect. Chlorosis is very amenable to treatment. If the disease be allowed for any length of time to run on, it may produce either organic — incurable — disease of the heart, or consumption or in- digestion, or confirmed ill-health. 391. At what period of life is a lady most prone to Hysterics^ and what are the symptoms? The time of life when hysterics occur is generally from the age of fifteen to fifty. Hysterics come on by paroxysms — hence they are called hysterical fits. A patient, just before an attack, is low-spirited ; crying without a cause ; she is " nervous," as it is called ; she has flushings of the face ; she is at other times very pale ; she has shortness of breath and occasional palpitations of the heart ; her appetite is usually bad ; shs passes quan- tities of colourless limpid urine, having the appearance of pump water ; she is much troubled wi^h flatidence in her bowels, and, in consequence, she feels bloated and uncomfortable. The "wind" at length rises upwards towards the stomach, and still upwards to the throat, giving her the sensation of a ball stopping her breathing, and producing a feeling of sufi'ocation. The sensation of a ball in the throat {globus hystericus) is the commence- ment of the fit. She now becomes partially insensible, although she seldom loses complete consciousness. Her face becomes flushed, her nostrils dilated, her head thrown back, and her stomach and bowels enormously distended with *' wind." After a short time she throws her arms and her legs about convulsively, she beats her breast, tears her hair and clothes, laughs boisterously and screams violently ; at other times she makes a peculiar noise ; sometimes she sobs and her face is much distorted. At length she brings up enormous quantities of wind ; aftoi tOUXn. — PIIEVENTION OP DISEASE, ETC. 317 a time she bursts into a violent flood of tears, and then gradually comes to herself. As soon as the fit is at an end she generally passes enormous quantities of colourless limpid urine. She might, in a short time, fall into another attack similar to the above. When she comes to herself she feels ex- hausted and tired, and usually complains of a slight headache, and of great soreness of the body and limbs. She seldom remembers what has occurred during the fit. Hysterics are sometimes frightful to witness ; but, in themselves, are not at all dangerous. Hysterics — an Hysterical fit — is sometimes styled hysterical passion : Shakspeare, in one of his plays, calls it hysterica passio : — " Oh, how this, mother, swells up toward my heart 1 Hysterica passio /" Sir Walter Scott graphically describes an attack : — " The hysterical passion that impels tears is a terrible violence — a sort of throttling sensation — then ''ucceeded by a state of dreaming stupidity." 392. What are the causes of Hysterics? Delicate health, chlorosis, improper and not sufficiently nourishing food, grief, anxiety, excitement of the mind, closely confined rooms, want of exercise, indigestion, flatulence and tight-lacing, are the causes which usually produce hysterics. Hysterics are frequently feigned; indeed, oftener than any other complaint ; and even a genuine case is usually much aggravated by a patient herself giving way to them. 393. What do you recommend an hysterical lady to do? To improve her health by proper management; to rise early and to take a walk, that she may breathe pu^e and wholesome air, — indeed, she ought to live nearly half her time in the open air, exercising herself with walking, skipping, &c. ; to employ her mind with botany, croquet, archery, or with any out-door amusement ; to confine her- self to plain, wholesome, nourishing food ; to avoid tight 1' J m ADVICE TO A MOTHEti. lacing ; to cscliow fashionable amusements ; ami, ahovo all, not to give way to her feelings, but, if she feel an attack approaching, to rouse herself. If the Jit be upon heVy the better plan is, to banish all the male sex from the room, and not even to have many women about her, and for those around to loosen her dress ; to lay her in the centre of the room, flat upon the ground, with a pillow under her head ; to remove combs and pins and brooches from her person ; to dash cold water upon her face ; to apply cloths, or a large sponge wetted in cold water, to her head ; to throw open the window, and then to leave her to herself; or, at all events, to leave her with only one female friend or attendant. If such be done, she will soon come round ; but what is the usual practice ] If a girl be in hysterics, the whole house, and perhaps the neighbourhood, is roused ; the room is crowded to sulTocation ; fears are openly expressed by those around that she is in a dangerous state ; she hears what they say, and her hysterics are increased ten-fold. 394. Have you any remarks to make on a patient re- covering from a severe illness ? There is something charming and delightful in the feelings of a patient recovering from a severe illness : it is like a new birth : it is almost worth the pain and anguish of having been ill to feel quite well again : everything around and about him wears a charming aspect —a roseate hue : the appetite for food returns with pristine vigour ; the viands, be they ever so honjely, never tasted before so deliciously sweet ; and a draught of water from the spring has the flavour of ambrosial nectar : the convalescent treads the ground as though he were on the ambient air ; and the earth to him for a while is Paradise : the very act of living is a joy and gladness : — " See the wretch that long has tost On the thorny bed of pain Again repair his vigour lost, • Aud walk and run again. '^ fOtJttl.— PREVENTION OP DISEASE, £TC. 310 Tlic meanest flow'ret of the vale, The simplest note that swells the gale, The^common air, the 'earth, the skies, To him are opening Paradise."— Gfroy 13 CONCLUDING REMARKS. If this book is to be of use to mothers atid to the risinff generation, as I humbly hope and trust that it has been, and that it wiU be stiU more abundantly, it ought not to be listlessly read, merely as a novel or as any other -piece of fiction; but it must be thoughtfully and earefuliy studied, untd its contents, in all its . bearings, be coni- pletely mastered and understood. Ill In conclusion : I beg to thank you for the courtesy, conhdence, and attention I have received at your hand^ • and to express a hope that my advice, through God's blessing, may not have been given in vain ; but that it may be— one among many— an humble instrument for improvmg the race of our chUdren— England's priceless treasures ! 0, that the time may come, and may not be far distant, "That our sons may grow up as the yountf plants, and that our dau-hters may be as the polished corners of the temple 1 " . , 1' . I 4 r-* t f INDEX. i ABLunon of a child, RS. ol ail infant, ^. of a yoirli, '2')2. tlioinugh, of boy and glil, Accidents of children, 234. how to prevent, 251. Acne, symptoms and treiitincnt of. 307. A«lvice to u mother if hov infant be poorly, 86. to Mr I'dteifamilias, 141. Ailments, the distinction between se- rious and slight, G3. of infants, 61. Air and exercise for yonth, 267. the importance of K"od, 114. the necessity of fresh, and chang- ing the, 114. Airing an infant's clothes, 15. Alternately to eacli. breast, 18. American ladies, 314. Ainnsements for a cliild. l."4.' for a tioy, 270. for a Kill, 272. Ankles, weak, 84. Antipathies of a child, 113. Aperients for a child. 201. for an infant, 66. for a new-born babe. 62. for a yonth, 304. danger of frequent, 306. Appeal to mothers, 307. Appetite, on a child losing his, 110. Applications, hot, 232. Apron, washing, 8. Archery, 272. Arnold, Dr, on corporal punishment, 276. Arrow-root for an infant, 23. Artificial food for un infant at breast, 20. Asses' milk, 28. Barbs should kick on floor, 04 Babe's clothing, 13. linbe himself taking exercise. 54. Babyhood, the language of, 83. Btiby slaughter, 28. Baked crumb of bread fonm infant, 21. fluui' tor tm infant, 20 Bakers' and home made bread, IIJ. iJatliiiig nfU-r/ull meal, 2'»7. Uuths, cold, tepid, anil warm. 2^7. warm, as a remedy for flbto* lence. 6(}. Beard, best respirator, 300. Red, on placing child in, 143. Bedi«, feather, 142. pnritlcatlon of, 18,5. Bed-rooms, the ventilation of, 281. cool, 144. large, 283. a plan to ventilate, 283. Bee, the sting of, 246. Beef, salted or boiled, 106. Beer, on giving child, 108. Belladonna, poisoning by, 248 Belly-band, best kind, 13. when to discontinue, 13. Beverage for a child, 108. " Black-eye," remedies for, 23.'). Bladder and bowels of an infant, 60. Bleeding from navel, how to reslruiii, 10. of nose, 301. Blood, spitting of, 294. Blows and bniises, 234. Boarding schools for femi.les, 277. on cheap (notf) 279. Boiled bread for infants' food. 20. flour for infants' food, 20. Boils, the treatment of, l'J8. Boots and shoes, 94, 311. Bottles, the best nursing, 25. Boulogne sore-throat, 166. Bow-!°gs, 2!« Bowels, large, o.' children, 200. loosenes.) of, 73. protrusion of lower, 203. regulation of, by diet. 68. Boys should be made strong, 270. Brain, water on the, 151. Bran to soften water, 321. Bran Poultices, 233. Breakfast of a child, 991. of a youth, 264. Breast on early putting an infar.t tQ| 16. Breathing exercise, 272. Bnmstcue and treacle, 305. J S22 INDEX. Brown and Pol^nn's Corn Fionr, 22. IJronchitlB tho trctitmunt of, 1C3. liroth for InfantH, ri4. for a ncw-liorn Infant, 2t. and soup, '.'(l.'i. Profilers and si.stcrs. '.'78. Urnist's, reniedii r for, ".^4. HullyinK a child, 1 •.'.'.. ]{iirn!i and scuhU, 'i'Mi. liuttcr, wholesome, 100. CAnnuKT'.s Cocoa Knscncc, 100. CaloiHcl, the dancer ot a mother prc- 8crit)inff, C,(\. the ill effects of, ^04. Cnmplinr niiiken teeth brittle, 289. C'aiiihi; a lioy, '21d. ' V.hYH tianncl, 13. Cure In prcpitration of food, 24. Carpets In nurst ries, 129. Carriage exercise. 270. €arron oil in bnrns. 240. Castor oil " to heal the howcls." (58. Cut, bites and seiatchesof n, 24G. "Chatings" of infants, the treatment of, «1. Chairs, straiKht-liackcd, 279. Change of air, 'J()7. linen in sickness, 209. Chapped hands. Icrs, &c., 221. lips. 221. Chest. koepinK warm the upper part of the, 2(!0. " Chicken breasted " and nan-ow- breasted children, 216. -pox, 187. Chilblains, 220. Child should dine with parents, 113. " Child-crowing," 157. the treatment of a paroxvsin of, 167. Children's hour, 122. parties, 1C8. Chimneys, on the stopping of, 129, 208. Chiropodists (note), 311. Chloralum as a disinfectant, 187. Chlorosis n Rreen-slckness, 313, 314. ot In rural districts. 315. Choking, what to be dune In a case of, 243. Cholera infantum. 71. Cisterns, best kind of, 108. Clothes, on u'rlng an infant's, 15. the ill effects of tight, 91. Clothing of children, 90. of infants, 13. during winter, 16. of youths, 259. Coffee as an aperient, 22, 263. and tea, 264. Coin, on the swallowing of a. 250. Cold bed-room healthy, 141. Cold, a feverish. 233. on chill always catching. 207. feet, method to warm 122. Concluding rernarks on Infancy, 87. CinclusloM, ;U!t. Couhtipatlon, prevention and cure of, 306. Consuraution attacks the uppnr part of tli(' lungs, 2C0. the age at which it usti'- ally appears, 295. causes of, 297. death-rate, 29.5. importance of early con- sult ing a medical maa In 2n.>. spitiingof blood In, 294. symptoms of, 29.1 Consumptive patient, the treatment of a. 298. Convulsions of children, 46, 65. cause Insensibility. 47. from hooping-cough, 65. no jiain In, 47. Cooked fruit tor child, 99. Corns, f!0!t, ;^io. Corn-plaster, an excellent, 310. Coroners' inquest? on Infants, 59. Corporal punishment at schools, 274. Costivencss of inJants, the means to prevent 63. remedies for, 65. the reason why so preva- lent, 304. in weak children, 104. Cough, the danger of stopping a, 63. Cow, the Importance of having the milk from onr, 25i pox lymph direct from heifer, 40. from healthy child, 40. Cream and egg, 200. and water for babe. 100. Crinoline and burning of ladies, 115. Crib, covedng head of, 67. Croquet for girls, 273. Crossness in a sick child, 211. Croup, 162. the treatment of, 154. Cry of infant^ 83. Cure, artificial and natural. 218. "Curious phenomenon" in scarlet fever, 175. Cut finger, the application for, 284. Dancing, and skipping, 273. Danser of constantly giving physic, 86. Delicate chlld,plan to Strengthen a,206. Dentition, 44. INDEX. 323 or, 2S4. S physic, hena,206. Dentition, lanfhip of tjuin*, 4'» Kfioiii!, 147. »yii)|tti)in.s iiml licatinent of )iiiiiirui, .')(). DIttiTh(P.i of iiifiiiits, "'i. f iiiitinciit of, 7n. Dial of II clilM who liiib cut h'^ tecMi, yit. of cliliilrcn. 97. of a (liy-mnscd ciilld 29. of Inftiiifs, !♦!. on a mot her bolPR particular In atti'iKliiijr to, 107. vnrifity o^ for clillil 109. of youth, '2(>'i. Pletary, an Infunfs, 20, *c. lijetiniif ti chilil, lo(i. Io8. Dinner for n fhlld, 10'». youth. 2f;i. l»Iilithorln, syiiiptoir.f. causes, and tr'ntnu'iit of, 1GC-17I. Mity chilli. II, 01. l)isi!iiM'd nature and strange erup- tions. 2L'!I. Discuses 01 Childrfn, H7. ii fiinfs. r.l. oliscuri! 2'.'3 thf prevention of. 2S9. produced by tijiht-lacinK. 2C1. symptoms of xi'rioiis, G'i. rislnft'ctun's in scarlet fever. 187. Doetor, on early calling in, 231. Dor, the bite of a, 244. Doleful c hild, 118. Don't. 87. Jtowieon Tfie Foot and its Covering, OG. Drain ui,'e, IIC. 18fi. DrciiS, temale, 262. of a child while asleep. 57. of babe, child, and youth, 13, »0, 259. Dresses, higli, for delicate child, 91. Dressing: babe for sleep, 57. Dril.blinK bids. 49. Drinkinjf fouiitnii.s, 108. Dropping child, danger of, 236. Dry-nursed children, the best food for, 28. " Dustinp-pnwder" for Infants, 7. Dysentery, symptoms and treatment of, 74. £ab, dlscharpes from, 200. removal of a pea or bead from, 249. Kar-ache. treatment of, 196. -wi>; in eiir, 250. Early r'-s iil'. U->, 286. Education nf children, 1^9. in ant schools, 139. home, the bv:st tor girls, 277. Education, modom. 279. for ytuth, -/H, Et'KS for chlldrin, lo«. Klectuiiry of tii;*, .■;04. Kniftic tartar diinK|iliciitioiis for, 7. bt st remedy for, 7. E.\er:l»e, 50. \:w,'2(V.l. best c()nipi)sinKmedicinc,143i (bultm 'ecthimr. 50. fur children, 1;!0. in Wet weather,. 132. on vlolenflv tossing infanta, 65. horse and pony, 269. an infant l.imsr.lf takintr, .Hi in very (old weatlier, 1;J3. ill wet went her, 132. for youth, 2ack to, 115. in night nursery, 144. the manner of extinguishing. If clothes be on, 238. guards, 118, 235. Fire-proof, making di esses, 239. Flannel cap for b ibe, 13. night-gow.is, 92. shirts for a delicate child, 9flk waist co.'its. 2»10. to wash child with, 4. J i ; 1 11 334 I^DEX. 1 i, 11 nuMilcnrp, rcinoflloR for, Ofl. 229. Iloiit, external appllrntlon of. ?n2. il Hi IIS, 'i» drive iiwuy, '2\i. Ilietie t1ii>Ii, description of, '2'.)t\. ' lliitc, l)ii».'l<', mid Oilier wliid-lnstru- llici lips of infants, 71. t 1 f * nu'iitft, '212. Ilint^ ((inducivu to thu wcli-d Inff of a 1 • fly iKilf, •21'2. eliild. lilt. i 1-oji. nil sciiilliifj ft oJnlil out In, 132. Home of clnlilliood— the nursery, 118. KyllN of i;iviiig I'iiv.^ic uftcr vuciiiia- Hooping-cough, 1!'I. ti..ii..J-j. obstinate, lO.'i. ; Fooil,ariiilcii»l,rt.iiuiinK iiitaiu's, '21. Horse exerp!«e fcr buys or nirlt*, 209. ( i'T iliy-iinhid infants, l!t, '27. and jiony exercise, 2fi!>. for iiiiaiits wlio iiK! Niukiiin, 10. Hot-water bajr or bottle, 2':".. F'>irntilu. for milk, wutcr, suit, aud Hoiisijiold wnrk for ulrN, 2b0. i «ii;:ar, li) -2'.). Hindis on early rising, 2fiG. i I riciidii after ftbliition, (5, 00. Hydrophobia, '244. I"ii«iit('iiiiin n rliild, \'20. llinlevica }>n.<.iii>. Hi 7. Fruit as an aiiericiit, '.'02. liyslerics, aid, ol7. j dining; tec'tliiiiK, 49. Trn. on the value of, lOJ. ', OiAiiTEHS impede ciicnlation, fl4. Illness, recovery from. ;;1S. \ (Jciitly spfak to ciiild, I'^."). liii])'>rtanei.j)enin'iit in infant's food, 37. India-nibber hot-water bottle, 2^3. Ciivjnj,' joy to a eiiild, 12'-'. IiiKoldsby Legend on thumb-sucking, (iliiss, a ciiiUl swHliowiiig broken, 200. 48. (Jliittdnv, 2'i7. Infants should be encouraged to uso Oiyeeiirii' m up, 221. cxertinn, .')4. rtiiats' milk. ';'.'. Infiiiit schools, i;)9. (Jo'l/i'ci/'s Cordial, fiO. Ijiecacuanlia vine, preservation of, polsnnincr by trcnt- l.JC. mcnt, 247. Ornr.od skin, 247. JoTFUL to bed, on sending child, '1. iirtc'ii dresses poisonous, 117. 201. jmptr liaiiKiii^s for imiscrics. I-ADiKs "affoctinir the saddle," lir.. • Laudanum, jioisoning by, 247. peas as ft vecetablp, 107. Laui,'li of a cliilil. 123. *• Ov'pinus " of infants, ;0. Law, idiysic, and divinity, 28.3. Griiin rupture, 11. LeadiiU cisterns, 108. •' . Gum-boil, eause iinil treatment, 303. Lessons for child, 140. Gnm-.stii'ks, tlio best, 47. Lice in head after illness, 213. Gymnasium, vuluo of, 271. Light, best artificial, for nursery, 118. the importance of, to heoltii, Hair, tbe best applieatlon for, 253. U.S. falling off. 2i">;t. Lightly clad child, 93. making' fidy, 2r>0. Lime in the eye, 242. matKiKement of, 2.5S. to harden tho bones, 2'.'6. Ifalf-washed and half-starved child. Lime-water and milk. 104. \:^•^. " Looseness of thu bowels," the trcaf- Ilind-swlne, 272. nicnt of, 73. llaiipiiiess to a child, 122. Love of children, 122. irapj.y eliild, 122. Lucifei-matchcs, the poisonous effects Haul's Fariiiac.'ous Food, 22. of, 101, 2:17. . Ilardcuiiig of children's coustitutlom, Luncheon for a clilld, 106. , 29. bad, very n:isty, 10:<. for babe indispensable, 30. In every forin, 104. or meat, or boih, 103. a phin to n)ake a child take, 103. BU^'iir of, and water, 19. the value of, for children, 101. unboihd. 32. a vav to prevent, turning sour, 104. -crust, 22.'^. Mismnnaged baby, 2. Jl(>dified small-pux and chicken-pox, 1K8. Mother fretting, injurious to Infant, .16. a foolish. 69. of many diseases, 297. Mothcr'sandcow'sniilk, on mixing. 20. hialili during suckling, 27. influence, 3. Motons, heaUhy, of babe, 72. Mumps, 197. Kaaman. the Syiiiin. 7. 'Kaxikius, when to dispense with, 61, 06. Nature's physic, 88. , Navel, mnnak inent of the, 10. rupture of, 11. eore, 11. -strhig separation of. 10, Nonves' Farinaccnus l'o)d. 22. Ncr\otis and anhappy young ladica, :)I2. ai;j. Nettle-iash, 78. Now-born infanta and aperient*, fil. viien teeblu, iii. Night-commode, 208. Night-teiTors, 120. Nose, removal of foreign Bubstancca from, 219. ble( (ling from, means to restrain, .".01. Nurse, on the choice of a, 119. a lazy, 121. strong and active, 119. young, not desiiable, 119. for the sick, 211. Nutsery-basin, 4, ii a sick child, 209. a child's own domain, 119, 1. •!.->. Belcc'ioTi, warming, vinlila- tion. arrauKcmetit.s of, 114. on the light of a, 118. must lie iiiry, 114. observiitioii.s, further, 114. , windows to be often otiened, 114,118. Nursing-bottles, ilie best, 25. OritM, a case of poisoning by, .M. the danger of aiimiiustering, to infants, 70, 71. the treiitincnt of poihoning by, 247. Over-educati(.n, 140. Over-lying a eliild, 59, 60. Pain, convulsions, and death. 31. I'aint-hoxes dangerous as toys, 136, 137. Parental b;d)y-8langhter. 28. Piinitcli, the halesonie, 101. Peevislmess of a eliild, the plan to allay, 124. Perambulators, 131. , Physicking a child, on the frequent, 86. Pies and Puddings, 98. Pimples on the fuce, treatment of, 807. Pin. on a child swallowing, 250. Pins, in dressing of babe, 14. Play, a course of education in, 13S. I'lay-grounds tor children, 138. and play, 138. Plcaaant words to a child, 124, 12& 32(5 INPEX. Poison I r.jj, accidental, 247. by the breatli, 143. Poppy-synii'. 70. Pork, an improper meat for children, lOrt. Position of a slccpinp cliild, 143, 144. Potatoes for cliil0. Ribs, buItfinK out of, 293. Rice, p epared as an infant's food, 23. R cli children, 101. R'chaidson, Dr, ether spray, 302. Ricltets, 224. Taiions deprcps of, 225. Roborton on cliild-orowinc, 159. Ro-tdng-chairs, and rockers to cradle, .'.C. R'lckincc infants to sleep. 5fl. Rooms, ill effects of dark, 116. Round sii'Ulders, 217, 292. P.,ui;d-worm, 222. RiiTinii.'c: seall, 228. Rupture, 11, 12. Ru«k9, 23. Sallowness,, cause of In young glrl^; 2C7. Salt water and frcrh watpr, 2.5«? added to an infant'*- food, 2(-. bnR of hot. 232. nece>sary to human life, 223. Salt-uud-water ablutinns for a delicate cliild, 90. for teeth and jjums, 287.. meats for children, 106. Scalds and ))urns, 239. of moulli, 239. Scarlatina. 17K Searlet-lcver 174. and diphtheria, 175. ' the contagion of, 1S(5. tlie danger of giving aperients in. 17.0. tlie dropsy of, 17.'), 1S4. Fresh-.\ir Treatment of^. 177. ISl. hybrid, 176. management of child after. 1«4. and measles, the import- ance of distinguishing between. 176. the principal danger of 175. puiification of house after, 1S5. treatment of, 177. \itter prostration in, 183. Schools, female boarding, 278. pnl)lic, 274. Screaming in sleep, 196. Scrofula, 290. prevention of, 290. Scurfy head, 89. Sea-bathing and fresh-water bathin(( 256. for a young child, 207, Secrets, talking, before child, 142. Seima as an aperient, 201. Shivering fit, importance of attending^ to a, 195. treatment of, 19*1, Shoe.', plan to waten»roof, 261. prcferal)le to ho(.fs. 94. sound and whole, 194. and stockings for children and. Vimths, 95, 261. the ill effects of tigb^ 94. "Shortening" an infant. 16. Shoulder-blades " growing out." 217. Sick child, the nursing of a, 209 not to be stuffed with food). 21!. Sick-room, managciuunt of, 209 IKDEX. S27 nfantV [23. iclicate 19, 287. 175. . ISO. giving 75. .-), 1S4. lueiit of,- of chM e iinvnTt- [if^nisliiag iftnger of f house 7. in, 183. ir bathlnj? ild. 207. ,d, 142. attending- SI. Idrcn and .94 lowt." 217. I'wltb food, 209 •Sickness of Infants, 79. Singing and rcudinc alimd. 274. beneficial to a child, 142. Sin. right time of putting a child to, \\\ kjits. Sg inf.nnts to, 5(5. «»#>»nuth, •JS.^. -va'kcr, 1 Sfi. • Sleeping on lap, 58. -rooms, imiiortance of well- ventilating, '283. - Slpppless child, 5H. Slippers, the bcit for sick-room (.note), 212. Small-pox, 39. a pest and disgiace, 39. modified, 18S. when In nelghboarhood, 39. to prevent pitting of, 220. Smnkirg, on a boy, 300. Smothering of infants, the cause, 69. t^ocks and Stockings for a child, 93. Soda, ill effects of washing clothes with. 8. Sounds, joyful, 123. Soups a'-.rt broths, 265. S\)e&k gently to a child, 125. Spencer, a knitted worsted, 19. S] »»^M, distorted, 144, 293. Spine, injury to, 236. curvature of, 293. twistiMl. '217. Splrita, deadly tffects of, to the young, 266. ■Spitting of blood, 294, 298. precautions, 298. Spurious croup, 167. -Stammering, cause of, 127. cure of, 128. Stays, the 111 effects of, '261. Stillness of sick-room, 212. Sting of a bee or wasp, 246. Stir-about and milk, 100. Stockings and shoes. 94, 261. Stooping in a girl, 292. Stopping of chimneys, 129, 209. Stoves In nursery, 116. Strawberrz-tongue, 174. .StufQng a sick-ohild with food, 311. a babe, 81. " Stuffing of the nose '' of lnfant^ 79 Stunning of a cliild. 2',\'>. "Stye," treatment of, '200. Substitute for mother's milk, 20. Slicking of thuiiil), 47. Suckling, the jjvoper times of, 18 Suet puiiding, 98. Sugar for infant.s. '26, 38. confectionery. 111. -of-milk. ly.'ao. taw, as an aperient, 38. Sun-Stroke, 92. Sunday, 137. Supper for a child and for a routh 109, '266. Surfeit water and saffron tea, 172. Sweet things and sour digestion, ^8. Swcetmeaf." ami cakes. 111. Swimming, on boys and girls, 2'>b. Symptoms of serious diseases, 143. lArK-W.>RM, 222. Taste for things refined, 117. Tea, on giving a child, 111. creen, the ill effects of, 111, 266. Teetli, btt.'ntion to, importance of, clild should not have meat till he have cut several, 98. the diet of a child who hat cut all his. 99. and gums, 287. right way of brushing, 28«. appearance and number of jflrst set of, 44. tectmd set of, 147. deoond crop of, 147. TcetblB^, 44. caustr* convulsions, 4t. eruptions from, 63. frequent cause of sick n cm 80. fruitful source of disease, 49. purging during, £1. restlessneia from, 231. ieeonii, 147. symptoms and tres^ent of painful, 60. In town or country, 62. Teffl^'00. and sleep, 2H3. of a nursery, 114. Violet-powder, 7, Walkinq, on the early, of infants. 130. exercise, value, 2(iS, In his sl'-ep, a chiM, 146 Warm-baths for children. 231. external applicutiOQS, 'JUi. Wvta, 811. Washing of boys and glrla, 28X Wasliing a child, 88. an infant, 3. a new-born infant's bond with bramly, 5. Washing a nurseiy tloor, 116. i Wasp, the sting of a, V4H. Water, on the Importance of good, 108. on the brain, ISl. Closet, on going regularly to^ 305, 307. cold and warm for ablution, !t0. hard foi* drinking, 108. -fright, 24« pure, essential to health, 103. to whole of skin, 9. Weaned child, the diet of a, 37. 97. Weaning, proper time and manner uf 86. Weather, on a child almost living in the air in fine, l.'U). on the siMifling a chid oat in wet, 132. Weight of new-born infants (note)^' 68. Wet flannel application, 288. Wet-nurse, 28, 32. diet of, 34. for feeble babe, 33. manag' ment of. 34. " Wetting the bed " during sh civ 219 Wheezing ot a new-burn infant, til. Wliite lily leaf for bruises. 2;?.>. *' Wind." babe suffering from, 37. Windows of a nurseiy, 118. Wind pipe, foie'gn sulistance in,2>'}0. Wine and youth, 265. Wine for children and 3routh8. liU^ 265. Winter clothing, 96. Woollen pannents. 92. 259. Worni.s, -.'22. ^uack medicLua» tor, 22ft, e ■Is, nx ifant's lieaA 5. , 116. , ice of good, I. leguiarly to, for ablution, g, 108. ) health, 101 . 9. f a, 37. 97. d manner of Dst living in e, 1,'iO. a c!ii:d out fants {note\ 88. be, 33. of. 34. Iff sleep. 219 nf.int. ol 1. 2;?.}. pom, 37. I. ace in, 2.00, oaths, liiif 22t