Hercules wrestlingSwith & crushing Anlam son of Neptune. PHYSICAL EDUCATION 
AND 
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
FOX 
THE USE OF FAMILIES AND TEACHERS.. 
by ror. m. rodgFjKS, m. »., 
* 
Author of “ Farmers’ Agricultural Chemistri 
Jtlluslratca ton Eujscabtnfl.t/ 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
PUBLISHED BY ERASTUS BARROW, 
CORNER OF MAIN AND ST. PAUL STREETS. 
1848. Entered according to act of Congress, in year of our Lord 1847, 
By MILES M. RODGERS, 
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Northern Dis- 
trict of New York. 
POWER PRESS OF SHEPARD Sc REED, 
Book and Job Printers, over 20—24 State-St. PREFACE 
Books on the subject of health and physical education, are so 
numerous, that the appearance of another might appear to be use- 
less, only for the fact that much want of information and interest 
in these important branches of science, still prevail in every com- 
munity. The author of the present work has aimed at simplicity 
and plainness, in treating briefly upon such topics as in his judg- 
ment are most useful and practical. A short chapter upon the 
anatomy and physiology of some of the most important parts of 
the system, seemed indispensable. 
It is the misfortune of medical science, that its language eon- 
not always be made as plain as would be desirable,—this has 
been obviated as much as possible, so that a subject already diffi- 
cult, might not be rendered obscure also. A brief description of 
the diseases most common to childhood has been given : their VI 
PREFACE. 
treatment however, has only in a few cases been indicated,—it 
being thought best for the public, not to encourage them in so 
dangerous an enterprise as that of tampering with fearful diseases, 
nor to put into their hands the means of doing so much mischief 
as must result from such a practice. Remarks on the preserva- 
tion of health and the development of the physical powers, have 
been made as fully as limits would admit. Among the well 
known authorities consulted, are, Wilson, Dunglison, Druitt, 
Pereira, Eberle. Condie, Alison, and Watson. With no claims 
to public favor, beyond the merit of the book, the author solicits 
their co-operation, in carrying out practically the truths of the 
most important of all sciences,—the science of human life. 
M. M. RODGERS. 
Rochester, Sept. 16th, 1847. INTRODUCTION. 
“ Know thyself,” was written in golden capitals 
on the temple at Delphos, as a maxim worthy to be trans- 
mitted to coming ages. Man has always been a pro- 
found mystery to himself: from the time when the dim 
and distorted rays of science first began to glimmer 
through the mists of barbarism and ignorance, up to 
the present, philosophers have been studying the nature 
and destination of man’s physical, as well as mental 
and moral, powers. 
Since the time when the giant minds of Galen and 
Aristotle, began to mould the then existing chaos into 
something like a system, the science of medicine has 
been rapidly advancing. And although the anatomy 
and physiology of the human system are now somewhat 
well understood, still when we turn our thoughts in- 
ward upon ourselves, we are constrained to say with the 
psalmist, “ I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’* 8 
HYSICAL EDUCATION. 
' Among the ancients the most profound supersti- 
tions and absurd dogmas were propagated in relation 
to the healing art. Oracular sayings were deliv- 
ered, mysterious rites were performed, and senseless 
jargon repeated over the bodies of sick persons, for 
the purpose of healing their maladies and expelling 
evil spirits. Men who had grown old in the study of 
philosophy, who had breathed an atmosphere saturated 
with learning for half a century within the cloister, 
treasured up these blasphemies as the result of inspir- 
ation : learned doctors too, were often found humbly 
asking knowledge of some half-idiotic impostor who 
was said to bo “born with a veil over his face.” The 
dissection of a human body would have been sacrilege, 
and the only facility allowed for the study of anatomy, 
was that of examining the unburied bones of cemete- 
ries. Diseases were supposed to be caused by the wrath 
ot* the gods, or the ravings of some evil spirit within 
the body,—and their cure was entrusted to worthless 
herbs and the power of magic. The most extravagant 
errors prevailed in relation to the uses of the various 
parts of the system : the lungs were supposed to be two 
bugs of wind intended merely to keep the heart cool : 
the brain was supposed to be a sponge to absorb the su- 
perfluous moisture of the body : the heart was consid- 
ered the fountain from which all the blood issued every 
morning and returned again at evening : the liver was INTRODUCTION. 
9 
supposed to be a laboratory where the blood was manufac- 
tured : to the stomach was assigned the office of a brew- 
er’s tub, where the food was fermented, and then distill- 
ed through the system : a certain projection within the 
skull was likened to a saddle, on which the soul sat 
astride. Upon ideas as rational as these, learned men 
constructed some of the strangest theories that ever be- 
set the fancy of man, When this whole system of 
philosophy was completed, these sages rested from 
their labors, and their doctrines held despotic sway for 
centuries. 
But through the labors of auch minds as those of 
Hunter, Magendie, Laennec and Liebig, we are privi- 
leged to live in a more propitious age. The mazy la- 
byrinths of this mysterious machine, have been survey- 
ed in all their windings, and their uses and structure as- 
certained. By the aid of the microscope, the pathologist 
has searched out the hidden springs of disease, and dis- 
covered the lurking places of almost “ all the ills that 
flesh is heir to.” The labors of the chemist have de- 
monstrated the curative powers of countless substances 
from the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms. 
Although the most prominent errors, in relation to 
the science of medicine have been consigned to the 
lasting shades of oblivion, and a system of philosophy 10 
INTRODUCTION. 
reared, worthy of the name, still a general knowledge 
of the laws cf life and health form no part of a popu- 
lar system of education. Even the most intelligent 
portion of every community, are not sufficiently im- 
pressed with the importance of self-knowledge, and 
their bodies daily suffer from the influence of causes 
which tend to destroy health and shorten life. 
The study of our own natures is perhaps the most 
elevating and ennobling subject which can engage 
the mind : no one but the veriest idiot or the rankest 
atheist, can contemplate his own beautiful and harmo- 
nious organization, without being constrained to ac- 
knowledge the existence-of an all-wise creative Power, 
superior and antecedent to himself. What parent can 
doubt, it is as much his duty to train, develope and pre- 
serve all the physical powers of his children, as to edu- 
cate their minds or teach them the truths of religion ? 
Instead of indulging them in habits of excess, and 
ministering to their unholy desires, which cause effem- 
inacy and disease,—they ought to deem it as much a 
part of their sacred charge to promote their physical 
health and happiness in this life, as to prepare their 
spirits for the fruition of a happy immortality. 12 
Plate I. 
OSSEOUS OR BOUT SYSTEM. ANATOMY. 
13 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE I. 
OSSEOUS OR BONY SYSTEM. 
This plate shows all the bones of the body in their natu- 
ral position’, the soft parts having been removed : the dark 
shading of the back ground is merely an outline of the 
body. 
A. The skull—8 bones—face 14, 22 
T. The teeth—in the adult,. 32 
N. Lower jaw bone,. 1 
C. Collar bones, 2 
B. Shoulder blades, 2 
S. Breast bone, 1 
D. Arm bones, 2 
E. Bones of forearm, 4 
F. Bones of wrist and hand, 54 
O. Bones of thigh, 2 
G. Knee pans, 2 
II. Bones of leg, 4 
J. Bones of foot, 52 
L. Ribs, .24 
R. Pelvis or hip bones,. 2 
J. Sacrum, 1 
V. Vertebras or back bones 24 PHYSICAL EDUCATION, 
AND 
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
CHAPTER 1. 
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 
Anatomy treats of the formation and structure of liv- 
ing beings : it makes us acquainted with the position* 
form, size and relation of all parts of the system.— 
Physiology treats of the life and functions of living be- 
ings : it teaches the uses of the different parts of the 
body, the manner in which they act, the relation they 
bear to each other, and to the whole system. All living 
bodies are composed of both solid and liquid substances. 
Organized bodies, are those which are made up of a 
number of organs or parts, each having some specific 
office to perform. The human system is composed of 
bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, glands 
and cellular tissue, so combined as to constitute it an 
organised body. The skeleton is the solid bony frame, 
upon which all other parts of the system are built, and 
depend for their general form and support. It consists ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 
15 
of about two hundred and fifty-two bones of various 
forms and sizes so connected at the joints as to give suffi. 
cient firmness and motion to the body. They are com- 
posed of lime and some other earthy matters, blood and 
cartilege. Muscles are the lean red flesh of animals, 
possessed of contractile power, and together with the 
bones, form the locomotive system. The nerves are 
white cords which proceed from the brain and spinal 
cord to all parts of the body. The nervous system is 
that by which we feel, see, hear, smell, taste, think and 
perform voluntary motion, and all other operations pe- 
culiar to animal life. The Mood vessels are elastic 
tubes of various sizes, which contain and circulate the 
blood through all parts of the system. The arteries 
are more elastic, and are filled with the vermilion col- 
ored blood which comes from the heart: the veins are 
more numerous, less elastic, and larger than the arter- 
ies : they contain the dark blood which returns to the 
heart. The glands are irregular rounded bodies of va- 
rious sizes and colors, in which all the secretions of the 
system are performed. The ligaments are strong 
white cords which bind the bones together at the joints, 
and also hold the various organs in their places. The 
cartilage, (grizzle,) is a yellowish elastic substance, 
covering the ends of the bones at the joints, so as to 
prevent them from being injured by sudden shocks.— 
The bursa are little bags of fluid, (joint-water,) placed 16 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION'. 
about the joints to moisten and lubricate them. The 
tendons are yellowish cords ana bands at the ends of 
muscles, where they are attached to the bones. 
The membranes are a thin, dense, smooth skin, which 
cover the viscera of the body, and line their cavities. 
The viscera are all the organs within the chest and ab- 
domen. 
The hair, nails, and cuticle are a hornlike substance, 
without nerves, blood vessels or vitality. The blood is 
a living organized fluid, composed of water, animal and 
mineral matter,—it derives its color from the iron which 
it contains. The rest of the fluids are mainly water 
combined with animal and mineral matters : they are 
the bile, urine, saliva, tears, gastric-juice, mucus, per- 
spiration, fyc. 18 
Plate IT. 
ORGANS OP RESPIRATION. RESPIRATION. 
19 
ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 
The apparatus by which respiration is formed, con- 
sists of the lungs, windpipe, diaphragm, and muscles of 
the chest. The lungs are two conical shaped bodies, 
suspended in the chest and separated by a thin mem- 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE II. 
This plate shows the larynx, windpipe, heart and lungs, 
and the large vessels by which they are connected. 
L. Larynx, or vocal box—the organ in which the voice 
is formed. 
T. The trachea or windpipe connecting the larynx to 
the lungs. 
A. The aorta, or great artery of the heart, arising from 
the left ventricle. 
P. Pulmonary artery, or artery of the lungs: this arte- 
ry arises from the right ventricle of the heart and divides 
into two branches, one going to each lung. 
C. Left auricle of the heart. 
R. Right auricle. 
E. Air cells of the lungs. 
B. A portion of lung covered by the pleura. 
D. The cut ends of arteries going to the head. 
S. Small branches of the right pulmonary artery,—a 
portion of each lung having been cut away to show these 
branches and the air cells. 
HEART AND I.UNGS. 20 
PHYSICAL, EDUCATION. 
branous partition, which divides the chest into a right 
and left cavity. The heart is between the two lungs, 
a little to the left side of the chest, and nearly in con- 
tact with the breast bone. The lungs are composed 
mainly of blood vessels and air cells : the air cells are 
formed by the branching of the air tubes, which divide 
into numerous small tubes like the branches of a tree, 
and finally terminate in minute cells with thin shining 
walls. In a state of health the air cells in all parts of 
the lungs fill with air during inspiration, and the lungs, 
together with the heart entirely fill the chest. 
A healthy lung is of a pinkish gray color spotted 
with purple, and when cut has the appearance of 
sponge. The veins and arteries run through all parts 
of the lungs, dividing and becoming smeller and small- 
er like the air tubes, until too minute to be seen by the 
naked eye. The lungs are supplied with nerves, and 
small glands, and are covered by a membrane called 
the pleura. The windpipe is a tube composed of flesh 
and rings of cartilage, beginning at the top of the 
throat and terminating at the lungs. The diaphragm 
is a thin muscular partition, attached to the back bone, 
lower ribs and breast bone, crossing the body nearly 
horizontally and dividing it into the chest and abdomen. 22 
PLATE IIT. 
ARTERIAL SYSTEM. ARTERIAL SYSTEM. 
23 
ORGANS OF CIRCULATION. 
The apparatus which contains and circulates the 
blood, consists of the heart, arteries, veins and capilla- 
ries. The heart is a hollow muscle about the size in 
each person, of his own fist : it has four cavities called 
auricles and ventricles,—one auricle and one ventricle 
on each side. On the right side, attached to the auri- 
cle, are the two large veins which return the blood 
from all parts of the body into the heart : from the 
right ventricle, an artery runs to the lungs : the left 
auricle is also connected with the lungs by means of 
veins ; from the left ventricle arises the largest artery 
of the body, the branches of which supply the whole 
system with blood. The capillaries are small vessels 
which connect the veins and arteries at their extremi- 
ties, and are too small to be seen by the naked eye. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE III. 
This plate is designed to show the arteries only,—the 
veins, nerves and viscera having been removed. 
A. Aorta cut from the heart, showing its branches go- 
ing to all parts of the body. 
15. Brachial, or artery of the arm. 
S. Small branches supplying the viscera of the abdomen. 
1. Illiac arteries, or arteries of the pelvis. 
F. Femoral, or artery of the thigh. 
T. Tibia!, or arteries of the leg. 
ARTERIAL SYSTEM. 24 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
ORGANS OP DIGESTION. 
[See plate 4, page 26.] 
The digestive apparatus consists of many different 
organs, only part of which can be described. The stom- 
ach is a somewhat pear shaped hollow organ or sac, ly- 
ing across the abdomen, connected at one end to the 
mouth by a muscular tube called the oesophagus,—-and 
at the other end to the small intestine. The walls of 
the stomach are thin, and composed of three layers or 
coats,—viz., an outside membranous, a middle muscu- 
lar, and an inside mucus coat. The boivels consist of a 
tube composed of three coats like the stomach ; they 
are the smallest where they join the stomach, and larg- 
est at the other extremity, and usually about four or 
five times the length of the body. The liver is a solid, 
reddish gland, suspended in the right side of the abdo- 
men, in contact with the diaphragm and small end of 
the stomach, and connected by vessels to the bowels : 
it is the largest gland in the body,—in the adult it us- 
ually weighs from three to five pounds : the principal 
use of the liver is to secrete the bile. The gall, blad- 
der is attached to the under surface of the liver, and 
serves as a reservoir for a part of the bile, while the 
rest passes into the small bowel near the stomach. The 
spleen is a roddish glandliko body, about two inches wide 
and four or fivo in length, lying on the left side of the 
stomach, and attached to it by means of vessels : it is 26 
PLATE IV. 
DIGESTIVE ORGANS. DIGESTIVE ORGAN'S 
27 
supposed to assist in the process of digestion. The pan- 
creas is a grayish gland lying behind the stomach and 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IV. 
DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 
The plate shows the relative size and form of the diges- 
tive apparatus. 
The liver is raised up from its natural position in order 
to show the gall bladder and duodenum. The small intes_ 
tine is folded in a more regular manner than when in its 
natural position, in order to show the relative length of it- 
self to the large intestine. 
M. Mouth, showing the tongue and half arches of the 
palate. 
E. CEsophagus or meat pipe uniting the stomach .and 
mouth. 
S, Stomach, united by its small end to the duodenum,— 
the end of the small bowel 
I. Illium or small intestine. 
L. Liver, showing its concave or lower side : in its nat- 
ural position, it lies over the small end of the stomach, 
colon, and duodenum. 
G. Gall bladder, lying on the concave side of the liver. 
D. Mouths of the bile and pancreatic ducts coming 
from the liver and pancreas, and opening into the duodenum, 
P. Sphincter muscles at the end of the bowels. 
B. Spleen attached to the stomach. 
C. Colon or large intestine, in natural form. 
R. Rectum or end of the bowel. 
A, Pancreas, lying behind the stomach. 28 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
connected by its duct to the small intestine at the same 
place where the bile duct enters it,—supposed to fur- 
nish a fluid which together with the bile performs some 
part in digestion. The viscera both of the chest and 
abdomen are covered by a thin delicate membrane, 
J . * 
which is slightly moistened in a healthy condition, to 
prevent friction and enable the parts to glide smoothly 
over each other during their own movements or those 
of the body. They are all abundantly supplied with 
vessels and nerves, and are retained in their positions 
by their vessels and ligaments and the walls of the 
bod v. 
RESPIRATION, 
The object of respiration is,, to give the system a 
constant supply of pure fresh a,ir; the blood in its 
course through the system, loses oxygen gas and takes 
in carbon, and is thus rendered impure, and unfit to 
nourish the system. When the air is taken into the 
lungs it comes in contact with the dark blood of the 
veins of the lungs,—-this blood contains carbonic ac- 
id gas which it gives off, and takes from the air in its 
place oxygen gas,—the instant this change is made the 
dark blood is changed to a bright red, and is again fit 
to circulate through the body. The carbon from the 
dark blood is carried out of the lungs at each respira- 29 
tion, and oxygon taken in at each inspiration ; so that 
breathing is a means of purifying the blood, as well as 
supplying the proper stimulus to the nervous system. 
Every breath relieves the system of a gas in which no 
animal can live, and supplies to it a gas without which 
no plant or animal can exist. In the adult about twen- 
ty respirations are performed in a minute,—in chil- 
dren they are much more frequent. The lungs are nev- 
er entirely filled at a single inspiration, nor emptied at 
a single expiration. During inspiration, the cavity ol 
the chest is enlarged by the contraction ol the dia- 
phragm and the muscles of the chest,—during expira- 
tion the muscles relax, the ribs and breast bone are de- 
pressed, and the cavity of the chest is thus diminished 
so as to force out part of the air from the lungs. 
Laughing, singing, coughing, yawning, &c. are all 
modifications of respiration. 
RESPIRATION. 
CIRCULATION”. 
One object of circulation is, to bring the blood in 
contact with the air in the lungs, as just described, 
another object is, to furnish all parts of the system with 
pure arterial blood, by which alone, it is nourished. 
In man and all air breathing animals the heart is the 
centre of circulation, and the instrument by which tne 
blood is propelled through the system. The heart in 30 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
man is double,—a right and a left heart: fishes have 
only a single heart. The right heart circulates the 
blood through the lungs, and the left heart propels it 
through the arteries to all parts of the body. The 
course of the blood, beginning at the right side and top 
of the heart, is as follows : the two large veins, one 
from the upper and one from the lower half of the 
body, pour their blood into the right auricle, which 
contracts and sends it into the right ventricle,—this con- 
tracts and sends it into the lungs through the pulmona- 
ry artery,—after passing through the lungs and being 
changed by the air, it is returned through four veins in- 
to the left auricle, which contracts and sends it into the 
left ventricle, which also contracts and throws it into the 
aorta, or great artery, and from thence it passes along 
its numerous branches to all parts of the body to be 
again returned by the veins. In passing through the 
different parts of the heart, the blood is prevented from 
flowing backwards, by means of little valves which 
open like gates to let it pass, and then close again at 
each contraction to prevent its return. The heart con- 
tinues to pulsate, and the blood to travel its successive 
rounds, from the first moment of existence to the latest 
period of life,—the heart is the first part formed and 
the last which dies. Pl vte V* 
32 
URINARY ORGANS. DIGESTION—UR 1NARY ORGANS. 
33 
DIGESTION. 
Digestion comprises all the changes which food un- 
dergoes from the time it is taken into the mouth, until 
it is converted into arterial blood. The first act of di- 
gestion is mastication : the presence of food excites a 
flow of saliva from the glands of the mouth, which min- 
gles with it and prepares it for swallowing. 
When the food is thus prepared there is an involun- 
tary desire to swallow,—the muscles of the throat con- 
tract and the mass is forced down the esophagus into 
the stomach. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE V. 
URINARY ORGANS. 
This plate shows the diaphragm and urinary organs,—the 
digestive organs having been removed. The kidneys lie in 
the loins, one on each side of the spine. 
D. Diaphragm, dividing the body into the chest and ab- 
domen. 
K. Kidneys, receiving arteries from the aorta. 
A. Aorta and its branches, going to the lower half of 
the body. 
U. Ureters, or tubes to convey the urine from the kid- 
neys to the bladder. 
T. Spine or back bone. 
B. Urinary bladder situated in the pelvis. 
V. Vena cava, cut off. 
R. Renal capsules, or appendages to the kidneys. 34 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION1. 
When it arrives there it is mingled with a fluid called 
the gastric juice, which is poured into the stomach 
from the mouths of numerous vessels all over its sur- 
face. By a gentle and steady contractile motion of the 
stomach, the food becomes intimately mixed with tho 
gastric juice and dissolved, so as to form a gray pulpy 
mass called chyme; which passes out of the stomach in 
three, four, or six hours, or more, according to the food 
taken, and the activity and health of the digestive or- 
gans. A few inches from the stomach, the food meets 
with the bile and pancreatic juice, which are poured in- 
to the small intestine through their canals, to be 
mixed with the chyme and assist in the process of diges-- 
tion. The chyme passes along the bowels, (by means 
of the same contractile motion which takes place in tho 
stomach,) until it is thoroughly mixed with the moist- 
ure of the bowels. The nutritive part is then absorbed 
by the open mouths of the lacteal vessels and collected 
together into a small canal called the thoracic duct,— 
in this state it is a milky fluid called chyle,—this passes 
through the duct along the spine until it arrives at a 
vein just under the left collar-bone, where it mixes with 
the venous blood : when this blood passes through the 
lungs and becomes arterialized, digestion is completed, 
—the process then of digestion, is finished in the lungs. 36 
Plate VI. 
NERVOUS SYSTEM. ANIMAL HEAT NEEVOUS SYSTEM. 
37 
ANIMAL HEAT. 
Animal heat is the natural warmth which animals 
possess, independently of surrounding bodies, and which 
is generated within their own systems. The average 
temperature of man’s body in health is about 98°,— 
that of the artic fox is 107°, and that of fishes so low 
■as to produce the sensation of cold to our touch : they 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VI. 
NERVOUS SYSTEM. 
This plate shows the nervous system, consisting of the 
brain, spinal cord and nerves. The brain gives origin to 
nine pairs of nerves, and the spinal cord, which is connect- 
ed to the brain, gives off thirty-one pairs. There are prop- 
erly, two brains: the large brain occupying the upper and 
front part of the skull, and the small brain, the posterior 
and base of the skull. 
A. A. Show the two halves of the large brain. 
B. B. The two halves of the small brain. 
F. F. Spinal cord joined to the large brain. 
O. Branches of the fifth nerve going to the face, teeth 
and eye. 
E. Five nerves forming the brachial plexus, and going 
to supply the arms and hands. 
W. Branches of the dorsal, or nerves of the back. 
Those near the lower F., are the nerves of the loins. 
H. Sacral nerves going to the thighs, legs, and feet. 38 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
are called w cold blooded,” although they maintain a 
temperature at 2 degrees above the water in which 
they live. Plants and all other organized beings main- 
tain constantly a higher temperature than inorganic 
bodies. Animal bodies have the power of resisting 
heat which is many degrees above their bodies,—they 
also preserve their warmth in an atmosphere many de. 
grees colder. If the heat of man’s body be reduced to 
about 78°, that is, 20° below the natural standard, death 
ensues. Many ingenious theories have been proposed 
to account for the generation of heat within the bodies 
of animals. That of Liebeg is the most probable one, 
and may be briefly stated in his own words : “ the mu- 
tual action between the elements of the food and re- 
spired oxygen, is the source of animal heat.” Food 
is the fuel of the system,—a starving man dies for want 
of fuel to sustain animal heat. We have before said that 
oxygen is taken into the arterial blood from the air in 
the lungs,—we have said also that the venous blood con- 
tains carbon which is furnished by the food,—and it has 
been explained that the arteries and veins meet at their 
extremities, and are connected by the capillaries. Now 
when the oxygen of the arterial blood meets with the 
carbon of the venous blood, a chemical action takes 
place between them, precisely similar to the combus- 
tion of a common wood fire. This combustion is slow, 
but is attended with heat sufficient for the wants of the ANIMAL HEAT. 
39 
system. Food containing the most carbon produces 
the most animal heat,—fat and oily food produce more 
heat than lean flesh and vegetables. When from sick- 
ness or other cause, the supply of food is cut off, the 
fat of the body is first consumed as fuel for the com- 
bustion ;—the marrow of the bones is next attacked, 
and when this supply fails, the heat diminishes until 
death occurs. We see now, the beautiful connexion 
between the food and the heat of the body,—whenever 
more food is supplied than is required to supply the 
waste, and keep up the animal heat of the body, an 
accumulation of fat takes place. Any cause which 
tends to diminish the heat, expend muscular strength, 
or quicken the circulation and respiration,—must ex- 
haust the fuel and render more food necessary. Cold 
air, cold bathing, cold drinks, mental exertion, and fe- 
vers all have this effect,—if digestion is suspended 
when the system is subjected to any of these influ- 
ences, rapid emaciation must result. We can now un- 
derstand why we grow lean during sickness,—why we 
eat less in warm than in cold weather,—why we re- 
quire less food during rest than during labor. The cir- 
culation in reptiles and fishes is slow and languid,— 
this accounts for their low temperature and ability to 
live long without food ;—the rapid muscular action of 
birds, and their passage through the air, accounts for 
their quick circulation and high temperature. 40 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
THE FIVE SENSES. 
Tho five senses are, sight, hearing, taste, smell, apd 
feeling : it is by the operation of these, that we be- 
come acquainted with the surrounding objects of the 
external world. They are the only medium through 
which we derive physical enjoyment or become ac- 
quainted with the physical properties of bodies. They 
act as the sentinels of the system, pointing out its rela- 
tion to other objects and warning it of approaching 
danger. They are by no means however, the only 
sources of knowledge,—the perceptive intellect is per- 
haps dependent on the action of the senses for its edu- 
cation : but the higher intellectual powers are man- 
ifested through the brain. 
The sense of Sight is the most perfect and valuable of 
all,—it is susceptible of much improvement by education: 
without it we should live in a world of perpetual dark- 
ness and gloom: the proper stimulus of the eyo is light. 
Hearing is less perfect in its action than sight,—on 
this sense depends all the pleasure of sound, for without it 
there would be to us, no music, no sound, and no spoken 
language : the proper stimulus of the ear is sound. 
Taste, though still less perfect and valuable than the 
sight or hearing, affords us pleasure, and serves to 
guard the system against improper food and to select 
such as is salutarv INFANCY. 
41 
Smell affords us less pleasure, and possesses less util- 
ity than any of the five. 
Feeling or touch is highly useful in its action, by ap- 
prising the body of extremes of temperature, and also of 
the existence of disease,—it also affords many sources 
of pleasure. The action of all the senses is impaired 
by too strong stimulus to their proper organs. 
The organization is peculiar, and undergoes many 
important changes between birth and manhood. The 
great predisposition to disease during infancy and 
childhood, is due mainly to the relative activity, modi- 
fications and changes of the various organs of the 
body. All parts are imperfectly developed, and the 
functions are confined mostly to nutrition and circula- 
tion. The period of infancy includes the time from 
birth to the end of the seventh year : during the early 
period of infancy the head is disproportionately large, 
body long, legs short, hips narrow and abdomen large : 
The bones are soft, and contain much more cartilege 
than earthy matter,—the muscles are weak, pale and 
flabby. All parts of the mouth except the teeth, are 
completely formed,—the stomach is more conical, and 
lies more in a perpendicular position than in adult age, 
—hence the reason that infants vomit so easily. The 
intestines are longer than in after age, in proportion 
to the body; the liver is also large, the gall bladder 
ORGANIZATION IN INFANCY. 42 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
and spleen small : the heart, lungs and blood vessels, 
are large, active and well developed, and all parts of 
the body are more abundantly supplied with blood than 
in after life. The nerves and organs of the five senses 
are well developed at birth, although they do not all 
indicate a high degree of activity,—and most of them 
undergo some subsequent changes. The peculiarity of 
function corresponds with that of organization, and 
undergoes corresponding changes. 
FUNCTIONS DURING INFANCY. 
The first physiological action which takes place af- 
ter birth is respiration, which is usually active and 
free : the circulation is also rapid, the pulse being 120 
to 140 in a minute. Digestion soon becomes energetic 
and the senses of hunger and thirst., urgent. The se- 
cretions are active and tho excretions abundant: ani- 
mal heat is generated less rapidly than in more advan- 
ced age. Taste, smell, and hearing are obtuse,—sight 
appears to be more perfect, deficient in strength and 
requires education : feeling is more acute as is indica- 
ted by extreme sensibility to cold. Motion is free, but 
awkward, partial and nearly involuntary: the moral 
and intellectual powers for the first few weeks appear 
to I n almost entirely wanting. Usually about the sixth 
or month the front teeth begin to make their 
appear'nee through the gum : at the end of the first CHILDHOOD. 
43 
year the infant usually begins to make attempts at 
walking : at one and a half or two years he begins to 
articulate and manifest some observation and intellect- 
ual power. He is confiding, docile, pleased with tri- 
fles, fond of the gratification of appetites, and seems to 
live only for the present. The passions and affections 
begin to be manifest, but it is not till after maturer 
years, that the higher moral, intellectual and social fac- 
ulties are displayed in their legitimate strength and 
beauty. 
CHILDHOOD. 
Childhood embraces the period between the second 
dentition, (teething,) about the end of the seventh year, 
and the end of the fourteenth year. During this peri- 
od the first set of teeth, twenty in number, fall out, and 
twenty-eight permanent ones apppear : after several 
years, usually at the age of twenty to twenty-five years, 
four more teeth appear called “ wisdom teeth,”—these 
complete the set of permanent teeth, thirty-two in num- 
ber. The bones become hard during the latter part of 
childhood, and the genera] form of the body is more 
graceful and the step more firm. The beard begins to 
appear on the face of boys, and the voice changes from 
the shrill treble tone of the child, to the full base tone 
of the man. The pulse and respiration are more full 
and strong, but less frequent than in infancy : the 44 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
sense of hunger is imperative and digestion strong and 
active, nutrition still predominating over the waste of the 
system, so that the body augments in size. The skin 
of boys begins to lose its softness, the hair on the head 
changes its color and becomes more abundant. The 
jaws attain a size more proportionate to the teeth, and 
the features assume their peculiar and permanent form. 
The sports of childhood are abandoned, the intellect be- 
gins to indicate more strength and activity, and the 
general character and habits all denote the approach of 
manhood. The development of both the body and 
mind, are modified by climate, health, habit, diet, he- 
reditary peculiarities and education. 
TEMPERAMENT. 
Temperament, indicates the general constitution, 
texture, firmness and activity of the whole body. Phy-' 
siologists usually distinguish four temperaments,—viz., 
the sanguine, nervous, bilious, and lymphatic. The 
Sanguine, depends on a predominance of the circulato- 
ry system, and is indicated by a strong active circula- 
tion, florid complexion, firm flesh, light or red hair, 
blue eyes, light skin, and activity of body and mind. 
The Nervous, depends upon the predominant develop- 
ment of the nervous system. It is characterized by a 
slender body, large brain, fine hair, eyes usually black, 
features sharp and expressive, great sensibility and ac DIFFERENCE IN SEXES. 
45 
livity of both mind and body. The Bilious y is suppos- 
ed to depend upon the predominance of the biliary and 
digestive organs. It is indicated bv a strong pulse, 
prominent veins, large bones and muscles, large chest, 
dark skin, hair, and eyes, strong features, energy of 
body and mind, strength and endurance of constitution* 
The Lymphatic, is indicated by fleshiness of the bod}', 
languid circulation, features round and not very ex- 
pressive, skin, hair, and eyes light, appetite good, fond- 
ness of ease, aversion and inability to perform much 
mental or physical labor. The temperaments are all 
influenced by habit and health, and may be much mod- 
ified by diet, exercise, study and other causes, which 
tend to bring into action one or another of the systems 
of organs on which they are dependent. 
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MALE AND FEMALE. 
There arc some striking differences between the 
structure and constitution of the male and female. We 
see here, as every where in nature, a wise adaptation of 
organization to the capacity and wants of the individu- 
al : the peculiarity of both mind and body, show con- 
clusively that the two sexes were designed to occupy 
different positions and relations in life. The differ- 
ences which will be noticed here, apply mostly to the 
adult,—being somewhat varied and less, marked in in- 46 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
fancy. The stature of the male exceeds that of the 
female by about one twelfth : the body of the female 
is longer, the lower extremeties shorter and larger, the 
chest more convex, neck longer and head smaller, hips 
wider, bones smaller and less rough and compact, mus- 
cles less firm,—the general contour more round and 
graceful, and the body more disposed to the accumula- 
tion of fat. The nervous system is proportionally 
larger and more active than in the male. The consti- 
tution of the female indicates less strength, endurance, 
energy, and intensity of action, than is possessed by 
the other sex ; while it indicates more activity, excita- 
bility, emotion and sensibility than is manifest in man. 
In her system there is less expenditure of vital force 
and animal heat, by secretion, exhalation and muscular 
action ; her digestion is therefore less rapid and the ap- 
petite less sharp : her organization renders her liable 
to more diseases, and more susceptible to the action of 
medicines and all external impressions. Physical edu- 
cation should be adapted to the different powers of the 
system. 48 
Plate YIP. 
THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 49 
diseases MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 
The imperfect organization, and the want of strength 
and vigor in most of the functions of early life, render 
that period peculiarly liable to- disease. The large 
amount of blood supplied to every part, and the rapidi- 
ty of tho circulation, causes a very slight irritation to 
be changed to congestion, inflammation or fever. The 
skin and the lining membrane of the lungs and diges- 
tive organs, are the most exposed to the action of 
agents which produce disease,—hence they are the. 
parts which are first attacked. 
Diseased action is more apt to spread or extend, tham 
in adults; thus inflammation of the windpipe, throat 
or mouth, is liable to extend to the lungs, stomach or 
nose, and following the same tissue to spread over most 
DISEASES OF CHILDHOOD. 
MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 
This plate represents Hercules, wrestling with, and 
crushing Antreus, son of Neptune. 
It is introduced here to show the muscular system, as it 
displays a greater number of muscles than could be done 
by any other single cut. The dark parallel lines of the en- 
graving show 1hc direction of the fibres of each muscle. 
The light spots show the reflection of the light, so as to 
represent the rounded form of the muscles. The skin and 
fat are supposed to bo removed, and the muscles strongly 
developed. 50 
rHYSICAL education. 
of the mucus membrane of the whole body. The 
brain, from its large size and delicacy of structure, is 
peculiarly liable to disease : hence the frequency of 
spasms and convulsions of the body, apoplexy, inflam- 
mation, and dropsy of the brain. Although the con- 
vulsive diseases are common, they are usually depend- 
ent upon some derangement of the digestive organs,— 
and the nervous affections, properly so called, are not 
common to infancy or childhood. 
Tubercles, swellings, collections of matter, dropsies 
and skin diseases, are more common than in after life. 
Diseases of the eye, ear and glands of the neck, are 
common and often obstinate ; diseases of the heart are 
very unusual. 
Affections of the kidneys are more common in chil- 
dren than is generally suspected by physicians ; they 
are quite apt to succeed difficult teething, and diseases 
of the skin, stomach and bovyels. Many of the symp- 
toms of disease in children are so masked or obscured, as 
not to be visible without the most rigid scrutiny in ex- 
amination. Children are liable to all the fevers which 
occur in adults, and also to rheumatism and inflamma- 
tions of the joints. Many diseases such as scrofulous, 
veneral, nervous, consumptive and mental, are heredi- 
tary, and transmitted from parent to offspring. DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
51 
GENERAL SYMPTOMS OP DISEASE. 
It is often difficult in very young children to deter- 
mine the disease with which the little sufferer is afflict- 
as we can obtain no information from the pa- 
tient relative to his feelings or the history of his rnale- 
dy, we are obliged to form an opinion from external 
symptoms alone. The symptoms of disease are nearly 
the same in childhood as in maturer age. The sleep, 
gestures, breathing, evacuations, pulse, appetite and 
mental manifestations, all afford important appearances. 
The countenance is in most cases an important index of 
disease; when the expression is calm or lighted up by 
a smile, it indicates a state of ease and a regular per- 
formance of all the functions : scowling or contraction 
of the features, pale, red, or blue tint of the face, roll- 
ing up of the eyes, swelling of the upper lip, twitching 
of the muscles or dilatation of the nostrils, are all evi- 
dence of approaching or confirmed disease. The sleep, 
in a healthy infant is quiet and profound, and indicates a 
state of ease and comfort; but if there is sleeplessness, 
sudden starting during sleep, slight spasms, screaming, 
fright, or deep and laborious sleep, there is some dis- 
turbance of the brain or digestive organs. 
Crying is the natural language of infancy, and the 
only means by which very young infants express their 
wants and sufferings. Healthy infants ciy but seldom, 
and then only to express some slight uneasiness or vex- 52 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 
ation : but violent paroxysms of crying, (unless from 
anger,) plaintive moaning, short and suppressed, a 
hoarse or shrill cry, indicate disease. The respiration 
in health is full, easy and regular,—but it sometimes 
becomes slow, irregular, difficult, short, laboring, rat- 
tling, shrill “ crowing” intermittent, or attended with 
cough, sneezing or hiccup. 
The tongue and mouth sometimes show important 
characteristics of disease : paleness or redness, brown 
or white fur, dryness, swelling, trembling, ulcers or 
cracks in tho tongue are signs of disease. Unusual red- 
ness of the gums and throat, increased or diminished 
secretion of saliva, bitter taste or brown scum on the 
teeth, also point to diseased action in some part of 
the system. The skin, in health is soft, slightly moist 
.and warm, and has the crimson tint of the arterial 
blood : but when it becomes harsh, dry, hot, shriveled, 
pale, cold, clammy, blue, red, or yellow, some disease 
•exists. A cold profuse perspiration shows debility or 
other disease : many of the eruptions of the skin indi- 
cate disease of digestive organs; itching and tingling 
of the skin are signs of intestinal irritation from worms 
or other causes. The breath, if rancid, sour or fetid, 
is the result of fever, indigestion or ulceration. The 
evacuations from the stomach, bowels and bladder, are 
in most cases peculiarly characteristic, and are impor- 
tant symptoms frequent vomitimg of ourdlike, greens SYMl’TOMS OP DISEASE. 
53 
bilious, sour, bloody, black or fetid matter, is evidecne 
of disease of the brain, stomach, liver, kidneys or bow- 
els. When the evncuatious from the bowels are fre- 
quent, slimy, bloody, green, black, gray, fetid or pro- 
fuse and destitute of odor, or mixed with flakes of mu- 
cus or pieces of undigested food, or when great consti- 
pation is present, there is disorder of the digestive or- 
gans. If the urine is white, red, fetid, or deposits a 
brown or gray sediment, is scanty or profuse, passed 
with difficulty or entirely suppressed, there is morbid 
action of the kidneys or some other part. The devel- 
opment of the hones is often indicative of some disease : 
narrowness of the chest and very prominent breast 
bone, great length of body and limbs, large joints, cur- 
vature of the bones of the legs, brittleness of the bones, 
large head, weak joints, open seams, (sutures,) in the 
skull, and crooked back, all indicate a rickety, scrofu- 
lous or debilitated state of the system. 
The symptoms above enumerated are sufficient to 
enable the common observer to detect the existence of 
disease : the grouping and appreciation however, of 
them, so as to distinguish different diseases, prescribe 
their treatment and judge of their danger, belongs only 
to the medical man. 54 
MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
CHAPTER II. 
MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
AIR. 
A constant supply of pure air is indispensible to the 
health of every human being, from the first moment of 
existence to the end of life. This is even more neces- 
sary for infants than for adults, on account of the ra- 
pidity of the circulation and respiration, and the weak 
and irritable state of nervous system. Children con- 
fined in badly ventillated rooms become pale, feeble, ir- 
ritable and finally consumptive. The nursery and 
sleeping rooms of children should therefore bo large, 
clean, light and airy, and so situated that the atmos- 
phere shall not become vitiated by noxious odors, gases, 
smoke, dust or dampness. The air should not be too 
warm, as this causes oppressive breathing, too great 
perspiration, feverishness and oppression of the head. 
Neither should it be too cold, for this checks the insen- 
sible perspiration which is constantly going on during 
health. Very cold air also closes the pores on the mu- 
cus membrane of the nose, throat, windpipe and lungs, 
and inflammation and fever ensue. Sleeping rooms 
should always be more or less open during the night as BATHING. 
55 
well as the day time ; the youngest and most feeble in- 
fant will sustain no injury from inhaling fresh air from 
the vast ocean without, provided the temperature is con- 
genial and the air not loaded with vapor. Rooms should 
be ventilated from the top of the windows, especially in 
the night to avoid the direct current of cold air during 
sleep. Children should be carried or permitted to go 
into the open air often, and always with their faces 
bare unless the weather be inclement. The face should 
never be muffled or covered during sleep, for then the 
child breathes the same air over and over until it be- 
comes vitiated, and he consequently wakes languid, 
perspiring profusely, and sometimes convulsed. The 
temperature of the nursery and sleeping room should 
never exceed 65° or 70°; older persons should not 
judge of this by their own feelings, as a degree of cold 
which to them would bo comfortable, might bo injuri- 
ous or dangerous to an infant. When children become 
old enough to exercise actively, they can endure much 
greater cold,—finally, the air should not be so warm as 
to produce depression or languor, nor so cold as to pro- 
duce chilliness. 
BATHING. 
The first attention which an infant requires is to bo 
washed with fine soap and tepid water. This not only 
removes impurities from the skin, but prevents skin 56 
MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN 
diseases and promotes its healthy action ; it also allows 
the free play of that intimate sympathy between the 
skin and the lungs, nervous and digestive systems. It 
washing be neglected and the skin becomes filthy and 
rough, obstinate painful eruptions, indigestion and some- 
times consumption, are induced. The temperature of 
the bath and the frequency of its use, must depend up- 
on the age and condition of the child. The infant may 
be bathed every morning during the first two or three 
months, in tepid water, after which the bath may be 
nearly or quite cold. The idea that the cold bath is 
best for all children, is erroneous,—it is equally wrong 
to suppose none but the warm bath is safe and benefi- 
cial. Some infants have not sufficient vitality and 
strength to bring about re-action so as to recover from 
the shock and regain their natural warmth, but become 
weak, chilly and sick, by the use of the cold bath. 
Those of a robust and full habit of body on the contra- 
ry, by the use of the warm bath are affected by conges- 
tions of the stomach, lungs and brain, and suffer from 
indigestion, headache and convulsions. For pale, fee- 
ble and irritable children, the tepid bath is usually the 
best adapted : the temperature of this bath is from 80° 
to 90°. For those of active circulation, good digestive 
powers and robust health, the temperature may be from 
60° to 32°,—constituting the cold bath. The warm 
bath is from 90° to 102°. Immediately after bathing, BATHING. 
57 
the surface of the body and limbs should , be well dried 
and rubbed with a linen napkin, and the child dressed 
and allowed to exercise. The cold bath should not be 
used during profuse perspiration, during- a chill, nor 
sooner than three hours after eating. When the cold 
bath is followed by a glow over the surface, and a feel- 
ing of warmth and comfort, it is safe and beneficial : 
but if it is succeeded by a chill, paleness, languor, 
headache, or nausea and vomiting, it will most certain- 
ly be injurious. Clean rain or snow water and fine 
soap, are best for cleaning the skin. Soap may be. 
used once or twice a week to remove the tenacious oily 
matter which is exhaled and adheres to the skin,-—if 
not removed it is again absorbed so as to produce dis- 
ease in some cases. A little soda or saleeratus may b© 
thrown into the bath instead of soap. If there is rough- 
ness or smarting of the skin after bathing, it may bo 
rubbed with a very little olive or bears’ oil, or a littla 
starch or pearl powder. Children are easily bathed by 
immersion in a tub or pail of water, or by the shower- 
bath : the particular apparatus by which bathing is 
performed is of no consequence,—the only object being 
to get the water on to the body. 
In bathing infants, the head should always be wet, 
but not often washed with soap, as this fades the hair. 
Children should not be continued in the hath more than 
from one to three minutes. The foregoing rules will 58 
BIANAGEMENT OP CHILDREN. 
serve as a guide only to the hygienic use of the bath, 
and not to its employment in the cure of disease : for 
it is well known at the present day that water is a pow- 
erful remedial agent, and that its improper use often 
produces injurious or fatal results. Too frequent use 
of the cold bath produces eruptions on the skin, debili- 
ty and disease of the heart: its judicious use requires 
a knowledge of physiology and pathology. 
CLOTHING. 
The natural covering of the human body is insuffi- 
cient to protect it against the temperature of the colder 
climates : and among all civilized nations, custom re- 
quires that some artificial covering be worn. The on- 
ly uses of clothing are, comfort and convenience: but 
as good taste dictates, more or less elegance may be 
added, providing it does not compromise the other two. 
The dresses of children especially, should be such as to 
allow the utmost ease and freedom to all parts of the 
body, and at the same time to secure warmth in cold 
weather and coolness in warm weather. They should 
be loose, simple and light:—they should be loose, to 
allow free motion and prevent friction and pressure up- 
on any part; simple, to admit of being easily put on 
and removed ; light, to avoid needless burden. The 
amount of clothing should be so graduated as not to 
augment the natural heat of the body, thus causing CLOTHING 
59 
perspiration and debility, nor to allow the least chilli- 
ness. Every part of the person should be covered ex- 
cept the head, face and hands. 
iy The habit of putting caps on infants is useless and 
injurious ; the habit of allowing them to go barefoot is 
vulgar and cruel ; the practice swathing or bandaging 
the bodies of children, is totally useless, and very per- 
nicious to their health and comfort. Soft, white wool- 
en flannel should be worn next to the skin during win' 
ter and the colder part of spring and autumn. This 
preserves an equable temperature, prevents injury from 
sudden changes of weather, and keeps up a gentle ex- 
citement of the skin by the friction it produces. When 
the flannel is laid off, soft linen or cotton may be sub- 
stituted by degrees : this may be done also, at any time 
when woolen appears to be too irritating, as sometimes 
happens. The night clothes should be light and per- 
fectly loose,—as tight clothes may produce congestion 
and convulsions. Every article of dress should be 
clean, dry, well aired and often changed : the whole 
dress should be fastened by means of buttons, hooks 
and eyes and tapes, to avoid wounds from pins. The 
color of the dress has some influence in conducting ofF 
or retaining the heat of the body ; but as this is al- 
ways subject to fashion, it will be useless to give any 
explanation on the subject. 60 
MANAGEMENT OK CHILDREN. 
SLEEP. 
The first three or four months of infantile existence 
are mostly spent in sleep,—repose being only interrupt- 
ed by the instinctive demands of appetite or some cause 
of disquiet. This is doubtless for the purpose of allow- 
ing rest to the senses, and avoiding those causes of ex- 
citement which would awaken a morbid sensibility and 
produce disease. When an infant is wakeful and rest- 
less, there is reason to fear that it suffers under some 
degree of indisposition. The sleep should be volunta- 
ry, and not forced or induced by medicines or rocking ; 
neither should it be disturbed for the purpose of wash- 
ing, nursing or dressing. Young children require a 
soft, warm couch in winter, but during warm weather 
they should lie upon beds filled with straw, cotton, 
curled hair, moss or air ; as these are cooler and are 
destitute of the unwholesome odor which rises from feath- 
ers,—especially those which are new. The pillow 
should be of the same material, to prevent the head be- 
coming too much heated, and avoid taking cold, ear- 
ache, catarrh and snuffles. During the first three or 
four months it is better to allow the child to sleep with 
the mother,—after which it may sleep alone, (if the 
weather is warm,) in a cradle, cot or couch. The 
habit of rocking infants, if frequent or long continued, 
is injurious,—but if gentle and only occasionally dur- SLEEP, 
61 
ing waking hours, it is both harmless and pleasing to 
the child. The bed or cradle should be high and with- 
out curtains: that old fashioned contrivance called a 
“ trundle bed,” is a vile relic of barbarism and poverty, 
and deserves to be totally banished from civilized soci- 
ety. The position should be occasionally changed 
during sleep : this prevents too much pressure on any 
part, accumulation of heat, deformity of the head, and 
fatigue. The room in which the child sleeps should be 
partially darkened : during waking, it requires the 
stimulus of a mellow light, this conduces both to its 
health and cheerfulness. The eyes, however, should 
not be long exposed to the intense glaring light of the 
sun, fire or lamp. The custom of crowding several chil- 
dren into one room is highly pernicious, as the air soon 
becomes vitiated and unfit for respiration, and the chil- 
dren wake feverish and debilitated. 
All perfumery, flowers, medicines or food, or any 
thing exhaling a strong odor, should be excluded from 
sleeping apartments. Children ought never to sleep 
with old or sick persons : neither should they be fon- 
dled or kissed by old, diseased, filthy or strange per- 
sons, for fear of incurring vermin or some disease. 
Young children should be protected against loud noises, 
strong odors and sudden frights. Children of more 
advanced age should be accustomed to retire early and 
rise early in the morning; this is the best time for 62 
MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
study and exercise. Too much sleep produces slug- 
gishness and debility of both mind and body, in any 
person, old or young. From six to eight hours sleep, 
is usually sufficient for all persons, (except infants,) 
when in ordinary health. 
Daring the first few months of infancy, but little ex- 
ercise is required,—nor does the organization admit of 
more than a small amount of passive and gentle move- 
ment. The infant may be carried about in a horizon- 
tal position within doors,—or when the weather is 
pleasant it may be carried or drawn in a wagon in 
the open air, a few minutes at a time, several times 
daily. All rough tossing, jolting and dandling are in- 
jurious. For the first two months, the infant should 
not be placed in the erect posture ; because the bones 
are soft and the muscles weak, and inadequate to sus- 
tain the burden of its head or body without the risk of 
deformity. 
When the infant indicates some desire to sit alone 
and move about, he may be allowed to sit, lie or roll 
about on the floor with the utmost freedom. When ri- 
ding, the position should be often changed, and nursing 
should be done equally upon the right and left side, to 
avoid deformity of the head or spine. 
It is better that the child should not attempt to stand 
or walk before the ninth or tenth month ; for too early 
EXERCISE. EXERCISE. 
63 
efforts at walking are apt to make the legs and ankles 
crooked : it should rather be encouraged to creep until 
it acquires sufficient strength and firmness to walk vol- 
untarily ; its form will be better and its step more firm 
and graceful. The movements for the first year and a 
half should be untaught and spontaneous. Children 
should not be confined to little chairs, “ baby jumpers” 
or any apparatus for restraint; for although it may re- 
lieve the mother or gratify the laziness of the nurse,— 
it is still unnatural and injurious to the delicate grow- 
ing system of the child. After the age of two years, 
the instinctive calls of the system for exercise may be 
freely gratified : the idea that girls require more re- 
straint and less exercise, than boys,—is erroneous, and 
the practice resulting from it cruel. Girls as well as 
boys, should be permitted to roam free and unconfined 
over the wide field of nature, and inhale the “pure breath 
of heaven.” When the weather is inclement, they 
may be more guarded, and when any cause of danger 
is near they should be looked after by some older per- 
son. The first eight or ten years of childhood may be 
passed in various kinds of exercise and amusements for 
physical education. Confinement in school rooms or 
shops, or at desks, or to any laborious occupation, is al- 
ways injurious and unkind. Various amusements, such 
as dying a kite, rolling a hoop, jumping the rope, row- 
ing a boat, playing at ball, skating, and all kinds of 64 
MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
athletic exercise, have a tendency to develope the mus- 
cles and lungs, and ensure healthy digestion. 
Exercise should always be taken with some motiv-e>. 
to engage the mind at the same time : when any per- 
son is exercising merely for the sake of exercise, and 
with no motive or object in view to interest him, it usu- 
ally becomes laborious, and might better be dispensed 
with. Children should be indulged in pursuing littlo 
mechanical operations, and in learning to build and 
construct whatever their tastes may incline them to : 
they should be taught to admire the beauties of nature, 
rather than be supplied with the various little toys 
and contrivances of art. They should be permitted to 
take short rambles for the purpose of collecting flowers, 
insects, minerals or fruits, or to observe the habits of 
animals and birds, and enjoy the prospect of natural 
scenery. 
Exercise os before remarked, should not be indulged 
in immediately after meals, nor under the rays of the 
sun in very hot. weather. Care must betaken after vi- 
olent exercise, not to sit in a current of air, throw off 
the clothing two soon, or to drink or bathe in cold wa- 
ter; because if there is any perspiration, it is stopped, 
and a fever or other disease sometimes ensues. INFANCY. 
65 
DRINKS. 
Infants feel the sensation of thirst, as early as that 
of hunger, and are highly gratified and benefitted 
by a small quantity of cold water several times daily. 
Restlessness and crying are often caused by thirst, 
but mistaken for colic or hunger, and the infant is dosed 
with cordials or opiates, or forced to take the breast, 
which only increases its distress, perhaps surfeits the 
stomach and causes nausea and vomiting. This leads 
to the apprehension that he is sick, and dose succeeds 
dose, till disease is often produced.—when a spoonfull 
of cold water would have removed all unpleasant sen- 
sations. No person should take a large quantity of 
water at once, especially during meals: cold water is 
the best drink for all persons old or young. 
Hot drinks are injurious, particularly during meals : 
cold water, milk and water, weak coffee, tea or choco- 
late, may be taken in small quantities during meals. 
It is perhaps needless to say, that strong liquors should 
never be given to children in any quantity. Cold acid- 
ulated drinks, such as small beer and lemonade, during 
warm weather, allay thirst and assist digestion. Very 
cold, as well as very hot drinks should be avoided,— 
they injure the teeth, produce colic, headache and some- 
times death. It is better to endure thirst for a while 
than to drink often, for this is apt to derange the secre- 
tions and create a morbid appetite. 66 
MANAGEMENT OP CHILDREN. 
Nature furnishes a vast number of substances proper 
for the food of man,—and those by the assistance of 
art are prepared in an almost infinite variety of forms. 
But during the first few months of existence, the ma- 
ternal milk is the best, and only proper food. Nature 
affords no substitute, nor can art prepare one the dif- 
ficulty and danger of rearing infants when early de- 
prived of the breast, is too well known. 
The mortality among such, infants is shown by sta- 
tistics to be very great. When therefore from any 
cause the mother is unable to nurse her infant, or has 
not sufficient of wholesome milk to sustain it in good 
condition, a neat and healthy wet nurse should be em- 
ployed. Some morbidly delicate and prudish mothers, 
have a habit of abandoning their infants to the care of 
a nurse, either t.o gratify pride or slothfulness, and in 
this way many an infant has been starved, or fed to 
death by improper food. It ought to be known to eve- 
ry mother, that the digestive powers of infants, al- 
though active, are extremely weak, and liable from 
slight causes to become diseased. Any article of food 
not adapted to its powers, is not digested,—but lies 
heavily in the stomach until it ferments or putrifies 
causing flatulence, colic, diarrhea or costiveness, and 
sometimes spasms and inflammation. As a general rule, 
the mother’s milk should be the only food for the first 
DIET. DIET. 
67 
nine or ten months; no solid food should be allowed 
until a sufficient number of teeth are developed, to en- 
able the child to masticate. 
When it becomes necessary to increase the amount 
of food derived from the breast,—or to “ bring up the 
child by hand,” cows milk is the best substitute : it 
should be mixed with an equal quantity of warm water 
and a little loaf sugar added. All preparations, such 
as gruel, panada, broth, soup or solid food, are unfit for 
the diet of an infant. The milk of some animals re- 
sembles that of the human female, but from the difficul- 
ty of obtaining it, we need not recommend any other 
than that of the cow. Animal food is too strong and 
stimulating for infants before the first set of teeth are 
complete,—and it is apt to produce indigestion and fe- 
ver. After teething is completed, a more solid and nu- 
tricious diet may be allowed ;—such as tender meats, 
soft boiled eggs, custard, plain pudding, bread and milk, 
arrow root, sago, tapioca, roasted potatoes and boiled 
rice. A milk and vegetable diet are better adapted to 
infants than animal food, although a due proportion of 
well cooked, lean, fresh meat is in most cases harmless. 
All condiments, ices, pastry, confectionary and spices 
are injurious : the habit of eating very often too, is a. 
frequent cause of dyspepsia. A full meal should not- 
be taken just before retiring at night; nor should vio-. 
lent exertion of body or mind be indulged in soon afi- 68 
MANAGEMENT OP CHILDREN. 
ter meals : it is better to enjoy a few minutes rest and 
quiet until digestion is well established. 
No person should surfeit himself, however keen his 
appetite ; for this is often a very deceptive index as to 
the quantity and kind of food which is salutary and 
wholesome to the system. 
It is best always to desist from eating while some ap- 
petite still remains: care is also requisite that too 
much of one kind of food be not taken,—but rather a 
due proportion of several kinds: the food should not be 
taken too fast or swallowed without being well masti- 
cated. Sugar and other sweet substances are not inju- 
rious when taken in due quantity and with other arti- 
cles of diet all sweet and ripe fruits, when freed from 
the seeds, stones and skins, are wholesome and nutri- 
cious in small quantities. Sour, greeen or acrid fruits 
are decidedly pernicious,—cherries of most kinds, and 
also some kinds of grapes, are peculiarly unwhole- 
some : ripe fruits, either dried or recent, when cooked 
or preserved and made palatable with sugar, are not ob- 
jectionable. Bread made light, of fine wheat flour, is 
doubtless the best for all persons, old or young, sick or 
well. All rules in reference to diet, must be varied ac- 
cording to the age, health and conditions of the sys- 
tem, as well as the occupation of the individual. MEDICINES IN CHILDHOOD. 
69 
MEDICINES. 
Eew causes are more productive of disease, than the 
improper and too frequent administration of medicine : 
the endless variety of nostrums which are every where 
offered for sale, and certified and lauded in every pub- 
lic print that meets the eye, begets in the public a pas- 
sion and desire for taking medicine. And this is done 
in many cases when no traces of disease exist, and 
with no better reason than that of preventing some dis- 
tant and contingent maledy. It should be known that 
all substances which operate medicinally on the sys- 
tem in the cure of disease, are capable, if improperly 
taken, of producing disease also. No substance enti- 
tled to the name of medicine, can be indiscriminately 
and ignorantly prescribed, either in health or sickness, 
without danger : and no person unacquainted with 
anatomy, physiology, disease and medicines, can pre- 
scribe without the risk of producing fearful disease or 
death. The idea that any one medicine will cure all 
diseases, has caused the death of thousands : it is equal- 
ly erroneous to suppose that any medicine is a specific 
in any disease, or that all diseases originate in one 
cause, viz., disorder of the blood. Many ignorant peo- 
ple hold to the superstition that every country furnishes 
medicines for the cure of all its diseases, and that when 
these medicines shall all be understood, all diseases can 70 
MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN. 
be cured : but what is the inference from such prem- 
ises 1 clearly this,—that the declaration of God, “ it is 
appointed unto all men once to die,” shall be rendered 
void, and man become immortal on earth. As though 
the Creator had put an instrument into the hands of 
man, to defeat his own wise and holy purposes,—or or- 
dained one law which should conflict with another. 
Perhaps, it is best to give no directions in relation to 
prescribing medicines,—but to advise only, that every 
family should employ a physician in whom they have 
confidence, and avail themselves of his counsel. THE TEETH. 
71 
CHAPTER III. 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
Teething is not usually attended with much suffering 
or danger ; yet when there is much predisposition to 
disease during this process, any exciting cause may pro- 
duce violent and dangerous symptoms. The first teeth 
usually begin to penetrate the gums about the seventh 
month of infancy,—they sometimes however appear as 
early as the third or fourth, and in some cases as late 
as the twelfth or fifteenth. In difficult teething there 
is redness and tenderness of the gums, increased flow 
of saliva, thirst, looseness of the bowels, slight fever, 
restlessness and sometimes eruptions on the skin. In 
the more severe cases there are often ulcers of the 
gums, diarrhea or dysentery, inflammation of the brain 
ar bowels, spasm of the windpipe, convulsions and 
death. These cases require perfect cleanliness, quiet, 
pure air, vegetable diet, cool drinks, mild cathartics 
and lancing of the gums. 
DIFFICULT TEETHING. 
This may result from decay of the tooth and expo- 
sure of the nerve, from inflammation of the nerve* 
TOOTHACHE. 72 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
gums or membrane lining the socket, or from ulcera- 
tion at the' root of the tooth. If the tooth is much de- 
cayed, dark colored, or ulcerated, it should be extract- 
ed : if the pain is caused by inflamed gums or socket, 
the gums should be freely lanced, warm fomentations 
applied to the face and a gentle purge administered. 
When the tooth has a cavity in it so as to expose the 
nerve and cause pain, the application of a ball of cot- 
ton wet in some stimulating or Other medicine, such 
as oil of cloves, or cinnamon,—or creosote or 
num, may give relief. 
CAUSES OF DECAY. 
The predisposition to decay in the teeth is sometimes 
hereditary and depends on original debility of the parts. 
All acids, hot, or very cold drinks, biting hard sub. 
stances, scraping and filing the teeth, diseased lungs, 
stomach or gums, and the abuse of mercury, induce 
decay. 
The teeth should be kept clean by the use of a soft 
brush and fine tooth powder : they should be occasion- 
ally examined by a skilful dentist or physician, and all 
operations entrusted to them. 
During the first dentition the gums are very liable 
to become inflamed . in some cases it is slight, and in 
INFLAMED GUMS. BORE MOUTH. 
73 
others, severe, and productive of serious consequences. 
The gums first become red, or livid, swelled and pain- 
ful, child languid, feverish, thirsty, tongue furred, ap- 
petite impaired and sleep disturbed. When the inflam- 
mation occurs before the double teeth appear, it often 
destroys the new teeth : and when the inflammation 
proceeds to ulceration,—if this is not speedily checked, 
the other teeth become black, loose and decayed. 
There is a flow of saliva, sometimes mixed with blood, 
the breath is fetid, countenance pale and sometimes se- 
vere attacks of diarrhea. This condition is caused by 
too much, or improper food, filthiness of the teeth, 
neglect to lance the gums in difficult teething, biting 
hard substances, acrid medicines or fruits, and disorder 
of the stomach. The gums should be freely scarrified, 
the bowels regulated, a wash of nitrate of silver or 
some astringent medicine applied to the gums, the 
teeth cleaned and all decayed ones extracted : the diet 
should be regulated, and the general health improved.* 
THRUSH. 
Four or five varieties of inflamed mouth are describ- 
ed by authors,—but the most common of these are sim- 
ple inflammation and thrush. The symptoms of the 
first are, redness and dryness of the mouth, the infant 
nanifesting pain when attempting to nurse. Caused 
by teething, bad diet, sharp acrid substances, cold* of 74 
DISEASES OK CHILDREN. 
over exertion of the muscles of the tongue and mouth 
in attempting to nurse from a bad!)’' formed nipple. 
By removing the cause, and the use of simple washes 
and mild laxatives, a cure is soon effected. Thrush is 
confined in its attacks mostly to nursing infants. At 
the beginning of an attack the child is restless, the 
mouth red, dry and hot, digestion is disturbed, and there 
is difficulty in nursing: after one or two days, small 
white spots appear on the tongue and mouth, and some- 
times spread over the entire surface. In the course of 
the disease, patches of curdlike matter fall off and the 
spots are again covered as before ; it sometimes ex- 
tends backwards into the throat, or ulcerates and be- 
comes Loth tedious and troublesome,—in some cases it 
proves fatal. 
It is caused by improper diet, filthiness, impure air, 
disorder of stomach and bowels, sudden stopping of di- 
arrhea, and nursing from a sore nipple or a diseased 
nurse. In mild cases, pure air, proper diet, cleanli- 
ness, mild cathartics and soothing washes for the 
mouth, will remove the complaint : but the more se- 
vere cases’require judicious medical treatment. 
CANKER. 
Canker, (or gangrene of the mouth,) is'a painful 
disease attended by much constitutional disturbance, 
blistering of the mouth, and afterwards discharge of TONGSE-TIE AND FOUYPUS. 
75 
saliva and blood, offensive breath, ulceration of the 
gums, affection of the teeth and bones of the jaws, and 
sometimes mortification of the cheeks and lips, and 
finally death. No treatment within the reach of anyone 
but the physician, can be safely advised in this disease. 
TONGUE-TIE. 
Occasionally, though seldom, the frenum, or “ bri- 
dle” of the tongue is too short, or approaches so near 
the end as to prevent infants from nursing, and in after 
years to impede distinct articulation. Physicians are 
often called upon to remedy this supposed deformity by 
cutting the frenum : this operation is attended with 
some danger, and when the infant is able to nurse well, 
is never necessary ; when the tip of the tongue will 
reach the outside of the lip and roof of the mouth, the 
child can nurse, and in proper time will talk plainly 
unless prevented by some other deformity. 
DISEASES OE THE NOSE. 
A disease called Polypus sometimes affects the nose, 
filling up the nostril, causing deformity, obstruction to 
the passage of the tears, indistinctness of speech, diffi- 
culty of especially while lying down, and 
sometimes an offensive discharge of matter or bloody 
fluid. The disease consists of a tumour in the nostrils, 
formed of flesh, or a sac filled with watery, bloody, or 76 
DISEASES OP CHILDREN. 
jelly-like matter. Polypus may be caused by injuries 
of the nose, taking snuff, colds, and enlarged tonsils. 
It is sometimes dangerous, and requires medical treat- 
ment, or removal. 
Ozena, is an offensive discharge from one or both 
nostrils, caused by inflammation and ulceration of the 
lining membraqe of the nose. It requires remedial at- 
tention. 
Nose-bleed, is sometimes frequent and troublesome : 
caused by injuries of the nose, fullness of the blood- 
vessels of the head : in robust persons troubled with 
dizziness and headache, it is often beneficial, and un- 
less excessive, need not be restrained : but in those of 
a pale and weak habit, it may if long continued pro- 
duce debility and dropsy. It may usually be restrained 
by the application of cold water to the head and neck, 
snuffing cold water or alum water into the nose, or 
stopping the nostrils with lint or colton. When these 
means fail, more efficient ones must be employed, or it 
may prove fatal. 
Coryza, or snuffles, is a slight inflammation of the 
inside of the nose, attended by sneezing, discharge of 
mucus, swelling of the nose and upper lip, and diffi- 
culty of breathing, caused by partial or entire closure 
of the nostrils. Snuffles may be caused by Ibid, strong 
light, hot rooms, worms, want of cleanliness, wet 
clothes. The child should be kept clean and the bow- 77 
els loose.—warm bath, and washing the nose are of 
service. Foreign bodies, such as sticks, seeds, pebbles, 
&c., sometimes get into the nostrils and produce much 
distress : they may usually be removed by sneezing, or 
the use of a bent wire or probe,—or they may be push- 
ed back into the throat. 
SORE EYES 
DISEASES OP THE EVE. 
Acute inflammation of the eye is attended by red- 
ness, smarting, pain, flow of tears, sensation as if the 
eye was filled with dust, more or less fever and head- 
ache. Caused by smoke, dust, vapors, injuries, heat, 
cold, intense light, filthiness and disorder of the diges- 
tive organs. When the disease becomes chronic, there 
is discharge of matter, a dull leaden appearance of the 
eye, swelling, pain and dimness of sight. 
Strabismus, or “ cross eye,” consists in one or both 
eyes being turned inward or outward, so as to alter the 
axis of the two eyes and prevent perfect vision. It 
may be caused by disordered stomach, using one eye to 
the neglect of the other, by the habit which children 
have of looking cross eyed,—and it may exist at birth. 
Stye, is a small painful boil, at the edge of the eyelid,— 
it may be opened or touched with caustic. The treat- 
ment of all the diseases of the eye, should be submitted 
to the care of the surgeon. 78 
DISEASES OP CHILDREN. 
DISEASES OF THE EAR. 
Acute inflammation of the ear is known by the 
swelling, acute pain and noise in the head, and pain in 
swallowing or moving the lower jaw. Chronic inflam- 
mation is attended by some degree of deafness and dis- 
charge of matter. Caused by colds, foreign bodies in 
the ear, measles, scarlet fever and scrofula. Nervous 
earache occurs in paroxysms of severe pain in the ear, 
and shooting over the face, head, neck and shoulder.— 
Caused by sudden cold, decayed teeth, and sometimes 
by fullness of blood. Warm foot bath, morphine, and 
hot applications to the ear and face, usually give re- 
lief. Foreign bodies, such as beans, insects, and dust 
sometimes get into the ear and cause intense pain : 
'hey may be removed by syringing the ear with water, 
or by a small bent probe or wire. 
MALIGNANT SORE THROAT. 
This species of sore throat differs from that which 
attends malignant scarlet fever. It is usually limited 
to the upper part of the throat,—it begins with 
swelling of the tonsils, bloated face, flow of tears, 
chills and flashes of fever : the redness of the throat 
soon changes to a dull ash color, and then to brown or 
black,—there is thirst, hoarseness, difficulty in swal- 
lowing, nausea, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. In 
the more severe cases there is a bloody or watery dis- CROUP 
79 
charge from the nose, and a fetid discharge from the 
throat,—the tongue becomes brown, dry, and coated, 
there is often an eruption on the skin, sinking of the 
powers of life, and finally death. 
Most medical writers consider this disease contagi- 
ous,—it is caused also by cold, wet, insufficient clothing 
and food, bad air, and want of personal neatness : it is 
a very dangerous disease, and requires prompt and effi- 
cient treatment. 
CROUP. 
This is a common and dangerous disease among 
children : it sometimes makes its attack suddenly and 
proves fatal in a few hours ; it usually however ad- 
vances gradually, the first symptoms being hoarseness, 
cough, slight obstruction to respiration and some fever, 
Af.er a few hours these symptoms increase in intensif 
ty,—the pulse becomes frequent and hard, the face red, 
skin hot and dry, throat sometimes dry and sometimes 
filled with tough phlegm, the inspirations are accom. 
panied by a peculiar wheezing or crowing noise, the 
eyes are turned up, the mouth open, face pale and cov_ 
ered with perspiration, and death soon closes the scene. 
Croup appears to be mostly limited to children under 
the age of five years : some appear to be predisposed 
to the disease ; it is most prevalent during the cold 
damp season of the year, and is caused by cold and 80 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
wet, insufficient clothing, and by attacks of measles 
and whooping cough. Croup requires prompt and 
careful attention. 
This is a dangerous disease resembling croup, and 
often mistaken for it: it consists of an inflammation of 
the top part of the windpipe, (called the larynx,) where 
the voice is formed,—while croup is an inflammation 
of the windpipe below this point. The physician 
should be able to distinguish the two, and adopt the 
proper treatment. 
LARYNGITIS. 
QUINZY. 
Quinzy is an inflammation of the tonsils,—or ns 
they are vulgarly called, the “ almonds of the ear.’’ 
It is common to childhood,—and begins with sore 
throat, hoarseness, chills, flashes of fever, and after a 
short time, difficulty of swallowing; there is some- 
times nausea, vomiting and discharge of tough phlegm : 
the throat is red, swollen, and covered with mucus, the 
tongue covered with a white fur, headache, partial 
deafness, and in some cases loss of voice and distur- 
bance of the brain. Caused by exposure to cold and 
wet. cold drinks during perspiration, violent paroxysms 
of crying, loud singing or shouting, and all causes 
which irritate the throat. Chronic quinzy, or enlarge- 
ment of the tonsils, is common among both children TONSILS—BRONCHITIS. 
81 
and adults. If the throat be examined in these cases, 
a roundish, red or livid tumour will be seen on one or 
both sides of the root of the tongue, and just behind the 
half arches of the palate. 
The voice is more or less hoarse and the articula- 
tion indistinct,—which is owing to the back part of the 
nostrils being partially closed by the enlarged tonsils,— 
the neck is more full, as if swelled on the outside, op- 
posite the tonsils, the nose is also thickened, the hear- 
ing blunted, the breathing obstructed, so that the pa- 
tient, during sleep, lies with the mouth - open and 
breathes with a rattling noise ; the countenance is pale 
and there is blueness under the eyes. These enlarged 
glands are liable to frequent attacks of inflammation 
and ulceration, which sometimes cause other diseases 
and finally death. 
The proper treatment is excision,—the operation is 
easy, quick and safe, and is a sure remedy for the com- 
plaint. The uvula or “palate,” sometimes becomes 
enlarged, so as to produce unpleasant symptoms ; the 
best and quickest remedy is excision. 
BRONCHITIS. 
This is an inflammation of the bronchial, or air 
tubes of the lungs, and is common to childhood. It 
commences with chills, flashes of heat, slight cough, 
oppression and tightness in the chest, breathing diffi- 82 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
cult, wheezing and ratttling, and hoarseness of the voice. 
Breathing is more distressing when the patient is ly- 
ing down,—the cough is at first dry, but a copious dis- 
charge of stringy phlegm, resembling white of eggs soon 
appears, with some relief to the cough : the skin is 
dry, and the tongue covered with a white mucus. In 
more severe cases, these symptoms may all be augment- 
ed and attended with much danger. Caused by cold, 
wet, sudden changes of weather, insufficient clothing, 
loud speaking, crying, dust, and noxious vapors. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 
Among children as well as adults, this is a frequent 
and dangerous disease. It begins with symptoms simi- 
lar to those of bronchitis, and is produced by nearly the 
same causes. In infants it is an obscure disease, and 
requires close examination and judicious treatment. 
WHOOPING COUGH. 
A contagious disease peculiar to childhood, and 
which seldom or never attacks the same individual a 
second time. It usually begins with lassitude, hoarse- 
ness, sneezing, headache, some difficulty of breathing, 
appetite fails, sleep disturbed, bowels often costive, and 
there is some fever at evening. For the first one or 
two weeks, the cough is dry and short without the 
“ whoop.” After this, the cough is more severe and WHOOPING COUGH. 
83 
frequent, attended by convulsive breathing, flow of 
tears, blueness of the face, often nose-bleed, and a pe- 
culiar noise called the “ whoop,” which is too 'well 
known to require description. 
The fits of coughing occur several times in a day, 
seldom last more than a minute, and are usually termi- 
nated by a discharge of phlegm, and often vomiting 
and pain in the chest. The cough continues from four, 
to eight or ten weeks, and gradually declines. Whoop- 
ing cough often occurs when measles are prevailing, 
and usually during the fall, winter and spring. 
When it occurs in cold, wet weather, or in young, 
feeble or consumptive infants, it is more severe, and of- 
ten followed by other diseases which may prove fatal. 
No cause but contagion is known positively, to pro- 
duce whooping cough : it is very liable to run its 
course,—which however, may by medical treatment be 
much shortened and mitigated. During the height of 
the disease, the patient should use a spare diet, go well 
clad, be confined mostly to his room, which should be 
of a moderate temperature, and well ventilated : an 
emetic at the onset of the disease, or an occasional ca- 
thartic of calomel and oil, with some soothing expecto- 
rant medicine, will suffice in mild cases ; those compli- 
cated with other diseases, or of a long continued and 
severe character, require more efficient remedies. 84 
DISEASES OP CHILDREN 
CHOKING. 
Children sometimes get choked by bits of food or 
stones of fruit,- which produce cough, blueness of the 
face, gagging, sometimes nose-bleed and convulsions,— 
and if relief is not given death ensues. 
When a child is choked, he should be held with the 
head downwards and receive two or three smart blows 
on the back between the shoulders : if this does not 
give relief, the mouth should be thrown wide open 
and some person should endeavor to dislodge the body, 
either bringing it out of the mouth or gently pushing it 
downwards : a few swallows of water may enable it to 
pass into the stomach. When all these means fail a 
surgeon should be quickly called. 
This is an affection in which the action of the diges- 
tive organs appears to be suspended : the food is imper- 
fectly, or not at all digested, but is discharged by vomit- 
ing or stool without being changed,—there are often no 
symytoms of inflammation. Indigestion in infants, ig 
almost invariably caused by too much, or improper food. 
The most common symptoms of indigestion are, nau- 
sea, vomiting, sour odor of the breath, the milk dis- 
charged is sometimes curdled and at others unaltered, 
and there are more or less griping colic pains. Chil- 
dren who are weaned early, or reared without the 
INDIGESTION. INDIGESTION=THE STOMACH. 
85 
breast, are liable to attacks of indigestion, and often be- 
come pale, weak, emaciated, the tongue furred, bowels 
bloated and tender, mouth sore, thirst, fretfulness, moan- 
ing, eyes glassy, and finally in some cases death ends 
the suffering. In older children, indigestion is caused 
by unripe fruits, too much food, confectionery, pastry, 
improperly cooked or hard food, eating too often, and 
at irregular and unsuitable hours. Affections of the 
brain, convulsions, spasm of the windpipe and inflam- 
mation, sometimes result from this disease. 
The diet should be regulated, child carried or per- 
mitted to go into the open air,—the warm bath and flesh 
brush should also be used. The bowels, stomach and liv- 
er should be regulated by small doses of magnesia, calo- 
mel, ipecac, gum arabic, and enemeta of cold water, milk 
and water, or weak solution of soap in warm water. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH. 
Inflammation of the stomach is more common in in- 
fancy than is generally supposed : it varies in extent 
from slight inflammation of a small spot, to the entire 
surface of the stomach, and often involving more or 
less of the intestines. The symptoms are, vomiting, 
whenever anything is taken into the stomach, dry, hot 
skin, redness of the point and edges of the tongue, 
while the middle is covered with a white fur, thirst, 
pulse small and frequent, restlessness, loss of appetite. 86 
diseases Of children. 
The matter vomited is often thick ropy mucus, or green 
bilious matter, and there is sometimes diarrhea. 
There is in some cases bloating and tenderness of 
the bowels. This disease is dangerous and may prove 
fatal in a few days,—or it may become chronic and con- 
tinue for some time, producing great debility and ema- 
ciation, and finally, death. This disease may be pro- 
duced by improper food, hot drinks, irritating medicines, 
rheumatism, sudden drying up of eruptions. 
All pains in the stomach and bowels of children are 
called colic, when they do not result from inflamma- 
tion. This often occurs in children when there are no 
signs of indigestion or other disease : it sometimes 
occurs periodically about the same time of day, and 
appears to be entirely a nervous pain. 
Colic usually however, depends upon the child hav- 
ing taken too much, or improper food, which produces 
fermentation and gas in the intestines : it may be caus- 
ed also by cold feet and certain medicines. The at- 
tacks are more or less violent, and sudden, causing much 
distress for a few minutes, and then subsiding at once, 
leaving the child apparently well. 
In severe cases there is violent crying, the bowels 
bloated, legs drawn up to the body, face flushed,—and 
sometimes a discharge of frothy fluid and gas from the 
COLIC. DIARRHEA, 
87 
bowels, which gives some relief. Colic, may be caused 
by too much opiates, cordials, confectionery or fruits; 
it is most common in infants under the age of four or 
five months, and often occurs in robust healthy chil- 
dren. It is not considered dangerous after the time of 
teething. It may be remedied by the warm bath, warm 
injections of soap and water,—a few drops of paragor- 
in or oil of pepperment. In other cases a portion of so- 
da, calomel and oil or turpentine, or aromatic syrup of 
rhubarb may be necessary. Friction to the bowels with 
liniment, or hot fomentations may assist other remedies. 
DIARRHEA. 
Diarrhea occurs in most cases of inflammation of 
the bowels, but it also often occurs when there is only 
irritation of the mucus surface of the intestines. 
Caused by improper food, sour and green fruit, fresh 
meat, green corn, heat and cold, wet feet, stimulant and 
irritant medicines and a vitiated state of the mother’s 
milk. Insufficient food and clothing, impure air, filthi- 
ness, frights and anxiety of mind, are all causes of this 
disease. It sometimes prevails as an epidemic, when it 
cannot be traced to any known cause ; it is not how- 
ever, considered contagious. Its attacks are sometimes 
sudden, and cease in a few hours : in other cases they 
continue obstinately, for a long time, and produce great 
debility, and finally, death. There is loss of appetite 88 
DISEASES OF CHILDHOOD. 
in some cases, and in others a craving desire to be eat- 
ing almost constantly : nausea, and often vomiting, 
thirst, griping, bloating of the bowels, tongue in some 
Cases clean and in others furred. The evacuations 
from the bowels vary in appearance,—being sometimes 
thin and watery, or like curdled milk having a sour 
odor,—or they may be brown, green, yellow and fetid, 
streaked with blood, or mixed with mucus or undigested 
food, and void of odor. 
Diarrhea may usually be cured by regulating the di- 
et and regimen of the child, warm bath, a few doses of 
chalk and mercury, oil, paragoric or aromatic syrup of 
rhubarb : some cases, however, are complicated with 
other diseases, and require more efficient treatment. 
cholera infantum. (Summer Complaint.) 
This is one of the most fatal diseases to which the 
period of infancy is subject: it occurs mostly among 
children under the age of two years, and during the 
warmer part of the season. This is said by authors to 
be a disease peculiar to the United States.* 
It usually commences with a profuse diarrheal dis- 
charge of light colored fluid ; after a short time the ex- 
treme irritability of the stomach is manifested, by the 
constant vomiting of every thing swallowed. The 
discharges from the bowels sometimes contain flakes of 
mucus : the passages are often involuntary, and attend- DYSENTERY. 
89 
ed by much irritability and debility : the tongue is coat- 
ed with a white slimy matter, the skin dry, pulse quick 
and small, much thirst, bowels hot, sometimes bloated 
and tender : there is, at times moaning or sudden 
screeching, indicating acute pain. 
Digestion is so far suspended that whatever is eaten 
passes unchanged. In some cases delirium comes on 
early and the little sufferer dies in one or two days from 
the attack : at other times the disease continues until 
extreme emaciation is produced,-the skin has a wrinkled 
dirty appearance, bathed in cold perspiration, the fea- 
tures sharp, eyes large and glaring, the whole counte- 
nance has the appearance of old age. The cholera of 
infants is mostly a disease of the mucus coat and glands 
of the bowels,—often accompanied by enlargement of 
the liver. It is caused by impure, stagnant, or confin- 
ed air, coming in contact with the sensitive surface of 
the air passages, skin and digestive organs. 
This disease may be produced by all the causes 
which produce diarrhea : it seems mostly to prevail in 
low damp situations, in towns and cities. Perfect 
cleanliness, pure air, good diet and change of location 
when it depends on that,—are indispensible in addition 
to medical skill. 
This disease consists of inflammation, which is con- 
fined mostly to the large intestines, or that part of the 
DYSENTERY. 90 
DISEASES OP CHILDREN. 
bowels called the “colon.” In some cases however, 
the inflammation extends to the small intestines and 
even the stomach. 
The symptoms are, griping, frequent and small dis- 
charges of slimy matter, (mucus,) mixed with blood : 
the first discharges are usually however, thin and wa- 
tery, the bowels are tender, dry and hot, there is some 
fever, furred tongue, and sometimes vomiting. When 
these symptoms are not abated by timely remedial 
means, they are apt to increase in intensity until termi- 
nated by death. 
Dysentery is caused by changes of weather, improp- 
er diet, worms, hot wet weather, impure air, want of 
sufficient food, unhealthy milk, &c. When the attack 
is attended by profuse discharge of blood the case is 
more favorable than if no blood appears. 
The diet should be restricted to animal broths, boiled 
rice and the like,—the clothes kept clean, the child put 
into the warm bath, fomentations and liniment applied 
to the bowels, the drinks should be barely water, gum 
arabic water and flax seed or slippery elm tea : small 
doses of chalk, calomel, opium, ipecac and hyosciamus 
are the principal medicines in this complaint. Enem- 
eta of solution of sugar of lead, tea of oak bark, or 
starch and laudanum are also of much value. But 
dysentery often assumes an intractible character which 
resists the action of all remedies and finally proves fatal. BOWEL COMPLAINTS. 
91 
WORMS. 
Too many of the diseases of childhood are ascribed 
to the presence of worms in the intestines : they often 
produce disuse,—but they are doubtless found in the 
intestines when no disease exists. They also exist in 
the stomach or bowels when there are no certain signs 
to indicate their presence : on the contrary, symptoms 
of worms sometimes appear when no worms are found 
by examination after death. 
We have no certain signs by which we can ascertain 
the presence of worms in all cases,—nor when they 
are known to exist, can we at all times remove them, 
or judge precisely of the amount of disease which they 
produce. They are of frequent occurrence in chil- 
dren, and sometimes produce severe irritation and many 
unpleasant symptoms ; and these symptoms often con- 
tinue after the worms are removed. 
There are four species of worms, known to inhabit 
the stomach and bowels of children : worms are also 
found, (though rarely,) in the lungs, liver and brain. 
What is the origin of worms, or how they come to bo 
in the body is yet a mystery. They are more com- 
mon in some countries than in others; and among 
those poorly fed, and suffering from filth and poverty. 
The following are among the causes which are suppos- 
ed to favor the production of worms,—viz, cold and 92 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
wet, bad air, unripe fruits, milk, fat meat, sweetmeats 
and pastry, and a scrofulous constitution. Children 
under eight or nine months of age are rarely affected 
by worms,—although in some few cases they have been 
found in the intestines at birth. • 
Adult persons sometimes sufFer from worms. Chil- 
dren suffering under irritation from worms are usually 
pale, with a blue or leaden streak under the eyes, bloat- 
ed abdomen, itching of the nose, headache, furred 
tongue, offensive breath, gnawing pain in the stomach, 
appetite variable,—someiimes voracious and again 
loathing all kinds of food; the bowels are sometimes 
costive and sometimes inclined to diarrhea. The most 
certain evidence of worms is, their appearance in the 
evacuations,—next to this, the fetid breath and dilation 
of the pupil of the eye are the surest symptoms. In 
adopting means to rid the system of worms, the diet 
should first be regulated : all fruits, pastry, confection- 
ery and stimulants, should be prohibited : the diet 
should consist of boiled fowl, beef stake, mutton chop, 
rice, wheaten bread, boiled milk and crackers, soft 
boiled eggs, custard, baked potatoes, and ripe cooked 
fruits. Perfect cleanliness should be preserved by 
means of the warm bath at evening: pure air, warm 
clothing during cold weather, and exercise in the open 
air, are also useful. Enemeta of soap and water and 
frictions to the abdomen with liniment, will also relieve PILES 
93 
pain in the bowels. Among the best worm medicines 
are calomel, spirits of turpentine, pink root, aloes and 
worm seed oil : common salt, cowhage and some oth- 
ers are also occasionally successful. There is usually 
some irritation and debility of the bowels after the ex- 
pulsion of worms : this may be allayed by a liitle gum 
arabic, Dover’s powders, tincture of gentian, iron or 
hyosciamus, and good nutricious diet. 
PROLAPSUS OF THE BOWELS. ( Piles.) 
It is not uncommon with children, for the mucus li- 
ning of the bowels to become relaxed, so as to protrude 
externally during evacuations,—especially if there i3 
costiveness, diarrhea or worms. When first discovered 
it appears in the form of a small, irregular, red, soft 
swelling, at the verge of the bowels, and is attended by 
smarting and tenderness. After a few days if not re- 
lieved, the child loses his appetite, becomes restless, 
the protruded bowel becomes swollen, red, or. livid, 
and tender, and in some cases cannot be returned to 
its place until ulceration has succeeded. The first 
care should be to return the bowel if possible ; this 
can usually be done by making gentle pressure with 
fingers, smeared with some soft oil: if this fails, an 
enema of warm soap and water with a little lauda- 
num should be given so as to relax and evacuate the 
bowels : if these means fail also, leeches and fomen- 94 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
tations should be used until the object is attained. 
When the swelling is reduced and the bowel replaced, 
means should be employed to prevent the return of the 
difficulty. Tho diet should consist of ripe stewed 
fruits, rye pudding and molasses, milk porridge, &c. 
The parts should be washed with alum water, tea of 
oak bark, or smeared with some mild astringent oint- 
ment. The child should sit in a hard chair without a 
cushion. All other remedial means may fail and an 
operation ultimately be required. 
RUPTURES. (Bursts.) 
Ruptures sometimes exist at birth, and are sometimes 
produced by long and violent fits of crying, or by ban- 
daging the abdomen too tightly. They consist of a 
portion of the bowel protruded through a hole in the 
walls of the abdomen, and covered by the skin. Dur- 
ing crying the swelling is more prominent, and appears 
in the form of a rounded elastic tumor, which usually 
disappears when crying ceases and the muscles of the 
abdomen are relaxed. The bowel should be prevented 
from protruding by binding on some rounded body, as a 
piece of cork, wood or lead wrapped in a cloth : a piece 
of coin of proper size stitched into a bandage will of- 
ten fulfil the indication. Ruptures occur oftener at the 
naval where the cord was attached, than at any other 
point. Whatever body is applied to the rupture, should JAUNDICE. 
95 
be wrapped in soft linen*and kept clean and dry to pre- 
vent chafing and irritation : this means, with proper 
care to keep the bowels loose and the child quiet, will 
usually effect a cure in two or three weeks. 
JAUNDICE. 
It is not uncommon for infants a few days after birth, 
to become yellow over the whole surface, with dry skin, 
drowsiness and costiveness. In some instances there 
are irregular yellow blotches on the skin, attended with 
prickling and itching. The jaundice of infants may be 
removed by one or two doses of calomel and oil, warm 
bath daily, fresh air and gentle friction on the skin. 
This disease may depend upon a slight inflammation 
of the liver, or upon inactivity or congestion of that 
organ; it is probable that it may also depend upon in- 
flammation of the portion of the bowels called the 
“ duodenum.” In general there is but little dangbr at- 
tending this disease,—but some cases may prove obsti- 
nate and even fatal. 
This is a common disease among young children,— 
and is often the result of a careless and filthy habit of 
neglecting the calls of nature, and not endeavoring to 
restrain their desires. It usually occurs at night, the 
child allowing the urine to pass even while awake, 
INCONTINENCE OF URINE. 96 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
rather than to rise and evacuate the bladder. It is also 
caused by palsy of the bladder or some of its appen- 
dages, or by an irritable state of that organ. The dis- 
charge of urine is most apt to take place when the child 
is lying on his back : the urine is sometimes so caustic 
as to scald and irritate the legs and produce sores. In- 
continence of urine is caused by the improper use of 
irritating medicines, certain articles of food, and by 
diseases of other parts of the body. The habit of in- 
continence although an unpleasant one, demands indul- 
gence and pity, rather than blame and punishment in 
most cases. Children thus afflicted should not be al- 
lowed much drink or fluid food ; they should be desired 
to urinate immediately before retiring, and also to rise 
at stated hours of the night for the same purpose. 
The best position in bed, in order to prevent involun- 
tary discharges, is, on the side. The diet should be di- 
gestible and nutricious and the bowels regular,—the 
cold hip bath at night will be of service* 
CONVULSIONS. 
Convulsions rtiay occur at any period of infancy, 
find during the course of almost any disease with which 
a child may be attacked. They are most commonly 
caused by irritation of the stomach and bowels, and 
congestion of the brain. Various parts of the body 
niav be separately convulsed,—as the eyes,—muscles BREASTS INFLAMED. 
97 
of the face, extremities, organs of respiration, &c., 
there may also be general convulsions of the whole 
system. They are usually attended with foaming at 
the mouth, redness or blueness of the face, rolling of 
the eyes, difficult breathing, cold sweat on the face, 
head thrown backwards, back and neck stiff, grinding 
of the teeth', and sometimes involuntary evacuations. 
The violence and duration of the paroxysm varies,— 
sometimes passing off in a few minutes, and again con- 
tinuing for hours. They are caused by raw and indi- 
gestible food, fruit; large draughts of cold water, close 
rooms, tight clothing, costiveness, fits of passion, im- 
proper medicines,—and all causes which derange the 
digestive apparatus, obstruct the respiration or circula- 
tion, or cause congestion of the lungs or brain. It is 
a dangerous disease among infants. When attacked, 
they should have fresh air, be freed from all tight cloth- 
ing, the feet and legs immersed in warm water, and 
cold water applied to the head,—an emetic of ipecac 
should be given, and also an enema of warm milk and 
water with a little paragoric or laudanum. This treat- 
ment may be adopted until medical assistance can be 
obtained. 
BREASTS INFLAMED. 
Infants of both sexes are often attacked with a 
swelled and painful condition of the breasts : this usu- 
ally occurs a day or two after birth, and subsides in a 98 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
few days without interference. There exists a vulgar 
error that this swelling is caused by the presence of 
milk in the breasts ; they are therefore squeezed and 
drawn to remove the milk, which always aggravates 
the little patient’s suffering, and sometimes produces se- 
vere inflammation and abscess. It is true that pressure 
on the breast causes a milky fluid to ooze from the nip- 
ple,—but this is not proper milk, nor does this disease 
depend entirely on its presence. All that is required 
in most cases, is to bathe the swelling in sweet oil oc- 
casionally ;—or if there is much tenderness, a few 
leeches or a soft warm poultice will suffice to remove 
the swelling. All rude squeezing and attempts to 
draw the breasts, must be forbidden, and gentle friction 
with cream or oil, as before directed, be substituted. 
suspended animation. (Apparent Death.) 
Cases sometimes occur in which all the vital powers 
appear to be suspended,—the pulse is not perceptible, 
breathing is suspended, the senses are gone, the skin 
is cold and pale or purple, the eyes glassy or leaden. 
This condition is produced by hanging, drowning, 
strangling, respiring poisonous vapors, and by light- 
ning, vapor of ether and electricity. When a person 
has been drowned or immersed for some time, although 
life appears to he extinct it is usually best to make some 
efforts to recover him. He should be immediately well SUFFOCATION. 
99 
dried, wrapped in warm blankets, and friction applied 
to the skin. 
Breathing may in many cases be restored by filling 
the lungs with air;—this may be done by blowing into 
the lungs with the breath or a common bellows, and at 
the same time closing the nose to prevent the air from 
returning. The lungs should be inflated very gradual- 
ly, and as soon as they are full, gentle pressure should 
be made on the chest and abdomen so as to expel the 
air : artificial respiration should be kept up in this way 
until life is restored or all hopes are abandoned. The 
limbs should be gradually warmed by friction and warm 
.water : when signs of life begin to appear, great cau- 
tion is requisite to prevent sinking on one hand, and 
over excitement on the other. The patient should have 
fresh air, a little warm wine and water, and perfect 
rest and quiet. 
Persons are sometimes suffocated by carbonic acid 
gas,—by sleeping in tight rooms containing several per- 
sons, or in rooms warmed by coal fires. When dis- 
covered in this state they should be removed to the 
fresh air, the clothes should be loosened, and the body 
supported in the erect posture ; cold water dashed upon 
the head, face and breast, and the extremities well 
rubbed with some hot stimulating liquid : as soon as 
life is restored, a little warm wine and water may be 
given and the patient placed in bed. 100 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
These means, and all others sometimes fail; medi- 
cal aid should therefore be obtained in all cases, as 
soon as possible. 
MUMPS. 
This disease is an inflammation of the parotid gland, 
which is situated just below the ear : it is contagious 
and seldom attacks the same person a second time. 
The first symptoms are chills, thirst, fever, stiffness 
and pain in the joint of the lower jaw, and slight 
headache; after a little time swelling commences un- 
der one or both ears, and soon a large, red, moveable 
tumor appears, which attains its largest size by the 
fourth or fifth day : it then begins gradually to disap- 
pear, and the other symptoms to abate ; matteration 
seldom occurs. In cases of mumps, other parts some- 
times sympathize with the inflamed parotid glands and 
the disease becomes more painful and occasionally 
proves fatal. This disease seldom attacks children un- 
der three or four years of age. The milder cases re- 
quire little more than rest, low diet and mild laxatives,— 
the more severe ones require efficient medical treat- 
ment. 
FELONS, 
Children are very liable to some species of felon, 
which appear about the nails, or other parts of the hands 
and feet. They may be situated just under the skin, or BOILS, 
101 
more deeply, and near the bone : The symptoms are, 
heat, pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness : they al- 
ways incline to maturate,—and from the thickness and 
toughness of the structures in which they are sometimes 
situated, they are apt to spread over a considerable 
space before they break and discharge., their contents. 
In severe cases violent, throbbing pain along the limb, 
fever, chills, and much swelling and pain in the affect- 
ed part. Felons may be caused by bruises, pressure, 
or pricking by sharp instruments. The best treatment 
in the beginning, is a soft bread and milk poultice, mild 
cathartics, and low diet. If it is situated deeply and it 
is found impossible to arrest its progress, a deep and 
free incision should be made : this gives relief, shortens 
the disease, and prevents the destruction of parts which 
must be consequent upon maturation : After the open- 
ing is made and bleeding stops, a poultice may be ap- 
plied and the cure is soon perfected. 
BOILS. 
The general character of boils is too well known to 
requiro description : they are caused by disorder of the 
digestive organs, over heating the system, and the too fre- 
quent use of the cold bath : boys who bathe daily, and 
expose the skin to the rays of the sun, are liable to bo 
afflicted with boils. The bowels should be regular, di- 
et light, cold bath discontinued and the warm one sub- 102 
DISEASES OP CHILDREN. 
stituted ; the boil may be poulticed until matter is form- 
ed and then freely opened, and covered with adhesive 
plaster. 
WARTS AND CORNS. 
The best and quickest mode of curing warts, is to cut 
them off a little deeper than the surrounding skin : they 
may be cured also by tying a thread tightly around 
them close to the skin and allowing them to slough off,— 
or by applying some caustic, as “ oil of vitriol,” 
copperas, “ aqua fortis” or “ lunar caustic.” 
Corns are caused by the pressure of hard, tight 
shoes,—and consist of a hardening and thickening of 
the cuticle or outside skin. To cure them, the feet 
should first be soaked in warm water, and then apply 
a drop of aqua fortis to each corn, which will render 
them capable of being peeled or cleaved off, leaving 
the surrounding skin and that under them, tender and 
healthy,—to prevent them, keep the feet clean and 
wear loose, soft shoes. 
BITES OP ANIMALS, BITES AND STINOS OP INSECTS. 
Children are sometimes stung or bitten by a bee, 
wasp, gnat, spider or bug, which causes much pain and 
swelling, and sometimes produces convulsions. The 
best remedies are the immediate application of a pled- 
get of lint or cotton, wet in vinegar, hartshorn or on- 
ion juice to the wound, until the smarting is relieved POISONS. 
103 
and then bathing the part in cold water. If faintness 
Succeed, the head and face may be bathed in cold wa- 
*er and a little spirits or wine given. 
The bites of venomous serpents, as the rattlesnake, 
hooded snake, viper and some others,—and also of ven- 
omous insects, such as the tarantula and scorpion, are 
more serious in their consequences. But as these ani. 
mals do not exist in this country, no accidents will be 
likely to occur from them. 
The bites of dogs, cats, rats and other small animals, 
should always receive attention, as they sometimes pro- 
duce bad sores : they may be washed clean and covered 
with adhesive salve,—and if there is much pain and 
swelling, a bread and milk poultice should be applied. 
The bites of rabid, (mad,) dogs and other animals, 
are usually followed by that terrible and fatal disease 
called hydrophobia : when this accident happens, the 
best medical aid must be immediately employed. 
POISONS. 
Any substance, which, when taken into the system, 
is capable suddenly or ultimately, of destroying life, 
may be called a poison. Some of the most serious ac- 
cidents which are liable to befall children, and which 
require the most prompt relief, are cases of accidental, 
poisoning. There are many substances used in the 
arts, and for domestic purposes, and also fruits, roots. 104 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
and berries, which children are liable to eat or drink 
and become poisoned. When oil of vitriol or aqua 
fortis is swallowed,-—some alkali, such as soda, salsera- 
tus, hartshorn, or even, wood ashes and water should be 
instantly given to neutralize the acid. When any 
strong acid, as those named, be spilled upon any part of 
the surface, they should be washed away by warm wa- 
ter and soap, and the part poulticed. If .common lye 
or hartshorn be swallowed, vinegar and water, sour ci- 
der or lemon juice should be drank freely,-—or if these 
are not at hand, milk or some kind of oil may be sub- 
stituted. 
In cases of poisoning by mineral substances or veg- 
etables, an emetic of ground mustard in water, or infu- 
sion of bonset, or whatever can be obtained, should be 
administered. In case no emetic can be had, large dos- 
es of oil, milk, whites of eggs, or even water may serve 
to prevent fatal effects. Poisoning by laudanum or opi- 
um, may be counteracted by vinegar, strong tea and 
coffee. These few remarks may serve to prevent loss 
of life in a few cases, but the treatment of most cases 
of posioning and the proper antidotes to various pois- 
ons, are known only to the physician,—medical aid 
therefore should always be obtained as early as possible. 
•( When the fingers, feet, nose or ears, are long exposed 
to severe cold, they become numb, livid or pale, stiff, 
CHILBLAINS AND FROST-BITES. BURNS 
105 
shrunken, motionless and cold : they are then frost bit- 
ten, or frozen. In this state they are so brittle as some- 
times to be broken off, or severe inflammation, or mor- 
tification, (death,) of the part may ensue. 
The first application should be friction with snow or 
cold water: and this should be continued until action, 
feeling and color are restored,—after which some warm 
stimulating liniment, camphor, or turpentine may be ap- 
plied. The person frozen, should not come near the fire 
or into a warm room until the frozen part is restored. 
Chilblains are caused by warming any part which has 
been frozen, too suddenly. 
The skin is red or livid, §lightly swollen, and attend- 
ed with pain and itchings ; it may blister or ulcerate : 
when theie are no blisters or qlcers, the remedies pre- 
scribed for frost bites are sufficient; if ulceration or 
mortification follow, warm poultices, mercurial oint- 
ment, &c. are required. When the exposure to cold 
has been such as to cause general numbness, sleepiness 
and loss of sense, no |ime should be lost in obtaining 
medical aid. 
The injury produced by burns, is the same, whether 
by the agency of hot water, fire, or any solid heated 
substance. The danger of burns is to be estimated by 
their extent, severity and location. Burns which in- 
volve a large extent of surface, are more dangerous, 
BURNS. 106 
DISEASES OP CHILDREN. 
even if superficial, than those which are deeper and of 
less extent: they are more dangerous on the body and 
near vital parts, than they are when on the limbs. 
When they are slight, and only attended by redness and 
blistering, the application of lint or cotton wet with 
warm oil or turpentine or some mild salve, is all that 
is required. Although the application of cold relieves 
the pain sooner than heat, still it is considered by most 
surgeons, to be less favorable to the future healing of 
the sore than heat. When there are blisters, they may 
be opened after three or four hours, and as soon as the 
blistered surface ceases to discharge water, and becomes 
dry, it may be dressed with some soft mild ointment, and 
it will soon heal. 
WOUNDS. 
Wounds are usually divided into three classes,—viz. 
Incised, Punctured, and Bruised. Slight wounds, cut 
by a clean sharp instrument, require nothing more than 
to be bound up “ in the blood” and left to heal; the 
blood in all cases forms, the best dressing. Punctures, 
if slight, and made by a clean sharp instrument, as a 
fork, needle or nail, require similar treatment. Bruis- 
es, when slight, should be bathed in cold water, or when 
the skin is not broken, in spirits or liniment, and a 
pledget of lint wet in the same and laid on, the wound. 
This will tend to prevent swelling and blueness, and re- 
lieve the pain. CLUB FOOT—WEAK ANGLES. 
107 
When wounds are made by a rough and dirty sub- 
stance, as a rusty iron, a stick or stone, they should be 
cleansed by clean soft water before dressing; if there 
is some bleeding, it may generally be arrested by cold 
water, alum water, or by binding on a compress made 
by folding a piece of linen tightly,and wetting it in cold 
water. When wounds are severe and extensive, if 
there is much bleeding, swelling, poison or foreign 
substances in the wound,—or if there is constitutional 
disturbance, as fainting, sleepiness, convulsions, or loss 
of sense, a surgeon should be called without delay. 
CLUB FOOT. 
This is a peculiar deformity of the foot, caused by con- 
traction or shortening of some of the muscles, so as to 
cause the foot to turn inward or outward, upward or 
downward. The child will therefore walk on one 
side of the foot, or on the heel or toe, so that the sole 
of the foot does not come in contact with the ground. 
This deformity sometimes exists at birth, and is some- 
times the result of disease or injury. Whatever the 
cause may be, most cases require a surgical operation, 
which affords the only prospect of a perfect cure. 
Children who are put upon their feet too young, or 
taught to turn their toes outward too much, or those who 
WEAK ANKLES. 108 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
are of a weak and relaxed muscular system, are apt to 
have weak and crooked ankles, or bowed legs. The 
soles of the feet are flat, the ankles turn inward so that 
the child walks almost on the ankle joint, and with 
lameness and difficulty. The geiieral health should be 
improved by a good diet, cold bathing, and exercise in 
the open air : the child should also wear high boots 
made of leather sufficiently stiff to support the ankles 
in the proper form and position. 
HARE LIP. 
This is an opening or fissure in the upper lip, of 
greater or less extent, dividing it into two parts, and 
causing deformity and impediment in the speech : it 
sometimes extends back into the mouth so as to divide 
the roof of the mouth and palate, and render clear ar- 
ticulation impossible. The only cure is an operation, 
which should be performed between the sixth month 
and the second year of life. 
STAMMERING. 
This silly and disagreeable habit has excited much 
attention of late; on accont of the surgical 
and other means resorted to for its cure. It may be 
caused by spasms of the muscles of the tongue and 
throat while speaking,—or by muscular or nervous de- 
bility : it is probably however, caused in most cases by 
the vicious habit of mimicking others, or of talking too SCROFULA. 
109 
rapidly. The operation of cutting and mutilating the 
muscles, is considered by the best surgeons to be useless 
and cruel, and worthy only of an age of barbarism. The 
most certain means of cure for the habit, is speaking 
slowly, and taking great care to articlate every word 
distinctly, and without embarrassment or diffidence. 
SCROFULA. 
This is a common disease of infancy and childhood, 
and is itself the cause of various forms of disease. It 
is difficult to give a brief, and at the same time correct 
and intelligible definition of this affection. In children 
of a scrofulous constitution, there is a deficiency of 
some of the elements of the blood ; the white fluids and 
tissues of the system appear to predominate over the 
red, the organs are pale, soft and loose in texture, 
and perform their respective functions in a languid and 
imperfect manner. There are peculiar frailness and 
languor of the whole system,—the skin is thin and the 
veins beneath are visible, the joints large, chest con- 
tracted, fat sometimes in abundance, features round, 
hair fine and usually light colored, eyes prominent, lips 
thick, muscles soft and not well developed, limbs plump 
and round, but the flesh is soft and dropsical : the cir- 
culation is sluggish and weak, and fever is easily exci- 
ted : digestion is usually slow and imperfect, the bow- 
els torpid, and the whole system predisposed to take on 110 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 
diseased action. Inflammations are slow in progress, 
and long continued, and there is a peculiar tendency to 
the formation to matter. There is no question tha1 
this disease is hereditary, and that children born of pa- 
rents affected with it, inherit a similar constitution. 
The causes which predispose to scrofula, are, disor- 
dered digestion, chronic disease, intemperance, luxury 
and indolence, premature marriage and the indulgence 
of the passions. 
The exciting causes, or those which tend to develope 
scrofula, are, improper or deficient food, impure air, 
want of exercise and cleanliness, deficient clothing, ex- 
posure to cold and wet, and excessive depletion by 
bleeding and discharge from ulcers. Scrofulous chil- 
dren have usually more or less enlargement of the lym- 
phatic glands about the neck, arm-pits and groins. 
These are hard, roundish, moveable tumors, destitute of 
pain or soreness during the first stage : if they become 
inflamed, they are swelled, painful, and nearly always 
ulcerate and discharge matter for a long time,—and 
when they heal, leave.a rough white scar. Scrofulous 
sore eyes, inflammation and discharge from the ears, 
are common and difficult of cure. 
The messenteric glands, (a part, or appendage of the 
bowels,) after those of the neck, are said to be most 
frequently enlarged and scrofulous. In scrofulous chil- 
dren, the bones are slow in attaining their strength RICKETS. 
111 
and solidity, the joints are loose, and disposed to “ white 
swelling,” and abscesses,—the spine is liable to distor- 
tion, and the limbs are liable to distortion and fracture. 
Tubercles of the lungs, constituting one form of con- 
sumption, are often present in scrofulous constitutions. 
The treatment of scrofula is very uncertain in its re- 
sults, and requires to be long persevered in,—some 
cases are incurable. Pure air, good diet, exercise, 
warm clothing, cleanliness,'bathing, use of the flesh 
brush or hair glove, tonic and purifying medicines and 
the avoidance of all excesses, are principal remedies : 
the treatment however of this disease should be con- 
ducted under, the direction of the physician. 
RICKETS. 
Rickets depend upon disordered nutrition,' and some 
alteration of the blood from its healthy standard. It 
has usually, however, been supposed to depend upon a 
deficiency of phosphate and carbonate of lime in the 
food, to furnish the necessary earthy matter to the 
bones,—and has therefore been considered peculiarly a 
disease of the bones. But recent investigations show 
that it does sometimes occur when there is no deficien- 
cy of lime,—and that the whole system, particularly 
the muscles, brain and nerves, are equally implicated 
with the bones. It is an affection peculiar to childhood, 
and supposed to depend upon the action of the causes 112 
which favor the development of scrofula. The signs 
of rickets are, a softened grisly state of the bones, 
large joints, large head, prominent forehead, straight- 
ness of the ribs and flatness of the sides of the chest, 
prominent breast bone, looseness of texture in the bones, 
crooked legs and distorted spine : many other symptoms 
of scrofula are sometimes also present. This, like 
scrofula, disposes the system to other diseases: the 
treatment of rickets is nearly the same as that of scrof- 
ula : rickets however is a more curable disease, and 
less apt to continue after adult age. 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN. MEASLES. 
113 
CHAPTER IV. 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 
measles, (jRubeola.') 
This is a contagious disease which seldom attacks an 
individual the second time : it is more common to 
childhood than adult age. It commences with more or 
less cough, fever, sneezing and running at the nose, 
chills, redness of the eyes and flow of tears. After two 
or three days, there is often vomiting, headache, some- 
times high fever, delirium,—and in small children, con- 
vulsions. Usually between the third and fifth days, 
the eruption makes its appearance in the form of small 
red spots, on the breast and face,—and lastly, on the 
body and limbs. These spots resemble flea bites at 
first, but they soon enlarge, increase in number and 
run into each other and form irregular half-moon shaped 
patches. During the first day of the eruption there is 
a small water primple, (vesicle,) in the centre of some 
spots,—during the second day it is fully formed, and on 
the third day it begins to fade upon the face, but still 
remaining full upon the body : by the eighth or ninth 
day, the eruption has disappeared, and by the eleventh, 
thin scales of the cuticle fall off and the whole surface* 
resumes its natural appearance. This is the course of 114 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 
measles in mild cases,—but in the more severe cases, 
all the symptoms are augmented in violence, and give 
rise to several sources of danger, both during the at- 
tack and after its subsidence. Mild cases require but 
little treatment: rest within doors, cooling laxatives, 
low diet and cool drinks, usually suffice,—severe cases 
require a more active course. 
SCARLET RASH. (Roseola.) 
This consists of a rose or scarlet colored rash on the 
face, neck and breast, and sometimes over the whole 
body,—attended with some itching and tingling, and 
occasionally with restlessness, slight fever, redness and 
dryness of the throat. The rash usually begins to fade 
on the second day, and is gone on the fifth, without any 
peeling of the skin. It may be caused by heat, teeth- 
ing, stimulants and deranged digestion. It requires no 
care beyond that of regulating the diet, mild laxatives 
and the warm bath at night. It occurs in persons of 
all ages, and is sometimes carelessly mistaken for scar- 
let fever or measles. 
crusted tetter. (Impetigo.) 
'This eruption appears in the form of brown or olive 
,eolored pimples, collected together or scattered over 
r,the surface, most often of -the extremeties : they are 
by heat and smarting, and in two or three TRICKLY HEAT. 
115 
days from the time of their formation, burst, discharge 
their contents and leave a red and shining surface, from 
which matter oozes and forms a crust: around the edges 
of this crust, new pustules often appear, which if neg- 
lected, increase till the limbs are almost incased with a 
rough scaly covering : this again cracks and throws 
out new matter, and thus continues until the hands and 
feet are so affected that the nails drop off. It seldom 
however, assumes this severe form. The milder cases 
generally yield to purges of calomel, sulphur, or epsom 
salts, with spare diet and warm bath : the more obsti- 
nate ones require more efficient means. 
prickly heat. (Eczama.) 
An eruption of pearl or rose colored vesicles, pre- 
ceded by itching and tingling: the delicate skin of 
children is peculiarly liable, from exposure to the sun, 
or from the friction of clothing, to attacks of this dis- 
ease. The little vesicles sometimes appear between 
the fingers and may be mistaken for itch. In the course 
of six or eight days, the vesicles dry up and form their 
scabs, which fall off and leave the skin redder than nat. 
ural. This variety of eczama is sometimes produced 
by the application of poultices, plasters and ointments 
to the skin. It may usually be cured by low diet, lax- 
atives and washes made of bran, slippery elm bark, or 
the stingless nettle, or a weak solution of sugar of lead. 116 
DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 
nettle rash. (Urticaria.) 
The eruption of nettle rash consists of inflamed red 
patches of irregular shape, on different parts of the 
body ; sometimes they are few and of small extent, and 
at others covering a large portion of the surface. In 
the centre of each patch is an irregular white spot 
raised above the skin and attended with severe itching 
and smarting. In some varieties of this disease there 
is nausea, headache, chills and flashes of fever, and a 
white fur on the tongue. Nettle rash often disappears 
in a few hours,—and seldom continues more than six 
or eight days. It is caused by heat, poison from vari- 
ous weeds, as nettles, &c., and some kinds of food and 
fruits. Its treatment must depend on the intensity of 
the symptoms : in some cases, the remedies advised for 
prickly heat will be sufficient,—in others, a different 
course must be adopted. 
chicken pox. (Varicella.) 
Chicken Pox is more common among children than 
adults : it commences with slight fever, which contin- 
ues from one to three days, and is then followed by an 
eruption, which first appears on the face, neck and 
breast, and lastly on the extremeties. The vesicles come 
out in succession during three or four days,—so that 
some are entirely formed, and full of a watery fluid, ITCH. 
117 
while others are just appearing, and others still are 
converted into scabs. The vesicles are attended with 
itching and burning;—they pass from the first stage to 
the time of falling off in three to nine days. Chicken 
pox mqy be communicated by inoculation, and rarely 
occurs more than once in the same individual. It sel- 
dom requires attention beyond spare diet, rest and mild 
cooling laxatives. 
ring worm. (Herpes.) 
This consists of minute water blisters, arranged some- 
what in rings : it begins with slight redness,—small 
blisters form and are filled with a colorless fluid ,— 
these break in four or five days, and are covered by a 
thin brownish scab, which falls off about the eighth or 
ninth day, leaving a red surface which gradually dis- 
appears. The eruption seldom lasts more than ten 
days, but it sometimes appears a second time, and con- 
tinues for several weeks : it is always attended with 
itching, smarting and burning. It often appears on 
the face, neck and .arms of children,—and may be com- 
municated by contact. A wash of white or blue vitri- 
ol, or nitrate of silver, or an ointment made of narrow 
dock root, will usually effect a cure. 
itch. (Psora.) 
Itch usually appears first between the fingers and on 
wrists, in small pimples filled with a colorless fluid, and 118 
DISEASES OP THE SKIN. 
attended by intense itching, which is always increased 
by heat. The friction and scratching, used to allay 
the itching, ruptures the pimples, and they are by this 
means extended to the surrounding skin. In cases of 
long continuance, some of the vesicles become filled 
with matter and covered with brown scabs which ex- 
tend over a great part of the body. This disease is 
contagious and is communicated by contact,—and prob- 
ably sometimes produced by want of cleanliness and 
other causes. It seldom terminates spontaneously} but 
requires medical treatment: it is not dangerous, and 
“ may continue during the life-time of the patient, 
which it seldom tends to shorten.” It occurs most often 
among the miserably poor, and in cold damp situations. 
“ In neglected cases, an insect is to be seen in or near 
the vesicles.” It may be seen burrowing under the 
skin, and when removed by the point of a needle, re- 
sembles the “cheese skipper.” Whether the disease is 
produced by this insect is not yet determined. Itch 
usually occurs in four or five days after exposure to its 
contagious matter. The best remedy in most cases, is 
sulphur : it may bo mixed with molasses or lard, and 
applied night and morning to the parts affected : sul- 
phur and cremor tartar, mixed with molasses may also 
be given in teaspoonful doses every night. 
The diet should be simple and digestible, the bed and 
clothing of the patient kept perfectly clean and well SCALD HEAD KINE POX. 
119 
aired, and the whole surface of the body washed clean 
in soap and warm water twice a week, at evening be- 
fore retiring. 
scald head. (Porrigo.) 
This is one of the most loathsome and obstinate af- 
fections to which childhood is subject. There are sev- 
eral varieties of porrigo, of which the one to be de- 
scribed is probably the most common. It commences 
with a slight scaling up of the skin of the head, attend- 
ed with itching ; there is a slimy matter discharged from 
the surface, which dries and forms a scaly covering to 
the scalp : as ihe disease spreads, the scabs thicken, so 
that while the outside layers are dry and yellowish, re- 
sembling bran, those beneath and next to the head are 
moist with fluid : when the scab is removed, the skin 
presents a smooth, shining, pink colored appearance : 
the hair sometimes becomes matted together and small 
ulcers appear on the scalp : the disease is usually con- 
fined to the head, but sometimes extends to the face, 
neck and back,—it often exhales a disagreeable odor re- 
sembling that of sour milk. Scald head is so intracti- 
ble it its character, that the best remedies must be long 
persevered in to effect a cure. 
kine pox. (Vaccinna.'j 
It is now well known that innoculation with the mat- 
ter of kine, or “ cow-pox,” is an almost certain pre- 120 
DISEASES OP THE SKIN. 
ventive of the contagious effects of small pox. In 
some few cases however, it fails,—but this should by 
no means prevent the innoculation of every child : it is 
thought by some authors, to lose its efficacy in a few 
years, so that a second or third vaccination may be 
necessary : this is however, doubtful. Children may 
be vaccinated at any age from three months upwards : 
but there is some difficulty in securing a thorough op- 
eration of the virus in very young children, or in 
those affected with any disease of the skin. The vac- 
cine matter may be taken in the fluid state from the 
arm of another person, or a bit of the scab which has 
been preserved, may be used. Almost any mode of 
vaccination, which will secure the formation of a pus- 
tule, (pock,) will suffice. The usual mode is to raise a 
small piece of the skin on the arm, with the point of a 
lancet, and insert a little of the fluid or scab, and cov- 
er it with a piece of “court plaster.” It is always 
best to make one or two pocks on each arm. About the 
third day after the vaccination, there is a red elevated 
pimple, which, on the fourth, is surrounded by a faint 
red circle,—on the fifth day there is a pearl colored 
pimple filled with transparent fluid,—on the eighth day 
the pock is at its height of development, at which time 
there is usually some fever, chills, lassitude and more 
or less pain and swelling of the arm and glands of the 
arm-pit: by the tenth day the pock is red and painful,— DIETARY FOR THE SICK. 
121 
on the eleventh it begins to shrink and assumes a dark- 
er color, so that b}r the fourteenth day it is covered by 
a thick, brown scab which falls off about the eighteenth 
day, leaving a white scar. No remedial care is neces- 
sary in most cases of vaccination : rest, low diet and 
regular action of the digestive organs, being all that is 
required. 
A few of the most common diseases of the skin, 
which occur in young children, have been briefly de- 
scribed,—and where the treatment required was simple 
and could be safely entrusted to nurses, it has been pre- 
scribed. Some of the most common and fatal diseases 
of this kind, such as scarlet fever, have been omitted, as 
their treatment should always be conducted by the phy- 
sician. 
CHAPTER V. 
DIETARY FOR SICK PERSONS. 
Attention to diet is indispensable in the treatment of 
all diseases: this is particularly true in reference to 
diseases of the digestive organs. In acute inflamma- 
tions and fevers, there is usually no inclination to take 
food ; on the contrary, most kinds are loathed,—so that 
there is little danger of committing any error. Diet- 122 
DIETARY FOR THE SICK. 
ary rules are important in chronic diseases of the di- 
gestive organs, for the reason that the appetite is fre- 
quently unimpaired, and often, even increased, so that 
the patient is liable to indulge in excesses. In chronic 
local diseases, when the constitution is unimpaired and 
the appetite sharp, a moderate quantity of plain food is 
beneficial. 
In most diseases, the appetite is a tolerably correct 
index to the kind and quantity of food which may be 
taken. Patients are often put unnecessarily upon low di- 
et : “ in fevers, when the patient can eat, he may usu- 
ally do so ; for if he has only a slight degree of fever, 
he cannot eat,” and will therefore commit no error in 
this respect. 
The Mode of Cookery, is important in the sick dieta- 
ry. Boiling, is the mode best suited to dietary prepa- 
rations for dyspeptics, convalescents and sick persons : 
this mode increases the digestibility, and lessens the 
nutritive qualities of most kinds of food. Roasting, 
next to boiling, is the best mode of cooking meats ; 
these should be neither “ rare” nor overdone : meat 
well done, and neither raw nor burnt, is the most nu- 
tricious and digestible. Broiling, effects the same 
changes in meat as roasting, and renders it more savory. 
Baking, is similar to roasting and broiling, but renders 
all foods less nutritive and digestible. Frying, is a mode 
in which no food should be cooked for sick or convales- 
cent persons. DIETARY FOR THE SICK. 
123 
Times of Eating.—The habit of eating little and 
often is an erroneous one : fresh food should not be in- 
troduced into the stomach, until the digestion of the 
former meal is completed. Breakfast should be taken 
soon after rising ; dinner, in from four to six hours af- 
ter : no luncheon need be taken before dinner unless 
this meal is unusually late; for dyspeptics who dine 
late no supper is necessary. % « 
The quantity eaten at one time, must be governed 
mostly by the sense of hunger and previous experience r 
patients should never eat to satiety, but always cease 
while a little appetite still remains. Several kinds of 
diet are designated by authors to be adopted by inva- 
lids, under various circumstances. 
A full diet, is allowed in scrofula, some diseases of 
the nervous system, and convalescence from acute dis- 
eases. This diet consists of a liberal amount of ani- 
mal, with other food,—and sometimes beer, wine or 
spirits. 
An animal diet, consists of animal food, such as 
meat, fish, poultry, milk, butter and cheese : the only 
disease in which an exclusively animal diet is recom- 
mended, is diabetes. 
A vegetable diet, exclusively, is never either neces- 
sary or proper, for adult persons. 
A spare diet, consists mainly of vegetables combined 
with a little butcher’s meat, white fish and poultry. 124 
DIETARY FOR THE SICK. 
This is prescribed for plethoric persons, with a tenden- 
cy to congestions, apoplexy and gout. 
A fever diet, consists mostly of gruels, broths, teas 
and jellies : it should always be in the fluid form, as 
solid food is inadmissible in fevers. 
A low diet, should be adopted in acute inflammations 
of important organs,—after severe injuries, surgical 
operations and accouchment: it is similar to the fever 
diet, with the addition of milk, buscuit, and light pud- 
dings. 
A milk diet, includes, besides milk, arrow root, sago, 
rice, biscuit and light puddings : it is well adapted to 
inflammatory diseases of the chest, chronic diseases of 
the bladder and bowels, and after great losses of blood. 
A dry diet, is beneficial in diabetes, diuresis, valvular 
diseases of the heart, and cases in which it is necessary 
to diminish the amount of fluids taken. 
Particular courses of diet are prescribed for the in- 
sane, the pauper, and the convict, but they need not be 
detailed here. Rotation or change, from one kind of 
diet to another, is often beneficial, but limits will not 
admit of further remarks on this subject. 
This brief sketch of dietary principles, is condensed 
from Doct. Pereira’s work on “Food and Diet.” We 
give below, a few of the most common and important 
dietary preparations for the sick. DIET FOR THE SICK. 
125 
DIETARY PREPARATIONS. 
Oaten Gruel.—Boil two tablespoonfuls of sifted oat 
meal in one quart of water for ten minutes,—then add 
a teaspoonful of salt, one of wine, one of lemon juice, 
and a little nutmeg. 
Indian Gruel.—Boil two tablespoonfuls of indian 
meal in one quart of water for twenty minutes,—add 
salt, sugar and nutmeg, or lemon to suit the taste. 
Sweet Corn Gruel.—Bo-il three tablespoonfuls of 
dried sweet corn in one quart of water for half an hour, 
—season with salt and strain through linen. 
Sago Milk.—Soak a teaspoonful of sago in a pint 
of cold water one hour,—pour off the water and boil 
the sago in a pint and a half of milk fifteen minutes, 
stirring constantly ;—season with salt, sugar, ginger or 
nutmeg, and sometimes wine. 
Sago Mucilage.—Soak a tablespoonful of sago, in a 
pint of warm water two hours, then boil the same fif- 
teen minutes stirring constantly ;—season with salt* 
lemon juice, sugar, nutmeg and wine. Arrow root and 
tapioca may be prepared in the same way as sago. 
Beef Tea.—Cut one pound of lean fresh beef into 
shreds, and boil in one quart of water for twenty min- 
utes,—add one teaspoonful of salt and strain thro’ linen. 
Mutton Broth.—Boil the same quantity of lean fresh 
mutton and water as above, for one hour,—add a few 
crusts of bread, season with salt and parsley and strain. 126 
DIETARY FOR TEE SICK. 
Milk Porridge.—Boil one pint of water, and one of 
milk ; add one tablespoonful of wheat flour made into a 
thin paste, season with salt and boil five minutes. 
Oyster Soup.—Boil four oysters in one pint of water 
for five minutes, add one small cracker and a little salt. 
Barley Water.—Boil two ounces of pearl barley in 
one quart of water down to one pint,—season with 
salt, lemon and sugar, and strain through linen. 
Apple Tea.—Boil a middle sized sour apple in one 
pint of water, strain and sweeten with white sugar. 
Peach tea may be made in the same way after remov- 
ing the stone. 
Wine Whey.—Boil one pint of new milk, and while 
boiling, add a large wine glass full of sherry or madei- 
ra wine,—let it boil a few minutes, remove it from the 
fire, let it cool a few minutes, then strain from the curd 
and sweeten with white sugar. 
Tamarind Water.—Boil six tamarinds in one pint 
of water for ten minutes, and strain through linen. 
Currant Water.—Boil equal quantities of currant 
juice and water, a few minutes; strain through flannel 
and season with orange peel and loaf sugar. Cherry 
water, may be made in the same way. 
Chicken Water.—Take half a chicken, remove the 
fat, break the bones and boil in two quarts of water for 
half an hour,—add two teaspoonfuls of salt and strain 
through linen. DIETARY PREPARATIONS. 
127 
Lemonade.■—To one pint of water, add the juice of 
one lemon and the beaten whites of two eggs, and 
sweeten with white sugar. 
Orange Jelly.—Squeeze the juice from six oranges 
and half a lemon, add half a pound of white sugar, 
half a pint of water, boil and strain through flannel, 
then add one ounce of isinglass, and when this is well 
dissolved put it into a mould or dish to cool. 
Biscuit Jelly.—Soak one biscuit or Boston cracker 
in one pint of water, boil and add white sugar, wine 
and nutmeg or lemon to the taste. 
Sago Jelly.—Soak two tablespoonfuls of sago in 
water one hour,—pour ofF the water and boil the sago 
in half a pint of water until it is transparent, then sea- 
son with sait, lemon, wine and sugar to the taste. 
Tapioca Jelly.—Soak the tapioca eight hours and 
then prepare like sago jelly. 
Isinglass Jelly.—Boil two ounces of isinglass in one 
quart of water down to one pint and add one ounce 
white lemon candy. 
Rice Jelly.—Boil three tablespoonfuls of rice and 
three of white sugar, in just sufficient water to cover it 
until it becomes a jelly, and season to the taste. 
Calves' feet Jelly.—Boil one calf’s foot in two quarts 
of water till reduced to one pint,'—strain, and when 
cold skim carefully and add one leaspoonful of 
the whites of three eggs beaten with four ounces-of 128 
DIETARY FOR THE SICK. 
white sugar, one gill of wine, and the juice of two 
lemons,—boil the whole, stirring constantly for four 
minutes, then strain through flannel. 
Moss Jelly.—Soak half an ounce of Irish moss a 
few minutes in cold water, then drain it off and boil it 
in one quart of water until it becomes a jelly,—strain, 
and season with cinnamon, wine and white sugar. 
Rice Pudding.—Boil one teacupful of soaked rice 
in one quart of milk,—then add two tablespoonfuls of 
sugar and one egg beaten together, and one tea- 
spoonful of salt—bake orfe hour. 
Milk Toast.—Toast a thin slice of wheafen bread 
slightly brown,—pour on to it some boiling milk, and 
season with nutmeg and salt. 
Boston Cracker Toast.—Split Boston Crackers, toast 
them brown, pour on boiling water and drain it off, 
then season with butter, sugar, lemon juice and nutmeg 
or orange peel. 
Broiled Meat.—Broil the lean round or surloin of 
beef or mutton on the coals until tender, and season 
with salt or tomato ketchup. 
Boiled Eggs.—Boil eggs until the white is partly 
cooked, and the yolk slightly turned, remove from the 
shell and season with salt. 
Roast Potatoes.—Roast pink-eyed potatoes in the 
fire until well done, remove the outside crust, mash and 
season with salt and cream. MORAL TREATMENT OF CHILDREN. 
129 
Panada.—Pour boiling water on toasted bread, and 
season with butter, white sugar, lemon and nutmeg. 
Boiled Custard.—Beat one egg in one pint of milk, 
add salt and sugar to the taste and boil two minutes. 
Starch Pudding.—To oue pint of boiling milk, add 
two tablespoonfuls of starch and one egg beaten to- 
gether,—season with sugar, salt, wine and nutmeg and 
boil one minute. 
Rice Caudle.^Make a paste of two tablespoonfuls 
of ground fice in a little cold water, boil in one pint of 
water and season with salt and nutmeg. 
Dyspepsia Bread.—Mix together three quarts of un- 
bolted wheat flour, one quart of warm water, one gill 
of fresh yeast, one gill of molasses and two teaspoon- 
fids of salt,—let it rise, and bake. 
CHAPTER VI. 
MORAL TREATNENT OF CHILDREN. 
By moral treatment, we mean the training and devel- 
oping of all the moral and intellectual powers, and the 
restraining and directing of the sentiments and passions. 
During the period of infancy and childhood, the ani- 
mal appetites, propensities, and passions, predominate 
ia action,-over the moral and intellectual powers. This 130 
MORAL TREATMENT 
want of balance to control and direct the moral char- 
acters of children, renders it indispensable to their 
proper formation, that judicious training and proper ex- 
ample should exist in every family. A cheerful dispo- 
sition, and a mind in which all the powers are properly 
employed, and tho sentiments gratified to a reasonable 
extent, tends powerfully to the promotion of physical 
health and enjoyment. Habitual peevishness and dis- 
satisfaction are almost always productive* of physical 
disease. The passions, anger, jealousy, fear, conten- 
tion, envy, revenge, obstinacy, pride, despondency, av- 
arice and dishonesty ; if not counteracted by judicious 
and prompt restraint,—instead of being increased by 
neglect and excitement,—destroy the present comfort 
and health of the child, and produce lasting ruin to the 
whole after period of existence. 
In many cases, the entire nursery discipline tends to 
rouse to action the worst passions of the child, rather 
than to direct them so as to give that energy and pro- 
pelling power to the character, which is their legiti- 
mate province. At one time he is fondled and flatter- 
ed, and at another beaten,—and both for the same pur- 
pose. This treatment not only stimulates and inflames 
the very passions it is intended to quell,—but shows to 
the child that the parent has no fixed rule or principle 
in his government, and acts only from passion and im- 
pulse. Very young children will soon get the impres- OP CHILDREN. 
131 
sion from such conduct, that the parent has no confi- 
dence in the justice of his administration, and that pa- 
ternal rule is only a system of tyranny : he consequent- 
ly disregards commands, holds authority in contempt, 
and seeks every opportunity of disobedience and retali- 
ation. A child whose most innocent desires are con- 
stantly thwarted, whose joyous spirits are frozen by the 
frown of an austere parent, whose buoyant aspirations 
are checked by disapproval, soon becomes discouraged, 
sullen and obstinate,—and disposed to gratify his incli- 
nations by slyness and stealth, even at the risk of pun- 
ishment ; rather than to suffer the pain of a restraint 
which his own innate judgment tells him is unjust. 
The habit of addressing children in a harsh and un- 
kind manner ; or of teasing and irritating them merely 
for sport, tends to alienate their affections and destroy 
paternal dignity, influence and respect. 
Care must be taken not to mistake the real wants 
and discomforts of children, for whims and caprices,— 
nor their inability to obey, for obstinacy and wilfulness. 
Real wants should always be supplied, the slightest 
pains alleviated, and innocent desires, to a reasonable 
extent, gratified : but irritability should be allayed by 
gentle and soothing, but firm treatment, and obstinacy 
resolutely subdued. Children should never be hired or 
coaxed to comply with the request of a parent; nor 
should they when disappointed or hurt, be consoled and 132 
MORAL TREATMENT 
hushed by expressions of extreme pity ; nothing tends 
more to encourage an exacting, complaining disposi- 
tion, and a habit of fretfulness from slight causes. 
The delicate and impressible nervous system of chil. 
dren, renders them liable to injury from causes appa- 
rently insignificant: thus, a loud sound, a harsh tone 
of voice, a rude shake, a severe blow, a forbidding an- 
gry look, an uncouth object, or sudden rousing from 
sleep, may produce convulsions, spasms, idocy or ma- 
nia. Although these causes might fall upon the con- 
stitution of the adult almost unnoticed ; still the alarm 
expressed by every feature, the agitation of the whole 
body, the fluttering heart and the piercing shrieks, 
prove them to be too intense for the delicate organism 
of the child. 
The gambols and loquacity of childhood, are impul- 
sive and irresistible,—and the result of a joyous over- 
flow of spirits, which they cannot suppress nor others 
control. And however improper or silly their conduct 
may appear to the grave and tranquil mind of age and 
wisdom,—yet if this native fire of youth be'Constantly 
smothered by frowns and restraint; it will smoulder in 
the system till the mental energies are palsied,—or it 
will burst forth into a disease which will ultimately 
consume the whole physical fabric. 
No greater error can be committed than that of over- 
taxing 'the powers of the mind by too early and intense OP CHILDREN. 
133 
application to study. Even in children possessing a 
peculiar aptitude for learning, and of precocious tal- 
ents ;—these ill-directed efforts, only exhaust the fee- 
ble growing powers of the mind, and deprive it of that 
energy, and depth, which if allowed to develope itself 
spontaneously, it might attain. Children who mani- 
fest great procosity of mind, show a condition of the 
brain bordering on disease: and this, by intense appli- 
cation to subjects two vast and difficult for their com- 
prehension, may, and sometimes does, result in mania 
or imbecility. The child may be talented, and the pa- 
rent vain ; he flatters and urges the little student to se- 
vere mental labor, by appeals to every passion ; vainly 
hoping to produce to the world an infant philosopher,— 
until by extreme mental tension, the powers give way, 
and the former prodigy becomes a drivelling idiot. 
With such children, no positive attempts should be 
made to cultivate the mind while young ; their patience 
should not be taxed, their memories burdened, nor their 
bodies confined. But their school hours should be a- 
bridged, their spirits free ; and parents should be con- 
tent, with their learning voluntarily, such promiscuous 
ideas as come incidentally within their observation. 
The education of the moral powers, however, should 
be commenced much earlier, and may be continued 
with less danger of injury from over exertion. In de- 
veloping and directing this class of faculties, nothing is 134 
MORAL TREATMENT 
so important as proper example; for without this, in 
connexion with practical exercise of these powers, all 
the moral teaching that can be bestowed, will be a mere 
nullity. What avails it to tell a child to be virtuous, 
and then give the lie to our injunction by our own vi- 
cious conduct. The parent will almost always be re- 
flected in the child,—and he has no right to expect a 
better course of conduct in his child, than he daily 
teaches, both by his counsel and example. If we would 
have a child liberal and benevolent, instead of sordid 
and avaricious,—we must furnish him means, and give 
him frequent opportunities of relieving distress and 
want: if we would have him honest, we must be scru- 
pulously exact in all our dealings before him : if we 
desire to cultivate in him a mild and pacific temper, we 
must ourselves be a pattern of such a character. Eve- 
ry incident should be made available to inculcate some 
moral lesson. 
Children copy with wonderful ease and facility, the 
manners and habits of seniors and superiors, and 
their influence over them is immense, even when un- 
suspected. 
A child playing unobserved in a corner, may hear a 
word or see an action, which may affect his moral 
character to the end of life. There can be no ques- 
tion that children, according to the influences by which 
they are surrounded, are equally inclined to good or OP CHILDREN. 
135 
evil : thus their first lispings may be falsehood and 
profanity, and their first acts criminal,—or they may 
be the reverse. Hence, the fearful and vast responsi- 
bility, of assuming the rearing and direction of an im- 
mortal being, whose every emotion is to tell on his fu- 
ture destiny, either for weal or for woe. 
The perceptive faculties are another class of powers 
which may be early brought into action by presenting 
to them the objects which constitute their proper stimu- 
lus. They are the first of the knowing powers which 
are manifested, and are usually active at an early pe- 
riod : they take cognixance of the physical properties 
of bodies, and their relations and phenomena. A large 
amount of useful knowledge may be acquired by the 
child, without overtaxing or fatiguing his mind, by 
carefully directing it to familiar and interesting objects 
and phenomena. The various styles of architecture, 
machinery, and other works of art,—the different 
branches of natural history,—commerce, &c.,—all fur- 
nish amusing and important facts, which may be im- 
perceptibly attained by children, without effort, or the 
idea of its being laborious,—as confinement to study al- 
ways is. In this way they may soon be able to trace 
the connexion between cause and effect, admire the har- 
mony and order of nature, and perceive the uses and 
advantages of science. This kind of mental exercise 
allures the youthful student forth into “ the garden’s 136 
MORAL TREATMENT 
cultured walks; o’er grassy fields; through flowery 
meads; along the river’s brink ; amid the silence of 
the forest shade ; upon the hill side ; or by old ocean’s 
shore,”—where every object lends enchantment to the 
scene, affords pleasure without alloy, and prepares the 
mind for higher and more sublime achievements. It is 
to be regretted, that so small a part of education is de- 
voted to the natural sciences, which are easily learned, 
and so proper for experimental study and personal ob- 
servation. The mind is educated from books, and re- 
ceives its impressions through the medium of other 
minds : the erudition of books, dwells in the memory 
untenable and obscure,—instead of being fixed vividly 
and indelibly, as is always done by the conclusions of 
actual experiment. The knowledge is foreign and bor- 
rowed,—original investigation is rejected,—the mental 
resources rest upon authority,—and the education at 
best, is but a poor transcript of other minds equally li* 
able to error. 
“ Exact knowledge consists in those things which 
can be seen and demonstrated ; while in all knowledge 
of inferience there is progression. Nature is always 
perfect and unvarying,—but man’s knowledge is pro- 
gressive ; consequently, in every advance he arrives 
nearer the truth,—and yet, as far from knowing all 
nature and her laws, as he is from infinity.” When 
shall mankind universally, become thinking beings ? OF CHILDREN. 
137 
When shall they rise from beneath the crushing influ- 
ence of precedent ; spurn the obligations of authori- 
ty, and burst the shackles of a scholastic dogmatism ? 
When shall they rise superior to mere physical existen- 
ces, and assert the legitimate prerogatives of beings 
who were “ created a little lower than the angels ?” 
This auspicious day, though far distant beyond our 
time, is destined to dawn upon the earth with transcend- 
ent spiritual and intellectual glory. 
“ Ah could the muse, with prescient pen'reveal, 
Ail which thy clouds, Fotcrity, conceal; 
All that remote posterity shall know, 
How bright, how dazzling would the picture grow. 
Yes. soon the soul’s imprisonment shall cease, 
For He who ransomed, will ere long release,— 
Soon shall she drop her shackles, and arise, 
Buoyant and fearless to her native skies.” 
FINIS. INDEX. 
PAGE. 
Frontispiece, .. ... .... 2 
Preface, .. ... .... 5 
Introduction, .. ... .... 7 
Osseous System, .. ... .... 13 
CHAPTER I. 
Anatomy, .. ... .... 14 
Physiology, ,. ... .... 14 
Organized Bodies, .. ... .... 14 
Skeleton, .. ... .... 14 
Muscles, .. ... .... 15 
Nerves, .. ... .... 15 
Blood Vessels, .. ... .... 15 
Arteries, .. ... .... 15 
Veins* .. ... .... 15 
Glands, .. ... .... 15 
Ligaments, .. ... .... 15 
Cartilage, .. ... .... 15 
Bursa, .. ... .... 15 
Tendons, .. ... .... 16 
Membranes, ,. ... .... 16 
Hair, .. ... .... 16, 
Nails, .. ... .... 16 > 
Cuticle, .. ... .... 16 
Blood, .. ... .... 16 - 
Fluids of the System, .. ... .... 16 ; 
Respiration, Organs of ,. ... .... 1® , 
Windpipe, .. •.. 26, 140 
INDEX. 
PAGE. 
Lungs, .. 20 
Diaphragm, .. ... .... 20 
Circulation, Organs of .. ... .... 23 
Heart, .. ... .... 23 
Capillaries, .. ... .... 23 
Digestion, Organs of .. ... .... 24 
Stomach, .. ... .... 24 
Esophagus, .. ... .... 24 
Bowels, .. ... .... 24 
Liver, .. ... 24 
Gall Bladder, .. ... .... 24 
Pancreas, .. ... .... 27 
Respiration, .. ... .... 28 
Circulation, .. ... .... 29 
Digestion, .. ... .... 33 
Urinary Organs, .. ... .... 34 
Chyme, .. ... .... 34 
Lacteal Vessels, .. ... .... 34 
Thoracic Duct, .. ... .... 34 
Chyle, .. ... .... 34 
Animal Heat, .. ... .... 37 
Temperature of the Body, .. ... .... 37 
Nervous System, .. ... .... 37 
Animals—Cold Blooded, .. ... .... 38 
Animals—Warm Blooded, .. ... .... 38 
Five Senses, .. ... .... 40 
s‘ght. • • ... .... 40 
Hearing, .. ... . . .1. 40 
Taste, .. ... 40 
Smell, .. ... . . . . 41 
Feeling> • • ... .... 41 
Organization in Infancy, .. ... .... 41 
Functions in Infancy, .. ... .... 42 
Childhood, .. ... .... 43 
Temperament, .. ... .... 44 
Sanguine, .. ... . . . . 44 
.. ... 44 
Bilioua, .. ... . ... 45 
Lymphatic, .. ... .... 45 
Differences between Male and Female, ... .... 45 INDEX. 
141 
PAGE. 
Diseases of Childhood, .. ... .... 49 
Muscular System, .. ... .... 49 
General Symptoms of Disease, .. ... .... 51 
Countenance, .. ... .... 51 
Sleep, .. ... .... 51 
Crying, .. ... .... 51 
Respiration, .. ... .... 52 
Tongue and Mouth, .. ... .... 52 
Skin, .. ... .... 52 
Breath, .. ... .... 52 
Evacuations, .. ... .... 52 
Urine, .. ... .... 53 
Bones, .. ... .... 53 
Management of Children, .. ... .... 54 
Air, .. ... .... 54 
Bathing, .. ... .... 55 
Bath—Cold, .. ... .... 58 
Bath—Warm, .. ... .... 58 
Bath—Tepid, .. ... .... 58 
Clothing, .. ... .... 58 
Sleep, .. ... .... 60 
Exercise, .. ... .... 02 
Drinks, .. ... .... 65 
Diet, .. ... 66 
Medicines, .. ... .... 69 
CHAPTER II. 
CHAPTER III. 
Diseases of Children, .. .. • .... 71 
Difficult Teething, .. • • • .... 71 
Toothache, .. • • • .... 71 
Decay in Teeth, Causes of .. • • • .... 72 
Gums—Inflamed, .. ... .... 72 
Thrush, .. ... .... 73 
Canker, .. ... .... 74 
Tongue Tie, .. • • • .... 75 142 
INDEX 
PAGE. 
Nose, Diseases of .. ... .... 75 
Nose, Polypus of .. ... .... 75 
Ozena, • • • • • .... 76 
Nose Bleed, •• ••• .... *6 
Coryza, or Snuffles, .. ..... 76 
Foreign Bodies in the Nose, .. ... .... 77 
Eye, Diseases of .. .. • .... 77 
“ Acute Inflammation of .. ... .... 77 
“ Chronic Inflammation of ... .... 77 
Strabismus, .. • • ■ .... 77 
Stye, • • • • • .... 78 
Ear, Diseases of .. ... .... 78 
“ Acute Inflammation of .. ... .... 78 
“ Chronic Inflammation of ... .... 78 
Nervous Earache, .. ... .... 78 
Foreign Bodies in the Ear, .. .... .... 78 
Malignant Sore Throat, .. ... .... 78 
Croup, • • • • • .... 79 
Laryngitis, • • • • • .... 80 
Quinzy, • • • • • .... 80 . 
Tonsils Enlarged, ,. ... .... 80 
Palate Enlarged, .. • • • .... 81 
Bronchitis, .. ••• .... 81. 
Lungs, Inflammation of • • . •. .... 82 
Whooping Cough, .. ... .... 82 
Choking, ■. • • • .... 84 
Indigestion, .. ... .... 84 
Stomach, Inflemmation of .. ... .... 85 
Colic, . • ... .... 86 
Diarrhea, .. ... .... 87 
Cholera Infantum—(Summer Complaint,) ... .... 88 
Dysentery, .. ... .... 89 
Worms, .. ... .... 91 
Piles, (or Prolapsus of the Bowels,) ... «... 93 
Ruptures, or Bursts, .. ... .... 94 
Jaundice, .. ... .... 95 
Incontinence of Urine, .. ... .... 95 
Convulsions, .. ... .... 96 
Breasts Inflamed, .. ... .... 97 
Suspended Animation—(Apparent Death,) ... .... 98 INDEX. 
143 
PAGE. 
Mumps, .. ... .... 100 
Felons, .. ... .... 100 
Boils, .. ... .... 101 
Warts, .. ... .... 102 
Corns, .. ... .... 102 
Bites of Animals, .. ... .... 102 
Bites and Stings of Insects, .. ... .... 102 
Poisons, .. ... .... 103 
Frost Bites, .. ... .... 104 
Chilblains, .. ... .... 104 
Burns, .. ... .... 105 
Wounds, .. ... .... 106 
“ Incised, .. ... .... 100 
“ Punctured, .. ... .... 106 
“ Bruised, .. ... .... 100 
Club-Foot, .. ... .... 107 
Weak Ankles, .. ... .... 107 
Hare Lip, .. ... .... 108 
Stammering, .. ... .... 108 
Scrofula, .'. ..« .... 109 
Rickets, .. ... .... Ill 
CHAPTER IV. 
Diseases of the Skin, .. ... .... 113 
Measles—(Rubeola,) .. ... .... 113 
Scarlet Rash—(Roseola,) .. ... .... 114 
Crusted Tetter—(Impetigo,) .. ... .... 114 
Prickly Heat—(Eczema,) .. ... .... 115 
Nettle Rash—(Urticaria,) .. ... .... 116 
Chicken Pox—(Varicella,) .. ... .... 116 
RingWorm—(Herpes,) .. ... .... 117 
Itch—(Psora,) .. ... .... 117 
Scald Head—(Porrigo,) .. ... .... 119 
Kine Pox—(Vaccinna,) .. ... .... 119 
Vaccination, .. ... .... 120 144 
INDEX. 
CHAPTER V. 
Pa6i;. 
Dietary for Sick Persons, .. ... .... 121 
Mode of Cookery, .. ... .... 122 
Boiling—Roasting—Baking—Broiling—Frying, .... 122 
Times of Eating, .. .... .... 123 
Quantity Eaten, .. ... .'. . . 123 
Full Diet, .. ... .... 123 
Animal Diet, .. ... .... 123 
Vegetable Diet, .. ... .... 123 
Spare Diet, .. ... .... 123 
Fever Diet, .. ... .... 124 
Low Diet, .. ... .... 124 
Milk Diet, .. ... .... 124 
Dry Diet, .. ... .... 124 
Dietary Preparations, .. ... .... 126 
CHAPTER VI. 
Moral Treatment of Children, .. ... .... 129 
INDEX TO PLATES. 
Plate I. Osseous or Bony System, ... .... 12 
“ II. Organs of Respiration, ... .... 18 
“ III. Arterial System, ... .... 22 
“ IV. Digestive Organs, ... .... 20 
“ V. Urinary Organs, ... .... 32 
“ VI. Nervous System, ... .... 32 
“ VII. Muscular System, .. t i . . . 48