Chapter XIII: Part 13

If health were more and fashion were less studied, chlorosis would not be such a frequent complaint. This disease generally takes its rise from mismanagement—from Nature’s laws having been set at defiance. I have heard a silly mother express an opinion that it is not _genteel_ for a girl to eat _heartily_! Such language is perfectly absurd and cruel. How often, too, a weak mother declares that a healthy, blooming girl looks like a milkmaid! It would be well if she did! How true and sad it is, that “a pale, delicate face, and clear eyes, indicative of consumption, are the fashionable _desiderata_ at present for complexion.”

A growing girl requires _plenty_ of _good_ nourishment—as much as her appetite demands; and if she have it not, she will become either chlorotic, or consumptive, or delicate. Besides, _the greatest beautifier in the world is health_; therefore, by a mother studying the health of her daughter, she will, at the same time, adorn her body with beauty! I am sorry to say that too many parents think more of the beauty than of the health of their girls. Sad and lamentable infatuation! Nathaniel Hawthorne gives a graphic description of a delicate young lady. He says: “She is one of those delicate, nervous young creatures not uncommon in New England, and whom I suppose to have become what we find them by the gradually refining away of the physical system among young women. Some philosophers choose to glorify this habit of body by terming it spiritual; but, in my opinion, it is rather the effect of unwholesome food, bad air, lack of out-door exercise, and neglect of bathing, on the part of these damsels and their female progenitors, all resulting in a kind of hereditary dyspepsia.”

Nathaniel Hawthorne, a distinguished American, was right. Such ladies, when he wrote, were not uncommon: but within the last two or three years, to their great credit be it spoken, “a change has come o’er the spirit of their dreams,” and they are wonderfully improved in health; for, with all reverence be it spoken, “God helps them who help themselves,” and they have helped themselves by attending to the rules of health: “The women of America are growing more and more handsome every year for just this reason. They are growing rounder of chest, fuller of limb, gaining substance and development in every direction. Whatever may be urged to the contrary, we believe this to be a demonstrable fact.... When the rising generation of American girls once begin to wear thick shoes, to take much exercise in the open air, to skate, to play croquet, and to affect the saddle, it not only begins to grow more wise but more healthful, and—which must follow as the night the day—more beautiful.”

If a young girl had plenty of wholesome meat, varied from day to day, either plain roast or boiled, and neither stewed, nor hashed, nor highly seasoned, for her stomach; if she had an abundance of fresh air for her lungs; if she had plenty of active exercise, such as skipping, dancing, running, riding, swimming, for her muscles; if her clothing were warm and loose, and adapted to the season; if her mind were more occupied with active, _useful_ occupation, such as household work, than at present, and if she were kept calm and untroubled from the hurly-burly and excitement of fashionable life,—chlorosis would almost be an unknown disease. It is a complaint of rare occurrence with country girls, but of great frequency with fine city ladies.

382. _What treatment should you advise?_

The treatment which would prevent should be adopted when the complaint first makes its appearance. If the above means do not quickly remove it, the mother must then apply to a medical man, and he will give medicines _which will soon have the desired effect_. If the disease be allowed for any length of time to run on, it might produce either organic—incurable—disease of the heart, or consumption, or indigestion, or confirmed ill health.

383. _At what period of life is a lady most prone to Hysterics, and what are the symptoms?_

The time of life when hysterics occur is generally from the age of fifteen to fifty. Hysterics come on by paroxysms—hence they are called hysterical fits. A patient, just before an attack, is low spirited: crying without a cause; she is “nervous,” as it is called; she has flushings of the face; she is at other times very pale; she has shortness of breath and occasional palpitations of the heart; her appetite is usually bad; she passes quantities of colorless limpid urine, having the appearance of pump water; she is much troubled with flatulence in her bowels, and, in consequence, she feels bloated and uncomfortable. The “wind” at length rises upward toward the stomach, and still upward to the throat, giving her the sensation of a ball stopping her breathing, and producing a feeling of suffocation. The sensation of a ball in the throat (_globus hystericus_) is the commencement of the fit.

She now becomes _partially_ insensible, although she seldom loses _complete_ consciousness. Her face becomes flushed, her nostrils dilated, her head thrown back, and her stomach and bowels enormously distended with “wind.” After a short time she throws her arms and legs about convulsively, she beats her breast, tears her hair and clothes, laughs boisterously, and screams violently; at other times she makes a peculiar noise; sometimes she sobs, and her face is much distorted. At length she brings up enormous quantities of wind; after a time, she bursts into a violent flood of tears, and then gradually comes to herself.

As soon as the fit is at an end she generally passes enormous quantities of colorless limpid urine. She might, in a short time, fall into another attack similar to the above. When she comes to herself she feels exhausted and tired, and usually complains of slight headache, and of great soreness of the body and limbs. She seldom remembers what has occurred during the fit. Hysterics are sometimes frightful to witness; but, in themselves, are not at all dangerous.

384. _What are the causes of Hysterics?_

Delicate health, chlorosis, improper and not sufficiently nourishing food, grief, anxiety, excitement of the mind, closely confined rooms, want of exercise, indigestion, flatulence, and tight lacing are the causes which usually produce hysterics. Hysterics are frequently feigned; indeed, oftener than any other complaint; and even a _genuine_ case is usually much aggravated by a patient herself giving way to them.

385. _What do you recommend an Hysterical lady to do?_

To improve her health by proper management; to rise early and to take a walk, that she may breathe pure and wholesome air,—indeed, she ought to live nearly half her time in the open air, exercising herself with walking, skipping, etc.; to employ her mind with botany, croquet, archery, or with any other out-door amusement; to confine herself to plain, wholesome, nourishing food; to avoid tight lacing; to eschew fashionable amusements; and, above all, not to give way to her feelings, but if she feel an attack approaching, to rouse herself.

_If the fit be upon her_, the better plan is to banish all the _male_ sex from the room, and not even to have many women about her, and for those around to loosen her dress; to lay her in the center of the room, flat upon the ground, with a pillow under her head; to remove combs and pins and brooches from her person; to dash cold water upon her face; to apply cloths, or a large sponge wetted in cold water, to her head; to throw open the window, and then to leave her to herself; or at all events, to leave her with only one _female_ friend or attendant. If such be done, she will soon come round; but what is the usual practice? If a girl be in hysterics, the whole house, and perhaps the neighborhood, is roused; the room is crowded to suffocation; fears are openly expressed by those around that she is in a dangerous state; she hears what they say, and her hysterics are increased tenfold.

* * * * *

If this book is to be of use to mothers and to the rising generation, as I humbly hope and trust that it has been, and that it will be still more abundantly, it ought not to be listlessly read, merely as a novel, or as any other piece of fiction, but it must be thoughtfully and carefully studied, until its contents, in all its bearings, be completely mastered and understood.

In conclusion, I beg to thank you for the courtesy, confidence, and attention I have received at your hands, and to express a hope that my advice, through God’s blessing, may not have been given in vain.

INDEX.

Ablution of a child, 108

Ablution of an infant, 19

Ablution of a youth, 274

Ablution, thorough, of a boy and girl, 274

Accidents of children, 256

Acne, or red pimples, symptoms and treatment of, 335

Advice to a mother if her infant be poorly, 105

Advice to _Mr. Paterfamilias_, 163

Ailments, the distinction between _serious_ and _slight_, 79

Ailments, slight, of infants, 77

Air and exercise for youth, 290

Air, the importance of good, 134

Air, the necessity of fresh, and changing the, 134

American ladies, health and beauty of, 342

Amusements for a child, 155

Amusements for a girl, 296

Amusements for a boy, 294

Ankles, of a babe, weak, 104

Antipathies of a child, 132

Aperients for a child, 221

Aperients, the effect of, on an infant, 83

Aperients, the effect of, on a new-born babe, 78

Aperients, the effect of, on a youth, 331

Aperients, danger in frequent use of, 331

Appeal to mothers, 334

Appetite, on a child losing his, 130

Applications, warm external, 254

Apron to wear when washing, 25

Archery, croquet, skating, etc., 296

Arnold, Dr., on corporal punishment, 300

Arrow-root, the use of, for an infant, 40

Artificial food for an infant, 36

Asses’ milk more suitable for the delicate, 44

Babes should kick about on the floor, 70

Baby-slaughter, or “massacre of the innocents”, 43

Baked crumb of bread for an infant, 37

Baked flour for an infant, 38

Bakers’ and home-made bread, 132

Band, when to discontinue the use of, 30

Bathing after a _full_ meal, 279

Baths, cold, tepid and warm, 280

Baths, warm, instead of cordials and carminatives, 88

Beard as a respirator, covering and improvement, 326

Bed, on placing the child in his, 165

Beds, feather, ill effects of, 164

Beds, cleansing and purification of, 206

Bed-rooms, the ventilation of, 308

Bed-rooms should be cool, 166

Bed-rooms, a plan to ventilate, 308

Bee, best application for the sting of a, 268

Beef, salted or boiled, 126

Belladonna, poisoning by, 270

Beverage for a child, 127

“Black eye,” remedies for a, 257

Bleeding of infant, how nurse can restrain, 27

Bleeding, violent, from the nose, 328

Blood, the spitting of, 332

Blows and bruises of child, 256

Boarding-schools for females, 301

Boarding-schools, remarks on cheap, 303

Boiled bread for infants, 36

Boiled flour for infants’ food, 37

Boils, the best application for, 218

Boots and shoes for the prevention of corns, 339

Bottles, the use of, in giving artificial food, 40

Boulogne sore throat, or diphtheria, 188

Bow legs, the causes and treatment of, 239

Bowels, care in regard to, 76

Bowels, large, of children, 220

Bowels, various symptoms in regard to, 90

Bowels, the protrusion of lower, 223

Boys should be made strong, 295

Brain, symptoms of water on the, 173

Bran, for the purpose of softening water, 242

Bran poultices, best way to make, 256

Breakfast of a child, what should be the, 120

Breakfast of a youth, in regard to the, 286

Breathing exercise, the desirability of, 295

Brimstone and treacle, the giving of, 225

Brown and Polson’s Corn Flour, 39

Bronchitis, the care and treatment of, 186

Broth, the use of, for infants, 103

Broth, the use of, for a quite young infant, 40

Broth and soup, wholesomeness of, 288

Brothers and sisters, association of, 302

Bruises, immediate remedies for, 256

Burns and scalds, which most dangerous, 261

Burning, danger of, among females, 135

Bullying and snubbing of a child, 146

Butter, wholesomeness and advantage of, 120

Calomel, the danger of a mother prescribing, 86

Calomel, the ill effects of, 331

Camphor makes teeth brittle, 314

Caning and flogging of a boy, 298

Caps, flannel, the necessity of, 29

Carpets in nurseries, the effects of using, 150

Carriage exercise, the advantages of, 293

Carron oil in burns, value of, 263

Castor oil, its effects as a healer, 87

Cat, bites and scratches of a, 268

Chafings, the best treatment of, 80

Chairs, the use of straight-backed, 304

Change of air, the effect of, 227

Change of linen in sickness, 230

Chapped hands and limbs of a child, 242

Chapped lips, excellent application for, 243

Chest, keeping warm the upper part of the, 283

“Chicken-breasted” and narrow-breasted children, 207

Chicken-pox, nature and symptoms of, 223

Chilblains, the way to prevent and cure the, 241

Child, when he should commence to dine with his parents, 133

“Child-crowing,” the perilous disorder of, 179

“Child-crowing,” the treatment of a paroxysm of, 181

Children’s hour, the right method at, 142

Children’s parties, the great follies of, 159

Chimneys, on the stopping of, 150, 229

Chiropodists, the great want of respectable, 338

Chlorosis, causes, symptoms and cure of, 340, 341

Chlorosis is rare in rural districts, 343

“Choking,” what is to be done in a case of, 265

Cisterns, the best kind of, 127

Clothes, on airing an infant’s, 32

Clothes, the ill effects of tight, 111

Clothing, the proper, for children, 111

Clothing, the best kind, for infants, 30

Clothing, the proper kind, during winter, 32

Clothing, the proper kind, for youths, 282

Coffee as an aperient, the use of, 245, 286

Coffee and tea, 286

Coin, on the swallowing of a, 272

Cold bed-room healthy, 167

Cold, a feverish, the best course in case of, 255

Cold, on child always catching, 228

Cold feet, method to warm, 142

Concluding remarks on infancy, 106

Constipation, prevention and cure of, 331

Consumption attacks the _upper_ part of the lungs, 283

Consumption, the age at which it usually appears, 321

Consumption, the causes of, 323

Consumption, the death-rate, 321

Consumption, importance of early consulting a medical man in, 320

Consumption, spitting of blood in, 320

Consumption, the symptoms attending, 321

Consumptive patient, the treatment of a, 324

Convulsions of children, 61, 81

Convulsions from hooping-cough, 82

Cooked fruit for child, the wholesomeness of, 120

Coroners’ inquests on infants, 75

Corporal punishment at schools, 298

Corns, their nature, cause and best remedy, 337, 338

Costiveness in the young, the means to prevent, 86

Costiveness, the best remedies for, 82

Costiveness, the reason why so prevalent, 334

Cough, the danger of stopping a, 68

Cow, the importance of having the milk from ONE, 41, 45

Cream and egg, the advantages of, 121

Cream and water for a babe, 121

Crinoline and the danger to ladies, 135

Croquet for girls, the amusement of, 296

Crossness in a sick child, proper treatment of, 232

Croup, the times for and dangers of, 175

Croup, the treatment of, 176

Cry of an infant, the language in the, 103

Cure, artificial and natural, means of, 239

“Curious phenomenon” in scarlet fever, 197

Cut finger, the best application for, 256

Dancing and skipping, the benefits of, 295

Danger of constantly giving physic, 106

Delicate child, plan to strengthen a, 226

Dentition, the period when begins, 58

Dentition, the lancing of gums in, 60

Dentition, the period of second, 169

Dentition, symptoms and treatment of painful, 66

Diarrhœa in infants, the symptoms of, 90

Diarrhœa in infants, the treatment of, 92

Diet of a child who has cut his teeth, 120

Diet of children generally, 118

Diet of a child raised on artificial food, 44

Diet of a child turned from the natural food, 51

Diet of infants, 33

Diet, on a mother being particular in attending to, 126

Diet of youth, breakfast, 286

Dietary, an infant’s, 36

Dinner for a child, 119

Dinner for a youth, 287

Diphtheria, symptoms, causes and treatment of, 188–193

Dirty child, a, the mother’s disgrace, 77

Diseased nature and strange eruptions, 250

Diseases of children and the symptoms, 170

Diseases of girls, and the causes and symptoms, 340

Diseases of infants and symptoms, 77

Diseases in children, causes of obscure, 244

Diseases, the prevention of, 315

Diseases produced by tight lacing, 284

Diseases, symptoms of _serious_, 79

Doctor, on early calling in the, 253

Dog supposed to be mad, the bite of a, 266

Doleful child, the sight of a, 139

Drainage of the house and neighborhood, 136, 206

Dress, female, health and fashion in, 285

Dress of a child while asleep, 73

Drinking fountains a great boon, 128

Dropping a child, danger of injury in, 258

Dry-raised children, the best food for, 45

“Dusting material” for infants, old-fashioned, 23

Dysentery, symptoms and treatment of, 93–97

Ear, nature and treatment of discharges from the, 220

Ear, removal of a pea or bead from the, 271

Earache, best treatment of the, 219

Earwig in the ear of a child, 272

Early rising, benefit of, 167, 311

Education of children, best plan of, 161

Education in infant schools, 160

Education, home, the best for girls, 301

Education, modern, the best, 301

Education for youth, plan of, 298

Eggs for children, the use of, 126

Enema apparatus an important requisite, 226

Engravings and paintings should be hung in nurseries, 137

Eruptions about the mouth, 249

Excoriations, applications for, 24

Excoriations, the best remedy for, 24

Exercise in the open air, 69, 151, 290

Exercise the best composing medicine, 290

Exercise, importance of, for children, 151

Exercise in wet weather, 153

Exercise, on violently tossing infants for, 70

Exercise, horse and pony, for boys and girls, 292

Exercise, an infant himself taking, 69

Exercise, the best, for youth, 291

Fecal matter in pump water, 206

Fainting, in case of a young lady, 329

Fainting from unhealthy condition, 330

Fainting from general debility, 330

Fainting from a disordered stomach, 330

Falling-off of hair, to prevent, 282

Falls on the head, the best course in case of, 257

Fashion, dangerous effects of strictly attending to, 285

Fashion, the present, of dressing children, 117

Fashionable _desiderata_ for complexion, 342

Favoritism both hurtful and wrong, 147

Feeding of infants, proper time to begin the, 42

Feeding of infants, proper intervals for the, 42

Feet, remedy for smelling, 339

Feet, remedy for sweating, 339

Feet, remedy for tender, 339

Female dress in ball-room, 285

Fire, on a child playing with, 260

Fire, danger of sitting with the back to, 136

Fire, the use of, in night nursery, 166

Fire, the manner of extinguishing, if clothes be on, 260

Fire-guards, the use of, 135, 260

Fire-proof, dresses can be made perfectly, 261

Flannel night-gowns, the wearing of, 113

Flannel shirts for a delicate child, 113

Flannel waistcoats, nothing equal to, 282

Fleas, best way to drive away, 235

Flute, bugle and other wind instruments, 296

Fly-pole as an exercise for the muscles, 297

Fog, on sending child out in, 153

Folly of giving physic after vaccination, 57

Food, artificial, while using the natural, 42

Food, care in preparing infants’, 40

Food for infants artificially fed, 36, 44

Food for infants naturally fed, 36

Frightening a child should never be indulged in, 140

Fruit, as an aperient, 222

Garters impede the circulation, 114

Gin or peppermint in infants’ food, 51

Giving joy to a child, 143

Glass, a child swallowing broken, 272

Gluttony kills more than the sword, 290

Glycerin soap, an excellent remedy, 242

Goat’s milk as a substitute, 44

_Godfrey’s Cordial_ as a remedy, 88

Godfrey’s Cordial, poisoning by, treatment in case of, 269

Grazed skin, the best application for a, 269

Great desideratum, 77

Green dresses are poisonous, 137, 286

Green paper-hangings for nurseries objectionable, 137

“Gripings,” symptoms, causes and treatment of, 89

“Gross superstition,” usual style of, 199

Gums, the lancing of the, 60

Gum-boil, cause and treatment of a, 336

Gum-sticks, the best of, 62

Gymnasium, the value of a, 295

Hair, the best application for the, 282

Hair, to perfume the, 282

Hair, plan of making tidy the, 281

Half-washed and half-starved child, the, 155

Hand-swing, the, a capital exercise, 296

Happiness to a child, importance of, 143

Happy, how to make a child, 143

Hards’ Farinaceous Food, 38

Hardening of children’s constitutions, 113

Hardening of infants, the, 71

Hats for a child, the best kind of, 112

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, on American ladies, 342

Head, if a child fall upon his, 257

Heat, external application of, 254

Hiccoughs of infants, causes of, 90

Hints conducive to the well-doing of a child, 139

Home of childhood—the nursery, 139

Hooping-cough, brief history of, 210

Hooping-cough an obstinate disease, 215

Hooping-cough, the treatment of, 212

Horse exercise for boys or girls, 292

Horse and pony exercise, 292

Hot water bag or bottle, the use of a, 254

Household work for girls as a means of health, 305

Hydrophobia, antidote for, 266

Hysterics, when a lady is most prone to, 344, 346

India-rubber hot water bottle, use of an, 254

Infants and the use of aperients, 77

Infants should be encouraged to use exertion, 69

Infants, about the weight of, 74

Infant schools, health in, 160

Infant, wheezing of an, 77

Ipecacuanha wine, preservation of, 179

Ladies “affecting the saddle”, 296

Laudanum, treatment in case of poisoning by, 269

Law, physic and divinity, 306

Leaden cisterns, using water from, 127

Learning without health, 237

Leech-bites, the way to restrain bleeding from, 105

Lessons, confining a child to his, 158

Lice on the head after illness, 234

Light, best artificial, for nursery, 138

Light, the importance of, to health, 138

Lime in the eye, to remove, 264

Lime to harden the bones, 248

Lime-water and milk, the use of, 125

Love of children, the results of, 144

Lucifer matches, the poisonous effects of, 138, 260

Luncheon for a child, the, 125

Lungs, inflammation of the, 113, 181

Lungs, inflammation of, precautions to prevent, 236

Lungs, inflammation of, symptoms of, 181

Lungs, inflammation of, treatment of, 182

Lying lips of a child, the, 147

Mad dog, the bite of a, 266

Mad dog, a description of a, 267

Magnesia to cool a child, 87

Manner and proper time for turning a child to artificial food, 50, 51

Many die under five years of age, 43

Mattresses, horse-hair, best for a child, 164

Meals should be varied, a child’s, 128

Measles described, the symptoms of, 193

Measles and scarlet fever, the, 196

Measles, the treatment of the, 194

Meat, daily, on giving a boy, 287

Meat, raw, in long-standing disease, 227

Meat, in exhaustive diseases, 227

Meat, when a child should commence taking, 118

Meddlesome treatment of wiseacres, 250

Medical man, a mother’s treatment toward the, 250

Medicine, the best way of administering, 228

Medicine, on giving new-born infants, 78

Medicine, on making palatable, 229

Mercury, on the danger of parents giving, 85, 331

Milk, on the importance of having it from ONE cow, 36, 45

Milk, bad, very nasty, 123

Milk for babe indispensable, 46

Milk, or meat, or both, 124

Milk, a plan to make a child take, 124

Milk, the value of, for children, 121

Milk, a way to prevent, turning sour, 125

Milk-crust, a troublesome complaint, 249

Mismanaged, children, through want of instruction, 18

Modified small-pox and chicken-pox, 209

Mother, fretting, injurious to infant, 50

Mother, a foolish, course of, 75

Mother, the, of many diseases, 324

Mother should supervise the mixing of milk, 36

Motions, to understand the, of children, 90

Mumps, the best treatment of, 217

Nature’s remedies the best, 106

Nervous and unhappy young ladies, 340

Nettle-rash, its symptoms and the best treatment, 97

Night-terrors, best treatment of, 141

Nose, removal of foreign substances from, 271

Nose, bleeding from, means to restrain, 328

Nurse, on the choice of a, 139

Nurse, the acts of a lazy, 142

Nurse, the value of a strong and active, 140

Nurse, a young, not desirable, 140

Nurse, the kind of, for the sick, 232

Nursery-basin, the employment of a, 20

Nursery a child’s own domain, 139, 157

Nursery, selection, warming, ventilation, arrangements of, 133

Nursery of a sick child, 229

Nursery, on the light of a, 138

Nursery, a, must be airy, 133

Nursery, further observations in regard to a, 134

Nursery, windows to be often opened in a, 138

Opium, a case of poisoning by, 68

Opium, the danger of administering, to infants, 88

Opium, the treatment of poisoning by, 269

Over-education among children, 161

Over-feeding with artificial food, 87

Paint-boxes dangerous as toys, 158

Peevishness of a child, the plan to allay, 144

Perambulators, the use of, 152

Pies and puddings, the nature of, 119

Pimples of the face, treatment of, 335

Pin, on a child’s swallowing a, 272

Play, a course of education in, 162

Play and useful knowledge, 160

Play-grounds for children, 160

Pleasant words to a child, importance of, 146

Poisoning, accidental, 269

Poisoning a child with his breath, 165

Poppy-syrup, injurious effects of, 88

Pork an improper meat for children, 125

Position of a sleeping child, 166

Potatoes for children, the use of, 126

Poultice, a celebrated white-bread, 255

Powder, “dusting,” the best, 23

Precocity of intellect, 315

Precocious youths, the health of, 316

Princess of Wales and her child, 24

Professions and trades, choice of, 305

Proper management of infants, 106

Proper persons to wash an infant, 24

Proper position of child in sleep, 239

Prunes, the best way of stewing, 222

Profession or trade, choice of, for delicate youth, 305

Profession or trade, delicate youths should be brought up to, 306

Puddings for children, the use of, 119

Quack Medicines, the danger in, 88

Quacking an infant, the habit of, 86

Quicklime in the eye, 264

Red-gum, the symptoms and treatment of, 98

Regularity of habits among the young, 332, 334

Respiration, products of, poisonous, 309

Rest, the best time for a child to retire to, 165

Revaccination, importance of, 54

Revaccination every seven years, 54

Rheumatic fever, flannel vest and drawers in, 283

Ribs, bulging out of the, 319

Rice, prepared as an infant’s food, 39

Richardson, Dr., the ether spray of, 328

Rickets, the nature and effects of, 245

Rickets, the various degrees of, 246

Rocking-chairs, and rockers to the cradle, 72

Rocking infants to sleep, 72

Rooms, ill effects of dark, 138

Round shoulders, cause and treatment of, 238, 318

Round-worm, nature and cure of, 243

Running scall, description of and remedy for, 249

Rupture through meddlesomeness, 27

Rupture, nature and best treatment, 28, 29

Rusks, boiled, as food, 38

Sallowness, cause of, in young girls, 290

Salt water and fresh water, 279

Salt should be added to an infant’s food, 42

Salt, bag of hot, use of a, 254

Salt necessary to human life, 245

Salt meats for children, 125

Salt and water ablutions for a delicate child, 110

Salt and water for teeth and gums, 313

Scalds and burns, which most dangerous, 261

Scalds of mouth and throat, 261

Scarlatina, the nature of, 190

Scarlet fever, the symptoms of, 196

Scarlet fever, the contagion of, 205

Scarlet fever, the danger of giving aperients in, 196

Scarlet fever, the dropsy of, 197, 205

Scarlet fever, management of child after, 205

Scarlet fever and measles, the importance of distinguishing between,
197

Scarlet fever, the principal danger in, 197

Scarlet fever, the purification of the house after, 206

Scarlet fever, the treatment of, 198

Schools, observations upon female boarding, 301

Schools, observations upon public, 300

Screaming in sleep, children, 216

Scrofula, how to ward off, 316

Scrofula, the prevention of, 316

Scurfy head, a remedy for, 109

Sea-bathing and fresh-water bathing, 279

Sea-bathing for a young child, 228

Secrets, talking, before a child, 163

Selection of females for nourishing children, 46

Senna as an aperient, 221

Shivering fit, importance of attending to a, 215

Shivering fit, treatment of a, 216

Shoes, plan to water-proof, 283

Shoes preferable to boots, 115

Shoes and stockings for children and youths, 114, 283

Shoes, the ill effects of tight, 114

“Shortening” an infant, 33

Shoulder-blades “growing out”, 238

Sick child, the nursing of a, 229

Sick child not to be stuffed with food, 232

Sick-room, management of the, 229

Sickness of infants, injurious effects of, 99

Singed rag for wrapping, 26

Singing and reading aloud, 298

Singing beneficial to a child, 164

Single-stick, the game of, 294

Sitting with the back to fire, 135

Sitz bath both useful and valuable, 225

Skating for boys and girls, 297

Skin, grazed, application for, 269

Sleeping-rooms, importance of well ventilating, 309

Sleep, the, of children, 164

Sleep, the, of infants, 71

Sleep in middle of day beneficial, 164

Sleep, much, necessary for infants, 74

Sleep, temperature of infants’ bed-room during, 71

Sleep, right time of putting a child to, 165

Sleep, rocking infants to, 72

Sleep of youth, and early rising, 311

Slight attack not to be interfered with, 91

Slippers, the best for sick-room, 233

Small-pox, the ravages of, 53

Small-pox, a pest and disgrace, 54

Small-pox, when modified, 207

Small-pox, when in the neighborhood, 55

Small-pox, to prevent pitting of, 240

Smothering of infants, the cause of, 75

Socks and stockings for a child, 115

Soda, ill effects of washing clothes with, 24

Sounds, joyful, for every ear, 144

Soups and broths, 287

Speak gently to a child, 145

Spencer, a knitted worsted, 31

Spine, in case of injury to the, 258

Spine, lateral curvature of the, 319

Spines, causes of distorted, 164, 319

Spines twisted from rapid growing, 238

Spirits, deadly effects of, to the young, 288

Spitting of blood, 320, 322

Spitting of blood, precautions against, 324

Spurious croup sometimes mistaken for the genuine, 179

Stammering, cause of, 148

Stammering, cure of, 149

Stays, the ill effects of, 284

Stillness of the sick-room, 233

Sting of the bee or wasp, 268

Stir-about and milk, well-boiled oatmeal, 121

Stockings and shoes, 114, 283

Stooping in a girl, evil effects of, 318

Stopping of chimneys, 150, 229

Stuffing a sick child with food, 232

“Stuffing of the nose” of infants, 98

“Sty,” treatment of the, 220

Suet-pudding, the nature of, 119

Sugar for infants, 42, 52

Sugar confectionery for infants, 131

Sugar, _raw_, as an aperient, 52

Sunstroke, prevention of, 112

Sunday, children should not regard as a day of gloom, 159

Supper for a child and for a youth, 128, 289

Surfeit water and saffron tea, 194

Sweetmeats colored with poisonous pigments, 131

Swimming, on boys and girls, 278

Symptoms of _serious_ diseases, 170

Tape-worm, the effect on children of, 244

Taste for things refined and beautiful, 138

Tea, on giving a child, 131

Tea, green, the ill effects of, 131, 289

Teeth, attention to, importance of, 313

Teeth, child should not have meat until he has cut several, 118

Teeth, the diet of a child who has cut all his, 118

Teeth and gums, to keep in a healthy state the, 313

Teeth, right way of brushing the, 314

Teeth, appearance and number of _first_ set of, 59

Teeth, appearance and number of _second_ set of, 169

Teeth, the second crop of, 169

Teething, the time at which children begin, 58

Teething, eruptions from, 68

Teething the frequent cause of sickness, 99

Teething, a fruitful source of disease, 64

Teething, plan to be adopted during, 67

Teething, restlessness from, 253

Teething, _second_, importance of care, 170

Teething, symptoms and treatment of painful, 66

Teething, in town and country, 67

Temperature and ventilation of a nursery, 133

Temperature of a warm bath, 254

Thread or maw-worm, and its causes, 213

Throats, sore, precautions to prevent, 325

Thrush, cause, symptoms, prevention and cure of, 100

Thumb, the best gum-stick in the world, 62

Tight bands, belts and hats, 111

Tight lacing, the ill effects of, 284

Times for feeding an infant, 35

Tobacco smoking for boys, 327

Tobacco smoking, cases illustrating the danger of, 327

Toe-nails, the right way of cutting, 116

Tongue-tied, to ascertain if an infant be, 34

“Tooth-cough,” should anything be given in, 67

Tooth-powder, an excellent, 313

Top crust of bread as infant’s food, 38

Tous-les-mois, 37

Toys, children’s, 158

Toys painted with arsenic, 137, 158

Trade or profession for a delicate youth, 308

Treatment of the delicate, 226

Treatment of some urgent serious diseases, 79, 171

Truth, the love of, 147

Tub, commencement of washing an infant in a, 20

Tumbling and rolling of a child, 154

Vaccination, the advantages of, 53

Veal for a child, the objection to, 126

Vegetables for a child, 126

Ventilation, and on stopping of chimneys, 150, 230

Ventilation and sleep, 308

Ventilation of a nursery, 134

Violet powder, to make, 23

Walking, on the early, of infants, 151

Walking exercise, value of, 291

Walking in his sleep, a child, 168

Warm baths for children, 253

Warm external applications, 254

Warts, the best remedy to destroy, 339

Washing of a child, remarks upon the, 108

Washing of an infant, remarks upon the, 19

Washing a new-born infant’s head with brandy, 21

Washing a nursery floor, 136

Wasp, the sting of a, 268

Water, on the importance of good, 127

Water on the brain, 173

Water, cold and warm, for ablution, 107

Weather, on a child almost living in the air in fine, 153

Weather, on sending the young out in wet, 153

Wet flannel application, 255

White lily leaf for bruises, 257

Whom, and how, to nurse the young, 44

Whom to select as a nurse for feeble children, 47

Windows of a nursery should be large, 138

Windpipe, foreign substance in the, 273

Wine for children and youths, 130, 288

Winter clothing, the time to leave off, 116

Woolen garments, the use of, 113, 282

THE END.

TO THE READER.

Before presenting a few from the numerous commendations to this invaluable work, we desire to furnish the _verbatim_ copy of an able letter addressed to the editor by JOHN BELL, M.D., author of treatises on “Baths” and “Mineral Waters,” “Regimen and Longevity,” “Health and Beauty,” etc., etc. The eminent services, as an editor and author, rendered by DR. BELL to the profession will cause his words to sink deeply in the minds and hearts of thousands of parents and physicians, who have alike been profited by his skill and wisdom.

THE PUBLISHERS.

PHILADELPHIA, March 16, 1871.

F. H. GETCHELL, M.D.

DEAR DOCTOR:—I must compliment you on your neat Introduction as in
itself a good summary, with additional enforcement, of the advice
contained in the work of Dr. Chavasse on the “Physical Training of
Children.” The author has been very successful in conveying much
needed instruction in language clear, forcible and readily
comprehended by every reader. Mothers, for whose benefit the work has
been prepared, must feel, with it in hand, that they have gained a
friendly, disinterested and wise counsellor to admonish and guide them
in many trying emergencies to a proper physical management, and to
some extent concurrent moral culture, of their offspring, from the
first hour of infantile life, on through childhood, until the time for
school education begins. Familiar truths are here presented with a
freshness and piquancy which carry with them the renewed assent and
conviction of those who deemed themselves possessed of the requisite
knowledge, while by the larger number, the uninitiated into maternal
cares and children’s wants, they cannot fail to be received as the
utterances of wisdom and long experience. In his inculcations the
author does not assume that a child is a mere machine, to be made to
go through certain movements by an older controlling hand, nor that it
is to be left, like a young plant, to grow up in fruitless luxuriance,
without pruning or grafting. He favors a large charter for nature, but
he dwells also on the existence of natural laws, growing out of the
very framework and constitution of a living body, an infraction of
which, whether it be through ignorance, pedantic teaching, fashion or
the intrusion of physic, is followed by injury to health and
happiness. A child is not to be treated as an automaton, but as a
being whose physical and mental organization, instincts and germs of
intelligence are to be gradually developed under careful training.
Growth, health and flexibility of movements come first: polish and the
graces may well be an afterthought. The first instinctive wants of an
infant, the gratifying of which is necessary to its existence, are air
to breathe, food to nourish, external warmth by suitable covering, and
sleep to invigorate and refresh. It is now that the reason of the
mother and of her immediate aids should be deliberately exercised in
the regulation of these instincts. Selection and limitation of means
for the purpose must be made, and the physical training of the infant
is thus already begun. How important that this training should be
conducted with a full knowledge of the necessities of the case! and
yet it is this very knowledge that is so generally wanting, and which
it is the great object of Dr. Chavasse to supply. His advice and
directions to this end are full and explicit, minute without being
tedious and plain without being trivial. All the deeds and
contingencies of nursery-life are anticipated, and the treatment
required in consequence is carefully detailed. The cardinal purposes
of a sanitary teacher are to preserve the health of the child, to
restore it when lost and to prevent disease. While giving full scope
to the fulfilment of these purposes, the author admits, with reserve,
the necessity of indicating the means of curing some of the ailments
and chief diseases incident to childhood. He enjoins the mother to
send for a physician as soon as the case requires medical aid, and he
gives the additional and often-needed advice to abide strictly by the
directions of her medical adviser. There are times, however, when the
suddenness and violence of the attack and the inability to procure
timely professional assistance throw the mother on her own resources,
and it is under these circumstances that the author teaches her how to
act and what prescriptions to give, but not without many cautions on
his part. It must still be continually borne in mind that everything
can be done in the way of prevention, and much in the way of cure, by
a timely and judicious use of the ordinary hygienic means applied for
the growth and preservation of the child, viz.: air, water, food,
clothing, exercise of the body and nurture of the affections. The
medicine-chest ought never to form part of the furniture of the
nursery. Meddlesome medicine is bad, and that medicine is always
meddlesome when it is applied without actual necessity, clearly
indicated by a competent judge. The mother will find this judge in the
author of the present volume.

Especially to be commended are the sub-chapters on _The Nursery_,
_Exercise_, _Amusements_ and _Education_, the mere reading of which by
parents, and more particularly by mothers, cannot fail, while
inculcating new duties on them, to call their affections into
increased activity and extend their benevolent feeling to all who are
placed under similar circumstances with themselves. Air and light and
range for romps and games, pleasant words and nurture in love inspire
children with joy and gladness, and parents, in reading these
feelings, catch the soft contagion and become happier themselves in
making their miniature second selves happy. In a subsequent part of
the volume, under the head of “Boyhood and Girlhood,” additional
advice is given on many of the topics which were detailed in reference
to infant life. First among these is daily ablution in its full sense,
including the use of the bath as “a grand requisite for health.” The
transition from bathing to swimming is very natural and easy.
“Swimming ought, then, to be a part and parcel of the education of
every boy and girl.” In urging exercise and amusements for the young,
and specifying many ways, including the gymnasium, dancing and
skating, in which the desired object may be attained, the author could
not fail to caution against the perversion of the pleasures of the
dance by the too general accompaniments of tight dress in crowded
rooms, impure air, late hours, over-exertion and rapid transitions of
temperature, to which are too frequently added excesses in eating and
the drinking of stimulating and intoxicating liquids. Children’s
parties are properly stigmatized as disgusting and demoralizing.
Schools come up for consideration, and most valuable advice and
warning are given for the treatment of girls sent to these
institutions. Physical education should always precede mental, and be
continued with it. In a question between health and books, the former
should always carry the day. “Unfortunately, in this enlightened age,
we,” as the author justly remarks, “commence at the wrong end—we put
the cart before the horse: we begin by cultivating the mind, and we
leave the body to be taken care of afterward; the results are broken
health, precocious, stunted and deformed youths, and premature decay.”
All that is said in this volume on the subject of education is
pertinent, suggestive and instructive, not only to mothers, but to all
whose line of duty lies in training the young for the proper discharge
of their duties in after life. Were I attempting to give an analysis
of the work of Dr. Chavasse, I would have spoken first of his
instructions on the topics of diet and clothing, which are quite
comprehensive and adapted to the successive periods of infancy and
childhood on to adolescence. Water for drink, milk as the staple food,
“the most nourishing, wholesome and digestible,” ought to require no
special recommendation did we not sometimes see the substitution by
parents, intelligent in other respects, of beer and wine, and even
diluted spirits, for beverage, and of highly seasoned dishes of meat,
pastries, cakes, etc., for food. Of milk it is truly said that “the
finest and the healthiest children are those who for the first four or
five years of their lives are fed _principally_ upon it.” The use of
light clothing with a view of hardening children is discountenanced,
as it deserves to be, and the present fashion of dressing children
meets the strongest censure, as being both adverse to health and
furnishing early lessons of vanity. The clothing should be of such
texture and material as to keep up the animal heat, and in a climate
like ours, as indeed in all northern climates or those misnamed
temperate, the vicissitudes of temperature in which are so great and
frequent, woollen undergarments can rarely be dispensed with. To
children, and invalids at all ages, they are indispensable. The dress,
whatever may be the fashion, should be easy fitting, and this more
particularly, as pointed out by the author, in the matter of shoes and
boots, the undue tightness of which is an abomination only second to
tight lacing of the chest and abdomen.

Dr. Chavasse in the earlier editions of his work had carefully
restricted himself to the domain of hygiene, and he was mainly induced
to enlarge his teaching by the advice of Sir Charles Locock, in years
gone by accoucheur to the queen. Following out this advice, he now
gives, as already intimated, the treatment of some of the more urgent
and serious diseases of infants and of children, to be carried out
when a medical man cannot instantly be procured and when delay might
be death. To a consideration of these he adds that of various ailments
and of accidents, and thus enables the mother, with the assistance of
discreet adults of the house, to have prompt recourse to the best
means of treating them. The concluding section of the volume contains
good and available advice for the prevention of diseases, the
insidious approach of which makes it very necessary to detect their
real character, and to adopt the best means of arresting farther
progress, as in the instances of consumption and scrofula in both
sexes, and curvature of the spine, most common in females.

Where there is so much to commend in plan and execution of the work of
Dr. Chavasse, I feel no inclination to hunt out minor defects, and can
have no hesitation in proclaiming him to be one of our most successful
co-laborers in the grand domain of hygiene, and particularly in his
chosen department, the “Physical Training of Children.” I must, at the
same time, congratulate you, my dear doctor, for your having selected
such a worthy companion in a course of sanitary instruction which you
are pursuing in connection with your more onerous professional
engagements.

Yours, sincerely,
JOHN BELL.

* * * * *

J. W. BRINTON, M.D., of Philadelphia, _Lecturer on Operative and Minor Surgery to the Summer Course of the Jefferson Medical College, Surgeon to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Surgeon to Philadelphia Hospital, etc., etc._, in referring to PHYSICAL TRAINING OF CHILDREN, writes to the editor:

“The work seems to me an admirable one, and its suggestions, if followed, must, I am sure, tend to prevent nursery mismanagement.”

* * * * *

REV. DANIEL MARCH, D.D., of Philadelphia, author of _Night Scenes in the Bible_, _Our Fathers House_, _etc._, writes:

“I have been deeply interested in the title and contents of the work, PHYSICAL TRAINING OF CHILDREN. The slight examination which I have made of several chapters satisfies me that the subject has been treated with great clearness, delicacy and discretion. The book will come as a messenger of light, comfort and life to multitudes of homes. It will do much not only to promote health and long life, but to secure the highest enjoyment and the wisest improvement of life while it lasts. I wish it might find a place in every American home.”

* * * * *

REV. ALFRED NEVIN, D.D., of Philadelphia, author of _A Popular Commentary on Luke_, _The Churches of the Valley_, _A Guide to the Oracles_, _etc., etc._, says:

“I have examined the PHYSICAL TRAINING OF CHILDREN sufficiently to assure me that it would be a valuable acquisition to any family library for constant and convenient reference. The _preventive_ suggestions which it makes touching the influences and agencies which often damage, if not destroy, the health of children, are of special importance. The form of questions and answers, in which the instruction is embodied, strikes me also as having many advantages. In addition to the intrinsic merit of the book, the very handsome style in which it is published must aid in giving it a wide circulation.”

* * * * *

HON. JOHN W. FORNEY, proprietor of the Philadelphia _Press_, and one of the most distinguished editors of the country, pertinently says:

“I have examined the work, PHYSICAL TRAINING OF CHILDREN, and regard it as exceedingly useful and interesting. It abounds in valuable information, and I do most cheerfully commend it to the public.”

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.