necessity of which is sufficiently obvious. Dr. Buchan, in his family physician, mentions a child who died in convulsion fits, and after it was dead a pin was discovered thrust half its length or more into the body of the little sufferer; which he thinks was the only cause of the fits, and consequently of its death! My blood recoils with horror while I think of the wretched mother when she made this discovery; may it be a solemn warning to every one who has the care of an infant to carefully search for some such cause when their helpless little charge by its cries makes the only complaint in its power.

"What ceaseless dread a mother's breast alarms "Whilst her loved offspring fills another's arms! "Fearful of ill, she starts at every noise,

"And hears, or thinks she hears, her children's cries."

One thing more should be mentioned here, which, as I esteem of very essential consequence, although entirely neglected by many, I shall beg leave (lest my authority should be disputed) to notice in the words of Dr. Buchan.

C*

Combing the heads of infants should by no means be neglected; they are apt to acquire a kind of scurf beneath the hair, which stops the pores, and is productive of headache and weak eyes; to which, from a mere omission of this useful operation, most young children are subject. But a fine comb, and very tender hand, are requisite in the performance of this task." For this reason I never suffer any hand but my own to per form it for my children while at this early age.

And now, as I have said all that I think necessary as to the washing and clothing of infants, I will proceed to the still more important point, their food.

SECTION III.

The mother's milk the best and only proper food for infants.

"Doubt ye the laws by nature's God ordained? "Or that the callow young should be sustained "Upon the parent breast? be those your schools "Where nature triumphs and where instinct rules.

NEW born infants, if well, (as they generally are at the birth,) require no food but

what they will obtain from the mother's breast; and if ill, peculiar care should be taken not to crowd their little stomachs with any improper mixtures. I am well aware that this doctrine will be rejected by many who believe it absolutely necessary to give the little creatures some nauseous draught or other, to promote the natural evacuations. But trust me this is a great mistake; and be persuaded to accept as proof my own experience. As soon as my children are dressed, I always order them to be brought to me, and put them immediately to the breast. O what a blissful moment to a fond mother! when

"The starting beverage meets the thirsty lip, ""Tis joy to yield it, and 'tis joy to sip;"

and I never had the least occasion to use any other medicine for my babes. But if my authority is not sufficient, hear what Dr. Buchan says upon the subject.

"Children commonly show a disposition to suck very shortly after the birth, and they

should unquestionably be immediately induiged, if the mother's milk begins to flow into the breast; and should it be slow in its progress, the natural industry of the infant will speedily supply the deficiency. The first milk it can draw is the best medicine in the world to cleanse its little stomach and bowels of the matter acquired in the womb; and at the same time contributes to the safety of the mother, by preventing milk fevers, inflammations, and other complaints incident to women in childbed."

It is true it will not at first obtain much; but it will ordinarily get enough to support it until the milk comes, which (as observed by the judicious author just quoted) will be very soon, when thus gently invited by the sweetest call of nature. It is well known

that when a child is not put to the breast until the milk is fully come; which in that case is seldom until the third or fourth day, it must be fed this unnatural food clogs the first passages, occasions acidities, wind, and their usual distressing consequences; recourse is then had to oils, syrups, and even

spirituous liquors, which greatly increase the irritation. In this state the poor little babe is at length permitted to suck inordinately from a full breast of milk, while the mother herself is feverish and ill from the sudden change her system has undergone the fatal effects may be easily imagined; and who can wonder if children so managed are frequently seized with convulsions, and die within a few days. Therefore let me entreat you to take your infants to your bosom immediately, and leave Nature to do her own work, in which, as it respects so material a point as providing food for her offspring, it is almost presumptuous to think her deficient.

It will sometimes happen, however, that from some unknown cause a new born infant evinces such indisputable signs of hunger as it would be cruel to disregard. If, therefore, after the babe has drawn all it can obtain from its mother, (which for its medicinal qualities it should be allowed to do as soon as possible,) it should still show indieations of hunger, such as eagerly sucking