that such parents may be convinced by sound reasoning, I will insert what a very able writer says upon the subject. Speaking of the idea we are now considering, and the consequent want of timely attention to the complaints of infants, he says, "But I may venture to assert, that although infants can give no account of their complaints in the manner of adults, their diseases are all plainly and sufficiently marked by the countenance, the age, the manifest symptoms, and the faithful account given by the pa rent, or an intelligent nurse. This I am so confident of, that I never feel more at my ease when prescribing for any disorders than those of infants, and never succeed with more uniformity, or more agreeably to the opinion I may have formed of the seat and nature of the disease. Limited as is human knowledge, there are yet certain principles and great outlines as well in physic as in other sciences, with which men of experience are acquainted, that will generally lead them safely between the dangerous extremes of doing too little or too much; and will carry them successfully

where persons who want those advantages cannot venture to follow them.-Let me ask, then, is it education, is it observation and long experience, that can qualify a person for the superintendance of infants, or the treatment of their complaints ?—Surely all these fall eminently. to the share of regular practitioners, to the utter exclusion of illiterate nurses and empirics." I trust no judicious parent will dispute arguments so conclusive. But there are those who believe all medical aid superfluous; that if persons are to die they will die, and that to endeavour to save life by human means is a species of profanation. Is, then, the benign art of healing the invention of man? Did man by his own wisdom discover the various properties of the innumerable plants which compose the materia medica of nature? Even allowing this; did man give to those plants their virtues? Did he impregnate the bowels of the earth, and the

vasty deep," with minerals, fossils, and the various testaceous substances, so wonderfully adapted to mitigate the diseases incident to fallen man? Surely not; and

no one will presume to doubt the Infinite Wisdom that did. Is it not equally presumptuous to say all this was done for no end; or that He who teaches the brute creation to cull from his immense stores the simples adapted to their diseases, did not likewise place in the heart of his favoured creature Man, a more acute discernment, joined to a judgment little less than divine.

Retention of the Urine.

As this is a complaint which sometimes causes great distress, it ought to be attended to immediately. An infusion of the leaves and root of the common mallows, I have sometimes found have the desired effect, or parsley roots steeped very strong, and a little of the tea given sweetened with honey is very good; but for very young infants I never found any thing preferable to a tea made of pompion or pumpkin seeds; this never failed to remove the complaint whenever I have had occasion to use it among my children. Dr. Buchan oh

serves that " a warm bath of milk and water, or a little oil gently rubbed on the belly, will in most cases prove efficacious." If after all these methods have been tried, the retention should continue, skilful advice should be had, as the impediment may be occasioned by some defect which ought to be immediately attended to.

Sore Ears and Eyes.

THESE often troublesome and disgusting complaints will generally be entirely avoided by washing an infant constantly with cold water, as directed in the beginning of this chapter. The first of them, however, will sometimes occur notwithstanding every precaution, and I think when it is only a slight discharge unattended with an eruption I should be careful of using any violent applications to check it; as it may be a salutary exertion of nature, and may prevent more fatal complaints: but great care should be taken to prevent the excoriation from extend

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ing itself; by washing the part every morning or oftener if necessary with warm milk and water, or a weak suds of castile soap, and carefully placing behind the ear a piece of scorched linen. If this should fail a little plaster of Turner's cerate may be applied; or a weak solution of sugar of lead may be used instead of the other washes. But I have of late found a very little opedeldoc dissolved in warm water the most efficacious application I ever tried in this complaint; and it will generally prove effectual if persevered in a sufficient length of time. Every mother and nurse ought to be informed that one great reason why many applications and medicines are condemned as ineffectual, is, because the use of them is too hastily sus pended before sufficient time is allowed for their due operation.

As the eyes are a more delicate organ, I will give my readers Dr. Buchan's own words upon the subject; especially as none of my children have ever been affected with the least complaint in that part.

"Sore eyes are in general occasioned by the neglect of washing the infant's head with