MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS.

Ir is found by careful inquiries that one half of all the children born in England and Wales die before they reach their fifth year. In some towns and districts the proportion of deaths is not more than a third; but the general average of infant mortality is as here stated. The greatest proportion is in the large_manufacturing towns. In Birmingham, for example, from June 1838 to July 1839, the total number of deaths of all ages was 3305, of which number 1658 were under five years of age; and of this last number more than one half died in their first year! Such a universally large mortality of infants must unquestionably arise chiefly from some species of mismanagement-most likely ignorance of the proper means to be employed for rearing children. Besides the loss of so many infants, society suffers seriously from the injuries inflicted on those who survive. The health of many individuals is irremediably injured, temper spoiled, and vicious habits created, while they are still infants. Whatever, indeed, be the original or constitutional differences in the mental character of children, it is consistent with observation, that no small proportion of the errors and vices of mankind have their source in injudicious nursery management. As ignorance is clearly at the root of this monstrous evil, we propose to offer a few short and easily comprehended directions to mothers and nurses regarding the proper treatment of the children under their charge.

BODILY HEALTH-FOOD.

To preserve the infant's life, to enable it to grow in bulk and strength, and to perform without pain all its functions, is the first consideration. The child, however, may be rendered weakly and ailing, and even depraved in disposition, by causes operating on the mother before its birth; and therefore, during this critical period, the expectant mother should avoid, as far as possible, all distress or anxiety of mind, severe bodily fatigue, or any species of intemperance. Neither, on the other hand, should she pamper herself with unaccustomed indulgences. A plain and nourishing diet, and moderate exercise in and out of doors, along with serenity of mind, are alone desirable.

There are many old-fashioned and not very intelligible rules about the first feeding and suckling of an infant. The best rule of all is, to put the child to the breast as soon as it will suck, and as soon as the mother is able to receive it. The law of nature is, that the mother should nurse her own child, by which means the proper affectionate relation is maintained between them. A wetnurse should only be employed in cases of urgent necessity; she should be healthy, near in age to the mother, nearly the same time confined, and of good habits and dispositions.

The child should be accustomed from the first to regularity of suckling or taking food, though there may be times when it is necessary to depart from the strictness of this rule. During the first month it should be suckled once in every two hours, and afterwards every three or four hours. Foment the breasts with warm water if the milk does not flow; avoid rubbing the breasts with spirits. If there be too much milk, drink little, and take opening medicine. Let the dress about the bosom and chest be loose and easy.

The diet of a person engaged in nursing should be nutritious, but not heavy. A person of full habit will require less nutriment than one who is less robust. Generally, women will suckle best on a plain diet, with diluting drinks such as tea, toast and water, or gruel. Porter, ale, beer, spirits, wine, or any other stimulating drink, should not be taken, unless by the recommendation of a medical attendant.

The digestive organs of infants being adapted for milk, no other kind of food should be given, unless when neither a mother's nor nurse's milk can be obtained. When it is absolutely necessary to bring up the child by spoon, feed it sparingly and slowly with a thin gruel made from well-boiled grits, sweetened with a little sugar. If a suckling-bottle is employed, keep it very clean. The least sourness will disorder the infant.

Weaning may take place when the child is from six to nine months old, according to the strength and health of the mother or nurse, the health of the child, and the season of the year. The early appearance of teeth may likewise influence this important step. The weaning should not be in cold weather.

At whatever age or season, the weaning should be gradual. Begin by giving a little grit-gruel, and, after a time, give thin pap, made from finely-brayed stale bread or biscuits, and warm water, with a little sugar. Remember that sugar turns acid in the stomach, and must be used very sparingly.

The first change of food sometimes disorders the system. Two or three days should be allowed for the experiment, and if the diet does not agree, food from arrowroot may be tried, as likely to prove more suitable. Should all be found equally improper, weak chicken, veal, or calf's-foot broth, beef-tea freed from fat, and thickened with soft-boiled rice or arrowroot, may be tried. The great point is to begin by slow degrees, giving a small quantity of the thickened food once in the twenty-four hours, and that in the forenoon, in order that its effects may be observed, and the night's rest remain undisturbed. Food should always be given about the warmth of the milk as it comes from the breast.

When infants are fed by the spoon, it is not unusual for the nurse to ascertain the warmth by putting every spoonful to her own mouth, a habit equally disagreeable and unnecessary. After feeding, the child should be raised up, when it will more easily

get rid of the air which is generally introduced into the stomach during eating. Where there is much disposition to flatulency, an infant should be carefully watched, the accumulation of air occasioning what are called stoppages. If these occur in sleep, they may prove fatal to life; and even when the child is awake they are dangerous, as, when affected by them, it cannot cry out, and its breath is for the time stopped.

Over-feeding and improper diet are the main causes of the ailments of children. During the first few weeks of life, infants endure none but physical evils; they are exempt from anxieties, from disappointments, from hopes and fears; but unfortunately, their sorrows, pains, or anger, are always traced to hunger, and eating is adopted as the universal cure. This goes on till the child is of an age to comprehend and believe that to eat and drink is the greatest happiness and the greatest good. There is no doubt that the easiest method of stopping crying is to stop the mouth, especially where the senses are not active enough to find pleasure from observation. The means of relief are then necessarily limited; yet change of position, loosening the dress, giving the legs and thighs entire liberty, chafing them, gentle exercise by the nurse moving her knees from side to side while the child lies across them, or walking about the room and pressing it to the bosom, are all of them expedients which may be easily resorted to, and which often have the desired effect.

Some mothers and nurses, to save themselves trouble, endeavour to keep children quiet, or make them sleep, by administering various kinds of cordials, spirits, and drugs; all of which are decidedly pernicious, and the practice of giving them such things cannot be spoken of without the severest reprobation. We warn parents and nurses against a practice so dangerous to their young charge. The articles given irritate the tender stomach, and though they may lull and stupify for the moment, they greatly injure the health of the child, if they do not very speedily cause

its death.

For several months after birth, a child, if in health, eats and sleeps alternately; and its occupations for the day may be as follows:-Suppose it wake at seven in the morning, it then takes the breast; after washing and dressing, it will take another meal and a long sleep, bringing it to noon, when it is again refreshed, and, if the weather be warm, carried abroad; sleep usually follows upon going into the air, and three o'clock may have arrived before it again requires the breast. From this time until undressed for the night, it should not be lulled to sleep; but if the child be much inclined for repose, it should not be prevented. It is desirable to give a child the habit of sleeping throughout the night. At six, preparations are made for bed; the undressing and washing produce a certain fatigue; and when the child has again sucked, it will probably fall asleep, and remain in that condition for hours. It is a good plan to accustom

an infant to suck just before the mother goes to bed, and this it will do, even if asleep. It should also at the same time be cleaned. If it wake up, allow it to stretch its limbs before the fire; rub its loins, thighs, legs, and feet, to give exercise and refreshment, and prepare for another long sleep. Between this and seven, it will wake once or twice again, and require nourish

ment.

SLEEP.

It is very desirable, for the convenience of a mother and her assistants, that her infant should fall asleep without rocking or hushing, and repose in a bed instead of a cradle. As far, therefore, as possible, it should be trained to these habits. For its falling asleep and going quietly to bed, warmth is the main requisite. See, therefore, before laying an infant down, that the feet, hands, and face are comfortably warm; that every part of the body is supported, and the limbs uncramped; the head and shoulders being raised a little by the pillow sloping gradually to the bed. Blankets are better than sheets. The covering should be so arranged, that while there is sufficient space to breathe freely, the face is kept warm. It is better not to take up a child the instant it wakes (particularly if it have not been long asleep), nor if it cries after being laid down : change of posture, or slight patting on the back, should be tried. If these fail, it should be taken out of bed and quieted in the arms. Change of linen may be necessary: in short, patience, perseverance, and ingenuity, should be put in practice, with a view to produce comfort without leading to bad habits.

CLOTHING.

An infant should be kept warm and comfortable, but should not be made hot either by clothing or when in bed.

The dress should be simple, light, and easy. A fine linen or cotton shirt next the skin is desirable, and over that light flannel, with a frock of linen or cotton.

Looseness is another requisite in an infant's dress: there should be a free circulation of air between the skin and the clothes, as well as a slight friction upon the surface. All confinement distresses, and, when it amounts to tightness, it may occasion defor mity before the evil is suspected. Full room should be allowed for the growth which is continually and rapidly going on. For this reason every part of the dress should fasten with strings; and in tying these strings, the greatest care should be taken not to draw them too tight. Employ pins as little as possible.

Formerly, there was a very absurd and vicious custom of swaddling up children tightly in a mass of clothes, and covering their heads with double and even triple caps. In some parts of France the heads of infants are still confined in this manner, and their bodies being swathed up like little mummies, they are

carried occasionally on the back or under the arm of the mother; a custom which is known to have a most prejudicial effect upon the growth and strength of the population. In most cases in our own country, from a mistaken tenderness, infants are overclothed, and both their bodies and heads are consequently kept in a too highly heated condition.

We repeat, let the general dress be light and loose; and let the head, if well covered with hair, and if the season be warm, be left bare, at least within doors. At the utmost, cover the head with only one light cap, except when going into the open or cold air, when it may be sheltered by a loose hood or additional cap. A light shawl laid round the child when walking out with it is also required.

The practice of making very long dresses is in the course of being given up. The frock should only be so long as will cover the child's feet, and enable the nurse to balance it on her arm. The feet may be covered with light woollen shoes.

In some cases it may be necessary to wrap the middle of the body in a cloth or band; but this should be done with care. With some children the band is necessary for many months: when it is discontinued, the stay or waistcoat is usually worn as a sort of support to the rest of the clothing.

There is little doubt that the eruptions to which the infants of the poor are subject, chiefly arise from want of cleanliness and warmth. In this country, where changes of temperature are sudden and continual, judicious clothing is the only safeguard; summer apparel cannot be safely adopted and laid aside at a given period, nor can the same dress be always worn at noon and in the evening. However warm the clothing, infants should not be carried abroad in very cold weather: their lungs cannot bear a low temperature, and there is no exercise to keep the blood equally distributed.

WASHING AND DRESSING.

For the health and comfort of an infant, it should be washed every morning and evening, and not in a slovenly, but in a complete though gentle manner. The reasons for such frequent ablutions are these :-The pores of the skin convey useless matter from the system; and that matter is apt to remain upon the skin, so as to clog up the pores, and prevent them from performing their functions, unless it be washed off.

The washing should be performed in warm water, with soap and fine flannel, or sponge. Do not employ cold water, for it may produce serious illness, if not death. Formerly, there was a notion that bathing infants in cold water made them hardy; this is now proved to be absurd. Great care should also be taken to prevent draughts of cold air from coming upon them. They can only be safely undressed beside a fire for the first four months. On preparing for dressing and washing, every necessary article