The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-05-10
:We0traI.
MANAGEMENT OF INFANTS


We have placed this title at the head
OF few remarks we propose 10 make
respecting the modes of treating infants
from birth. Our whole design is TO cen.
sure the cossetling system, and recon-
mend early exposure. Man is so much
creature of habit, that throughout life
he is governed and constantly affected
by the habits formed from the moment
OF his birth. 8 Just as the twig is bent,
the trees incllned,' is "A maxim usual
ly quoted in reference to early educo.
ton Of the mind But il the mind al.
ways Partakes of the character given
at its first development, the same is
equally true of the body and the earli-
er we commence the course, with more
facility may the young shoot be direct
ed as we wish, and the more firmly will
| e MAINTAIN The position thus given it.
1t is the habi, of many mothers, nurs-
| es, and physicians, 10 commence wash
ng babe with warm water and if n.
verse from this, they all agree that,
: the chill should be taken OFF, This
is radically wrong. Not only is an on.
'Portunliy thus lost of hardening an ex-
tenslve organ against the deleterious io-
t1uence of those> changes of tempera-
ture, to which the infant must be more
or less exposed in its new world. but
the whole mucous membrane also is
thus left tender, and susceptible of de-
rangement by slight causes. This is
not the greatest evil. 1t is by the con-
strlciiVe Influence of air on the skin /:
exciting contraction of the extreme
vessels, and sympathetic contraction
iof the diaphragm and intercostal mus
cles, that respiration is first excited and
this important function is again enfee.
bled by bathing the surface in warm
wafer. These and other reasons
which our limits forbid us to detail
show the Importance of first washing a
child in water that is co1n Another
evil practice that commonly prevails,
IS the use of caps. The head is thus
kept in state Of perspiration, which
may be checked by the opening of q
door, or quick walk of the nurse. OF
by causes still more trifliog, thus pro.
ducing snufles, and eventually the lone
train Of diseases, which affect the impoT.
tant organ which occupies the Uranium
Caps therefore ought to be abandoned
and the head accustomed 10 exposure
Blankets, relic of barbarism, should
accompany caps in their exile cradle.
should be made without tops, and the
lchild carried, if the weather be moder
ate, from one room to another before i
is three days old
! The diet of the mother is anothe,
subject on which there are many false
prejudices. For several months, she il
forbidden any thing that is acid, ant
even meats are sometimes withheld
After that time has elapsed, the mothel
rs persuaded 10 taste little lemonade
and the child is 10 pain. From this she
draws conclusion which is extremely
n erroneous The difficulty is in realit,
occasioned by the bad habits she ha
given her infant. If, on the other hand
she commences by consulting her owl
pleasure as TO diet, The infant become
accustomed to the variety, and the stom
ach adapts itself 10 il as an original, an,
therefore, in certain sense, natural &C
,ion' Boston Medical Iatelligencer.
Ston'ach- Pump. instance Of th
lnest'mable value Of the stomach-pump ha
been performed at Newport, Monmouthshiro
! Miss Treen, from motives unknown, tool
large quantity Of white precipitated mercury
he pump was procured, and the poisonou
draught % completely extracted, that she wa
able TO follow her usual occupation in ley
days,