The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-02-26
The First Steps.

This is the title Of an article by Leroy
NJ \ alc, NJ ID. IN the January number of
BablIand, and We are indebted to the
publishers of that excellent magazine for
the use of tie accompany ing illustrations.
We have only room for brief extracts but
commend the article as a whole to all
who have the care of young children. DIR.
Vale says that delay in walking does
It necessarily imply physical disease
or Weakness. A childs disposition may
have much to do with it: courage and
cit-contidence make the infant forward,
while timIdity will make him backward.
The example of other, especially older,
children stimulates the enterprise of an
infant " Nhiie, Oh the other hand, too con
otant attention from muses. relieves an
mdoient child from the necessity OF exer-
tion. When the tardiness passes beyond
the ordinary limit it may be due to some
weakness
TO any one anxious about the tardi-
ness of child in walking we would say,
first of all. DO not hurry and do not wor-
ry Fry to ascertain If the child is well
as 10 his digestion, nutrition, sleep, and
all the matters that 90 to make up gen
eral good health. If you are convinced
that your child is III perfect health, and
your opinion S confirmed by your med-
cal adviser. it will be perfectly proper TO
encourage him in every way as the tard
ness is probably due to mental peculiar
ities alone. If be has had an illness do
your best to bring about a complete res
toraton. Observe closely whether he
Uses his lower limbs freely and strongly
when sitting and lying, and whether he
uses the tive with equal freedom and
force If he does so the limbs are prob
ably sound If the examination leaves
any doubt in your mind ask your family
phl stefan 70 decide the point for you"
As to the question, "Wil it hurt the
baby to walk so early" DR.. Yale says
that me injuries usually attributed to
early walking are bowl legs, knock knee
and weak ankles and that III Il child
were urged To walk before his .jojnt It's
sues acre strong enough. detoGnities of
tli~ SOFT might ensue" He then goes on
90 say
The eoumoner forms, however, Of both
er WAY. They depend upon a peculiar
constitutional condition sometimes seen
I'm children, which is called tickets. This
nuuitests Itself i'll various ways, but most
strihiugy in a change IN the proportions
ot the earthly and organic constituents Of
ihr bones, 10y which the latter lose their
natural stiffness To d greater or less de
gree. Now, ibis condition is most COM
monty developed between the ages OF four
and SIX months and two years, the peri
oct within which the learning to stand
and to walk usually falls. Ii the bones
Toe sottened from rickets it follows that
they will he very likely to bend more or
less under the weight of the body, and if
nothing be done to prevent it. the bend
ing WJl gradually increase until a strik-
ing delnrmity results, to be made per
manent 10y the hardening of the bone
which ultimately takes place The place
IN which these curves occur and the di-
rectious they viii take, depend upon va
IOus circumstances, such as unequal de-
grecs Of SOttenlng, and the way III which
weight and muscular force are brought
to bear upon the bones In knock knee
the bending IS such that when the knees
are placed together the ankles remain