more perhaps than any other similar cause, that universal tendency to decay, which, in many instances, destroys almost every tooth at an early age. It is certainly not unimportant to bear this fact in mind, in the administration of this sovereign remedy, this panacea, as many appear to consider it, in infantile diseases.'

The teeth are exceedingly apt to suffer from sudden variations of temperature. Fluids, therefore, should never be taken into the mouth so hot or so cold as to produce the slightest pain; and for the same reason, the water with which the mouth is cleansed should in winter be always warm or tepid. There are many

other causes which might be mentioned as tending to induce decay of the teeth, but their consideration here is purposely avoided. It is hoped enough has been said to draw the parent's attention to the subject of the teeth, to prevent their neglect, and yet at the same time to induce a cautious management.

PART II.

MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN IN DISEASE.

CHAPTER IX.

GENERAL REMARKS ON ILLNESS.

In the previous part of this work, devoted to the general management of the child in health, I have endeavoured to teach the mother that her especial province is the prevention of disease, not its cure. To establish and carry out this principle, every word contained in the preceding pages has directly or indirectly tended. It must be remembered, however, that this is not all. The mother has a most important part to perform in the diseases of infancy and early childhood. I refer to those duties which constitute the domestic management of illness, and which embrace the period from the first moment of indisposition to its close. In the different chapters which follow I have pointed out in what these duties consist; it will be well, however, to give some hints on illness in general, which, it is believed, if acted upon, will tend to abridge the duration and abate the violence of disease when present, and consequently the danger and sufferings of the

Many mothers are continually giving medicine to their children. Some trivial derangement is supposed to exist; but whatever may be the matter, physic is the sovereign and only remedy, and dose follows dose until illness is really produced, and the medical man summoned to treat a disorder occasioned entirely by the love of drug-giving. Medicine thus unadvisedly exhibited, is a fruitful source of mischief and suffering, and the children of such mothers stand a very poor chance of struggling through childhood, and certainly are very unlikely to see a healthy and vigorous maturity.

Temporary indisposition from disorder of any of the natural functions is generally to be put to rights by domestic remedies and a spare diet for four-and-twenty hours; but, if these measures should not succeed, and the symptoms of disorder increase rather than diminish, it is as much the wisdom as the duty of the mother to send for medical aid at once, before the health is permitted to suffer, and disease of a serious nature established.

Whenever a child becomes suddenly indisposed, with or without any apparent cause, there ought to be no temporising with symptoms in the hope that nursery medicines will give relief, and that before evening or in the morning the invalid will be better; much valuable time is thus frequently lost, and the delay in sending for the medical attendant is occasionally fatal to the child.

The medical man being in attendance, his advice ought to be strictly and conscientiously followed out. His right to entire confidence and implicit obedience is implied in calling him in at all. Entering the sick chamber upon these terms, and taking upon himself,

as he does from the moment he prescribes for his patient, the responsibility of the case, the measures he directs ought, in common fairness, to be faithfully acted on. This, however, is not always done. Now and then, in an unguarded moment, a parent allows herself to be persuaded by some friend who may call, to adopt a remedy which has been so successful 'in just such a case as this,' and the medical man's prescription gives place. There can be no harm in her submitting it to his judgment, but much harm may be done by her not doing so. And in cases of severe illness it too frequently happens that well-meaning friends, without intending it, perhaps, shake the confidence of parents in their professional adviser, in whom before they had, and most deservedly, implicit faith; cruelly harassing the parents' feelings, and acting thoughtlessly and unjustifiably towards the medical

man.

Serious disease sometimes advances, simply because the measures prescribed are not followed out.The medicine perhaps is not given, from the carelessness of the nurse, or it may be from the difficulty of getting the child to take it. There cannot be a more unjustifiable and unwise way of overcoming the last, than to threaten the child with 'what the doctor will do' if he does not comply; thus making the doctor a bugbear instead of a friend.

Deceit is not the way to bring the child to submission surely, and here it does direct and manifest injury, for it not only makes the child look upon the medical man as an object of dread, but also necessarily so excites him in his presence, as to disguise or even aggravate the symptoms of the disease, and thus may make a wrong impression on his mind, and deceive his

judgment. The mischief, however, does not stop here, for ill health or temporary sickness thus proves a source of moral evil to the child. A sick child is but too often persuaded or deceived into taking medicine, when he should be directed by the calm, honest, steadfastness of a parent's authority. If he once obtains the victory, or has reason to think himself imposed upon, he will become unmanageable, or meet deceit with deceit. The observance of the duties of obedience during illness is no source of pain, but produces that calm reliance upon the sense, affection, and power of the parent, most favourable to recovery.'

But to return to our point. In serious and active disease the efficacy of medicine often depends on keeping the system under its influence. If this is suspended for a time, the disorder may be making destructive progress. Medical treatment, to be successful, must be seconded by a careful, painstaking, and judicious maternal superintendence. No medical treatment can avail at any time if directions be only partially carried out, or be negligently attended to, and must assuredly fail altogether, if counteracted by the erroneous prejudices of ignorant attendants. To the affections of infancy and childhood, this remark applies with great force, since, at this period, disease (if it be at all serious) is generally so sudden in its assaults, and rapid in its progress, that unless the measures prescribed are promptly and rigidly administered, their exhibition is soon rendered altogether fruitless. amount of suffering, too, may be greatly lessened by the thoughtful and discerning attentions of the mother. The wants and necessities of the young child must be anticipated; the fretfulness produced by disease, soothed by kind and affectionate attentions; and the possibility

The