ther’s milk does not always come immediately after pi 
is the way to bring it; besides, the first milk that t 
squeeze out of the breast answers: the purpose of cleansing 
than all the drugs in the apothecary’s shop, and at the same tit 
prevents inflammations of the breast, fevers, and other diseases ini i- 
dent to mothers. eee 
It is strange how people came to think that the first thing given 
to acchild should be drugs. This is beginning with medicine be- 
times, and no wonder if they generally end with it. It sometimes 
happens, indeed, that a child does not discharge the meconium so ~ = 
soon as could be wished ; this has induced physicians, in such ¢: 
to give something of an opening nature to cleanse the first passages. 
Midwives have improved upon this hint, and never fail to give sy- 
rups, oils, &&c. whether they be necessary or not. Cramming an ~ 
infant with such indigestible stuff as soon as it is born, can hardly 
fail to make it sick, and is more likely to occasion diseases thanto 
prevent them. Children are seldom long after the birth without 
having a passage both by stool and urine; though these evacuations 
may be wanting for some time without any danger. But if children 
must have something before they be allowed the breast, let it bea 
little thin water-pap, to which may be added an equal quantity of 
new milk, or even water alone. Wines, cordials, spiceries, &c. 
have no beneficial effect. : oF ge re ars 
If the mother or nurse has enough of milk, the child will as 
- little or no other food for the third or fourth month. It will then be 
proper to give it, once or twicea day, a little of some food that is . 
easy of digestion, as water-pap, milk porridge, weak broth with bread | 
‘init, and such like. This will ease the mother, will accustom the 
shild by degrees to take food, and will render the weaning both. : 
difficult and less dangerous. All great and sudden transitions are 
to be avoided in nursing. For this purpose the food of children 
ought not only to be simple, but to resemble as nearly as possible 
the properties of milk. Indeed, milk itself, or with Indian pudding, 
or mush, should make a principal part of their food, not before: 
they are weaned, but for some time after. — 
-_ Next to milk, we would recommend good light bread. — 
be given to a child as soon it shows any inclination to che 
chewing of bread will promote the cutting of the teeth, an 
rge of saliva, while, by mixing with the nurse’s milk in the sto- 
ach, it will afford an excellent nourishment. Children discover 
an early inclination to chew whatever is put into their hands, Pa- 
rents observe this inclination, but generally mistake the object, 
Instead of giving the child-soraething which may at on 
its gums and afford it nourishment, they cor put i 
a stick a piece of metal, or other hard substance. A er 
is the best gum stick. It not only answers the purpose better 
any thing else, but bas the additional property of nourishing - 
and carrying the saliva down into the stomach, which is 
. 
ee? 
