984 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



than the woman possesses of that most intricate and frail organism, the 

 human infant. The baby needs more intelHgent handling and more 

 careful cherishing than the young of other animals, than infant industries 

 or intricate machines, if it is to develop into healthful, efficient manhood 

 or womanhood. 



Responsibility in caring for and rearing children is of as great importance 

 to the race as responsibility in any conceivable line of industry, yet parents 

 have little training for it. Mothers and fathers rarely possess any definite 

 scientific knowledge of the real conditions governing criildhood and youth. 

 If prosperity is to increase, if the efficiency of men and women is to be 

 made greater, it must be through a better understanding of the needs of 

 childhood. 



The three factors of greatest importance in determining the welfare of 

 the child are inheritance, environment, and food. It is vital to the progress 

 of the race that children should be well bom, that the parents should be 

 strong and untainted, that they should pass on good habits of mind and 

 body to the next generation. It is not, however, within the scope of this 

 bulletin to attempt any discussion of this abstract subject. Only the 

 more immediately present conditions will be considered here. 



CARE OF THE MOTHER 



Thoughtful care of the child should not be deferred to the time of its 

 birth. It should at least begin with the care of the mother from the time 

 she knows that she may expect the little one. - Much misery and ill health 

 on the part of both child and mother may often be prevented by an under- 

 standing of the conditions which prevail at this time and by giving better 

 attention to a hygienic regimen for the mother. 



The period of the greatest growth during the lifetime of the human 

 being is during the nine months previous to birth. When the child is 

 bom, it is about five million times as large as the germ from which it has 

 sprung. During the first year of its life growth is only about threefold, 

 and aftef this it progresses much more slowly until maturity is reached. 

 While right conditions are extremely important during the first years of 

 life, they are supremely important during the prenatal period. During 

 these months, muscles, bones, and nerves, the foundation for all organs 

 and tissues, are formed. This is the time when the human being is created 

 and the rest of life concerns itself with the development and education 

 of that which is now produced. It is therefore vital to the welfare of the 

 future individual to have the best possible environment during this period 

 of fundamental growth. Nature has done her best by hiding the devel- 

 oping baby snugly away where it shall be protected as far as possible from 



