how mucli more subject the male sex is, to those com- 

 plaints, than the female-; and the earlier periods of life, 

 than the more advanced, For, among the males in the 

 sixth year, we find 147j (the greatest number,) and among 

 the females, only- five at eighth From these periods, in 

 both sexes, the numbers- rapidly -diminish. 



These facts w^ould lead us to conclude, that some phy- 

 siological cause, peculiar to the functions of this early 

 stage, may give rise to this difierence; and I will not 

 pretend to say, but this may possibly exist: but, when 

 we consider, that^ in • every- -oounti-yj the infant poor are 

 the greatest sufferers, we are induced to- inquire further, 

 and suspect the existence of some general cause, affect- 

 ing and applicable to them all. That a similarity of diet, 

 (in the children of this class of society, in particular,) 

 must ever}"" where nearly take place, is evident: and that 

 this is, but too often, of the kind most prone to the 

 acescent tendency, such as pap, gruel, sour milk, &c.; all 

 which it is not always in the power of tlie parents to 

 renew, or administer, in a recent and sound state; an error 

 not unfrequently oeGumng, from- the negligence of nurses, 

 even in the upper ranks, but irremediable in the loAver: 

 where this acescent tendency cannot be corrected, by 

 the seasonable admixture of broth, or other light ani- 

 mal food; theii" unhappy situation confining them exclu- 

 sively, like their cattle, to the sole use of vegetables, and 

 the fariuacea. 



To pass on, from infancy, to the advanced periods of 



life, 



