198 THE PHILOSOPHY 



do not fully compenfate, the pain which muft unavoidably be en- 

 dured, whether in a more natural or more artificial ftate of mankind. 

 If luxury and civilization debilitate the conftltutions of children, they 

 give riie to many real enjoyments which are totally unknown to the 

 favage. His wants are fewer; but his gratifications are more than 

 proportionally diminifhed. 



Though the period of human infancy be proportionally long, it i-s 

 too often increafed by improper management. In this, and many other 

 countries of Europe, infants have no fooner efcaped from the womb 

 of their mothers, and have enjoyed the liberty of ftretching their 

 limbs, than they are again condemned to a more cruel and unnatu- 

 ral bondage. The head is fixed in one pofition ; the legs are fet- 

 tered ; the arms are bound down to the fides ; and the little inno- 

 cents are laced vi'ith bandages fo ftrait that they cannot move a fingle 

 joint. The reftraint of fwaddling bands muft be produdive of pain. 

 Their original intention was to prevent the head and limbs from be- 

 ing diftorted by unnatural or hurtful pofitions. But it was not con- 

 fidered, that the efforts made by infants to difentangle themfelves, 

 have a greater tendency to diftort their members than any poftures 

 they could affume, if they enjoyed a greater degree of liberty. But, 

 if the efforts for liberty made by infants fettered in this cruel man- 

 ner be hurtful, the ftate of inadtivity in which they are forced to re- 

 main, is, perhaps, equally noxious. Infants, as well as all young 

 animals, are extremely prone to motion. It promotes the growth 

 and expanfion of their organs. It likewife invigorates all their mem- 

 bers, and facilitates the circulation and fecretion of their different 

 fluids. But, when infants are deprived of exercife, or of the power 

 of performing their natural movements, the oppofite effeds are pro- 

 duced. The want of exercife retards their growth and weakens 

 their conftitution. Thofe children, therefore, who are allowed full 

 freedom of motion will always be the moft healthy and the moft vi- 

 gorous. 



