INFANCY. 
how much more then must this double 
mischief be augmented, when applied to 
the soft and tender cuticle of an infant : 
how extensively must its delicate skin be- 
come inflamed by such harsh and perpetual 
pressure ; how continually exposed to cuta- 
neous eruptions, from the acrimonious hu- 
mour into which its obstructed matter of 
perspiration will be converted by this very 
obstruction itself. 
Let us close by observing that wherever 
this kind of tenacious covering is found as 
it sometimes is, spread in an unusual quan- 
tity, over the bodies of other animals, the 
mother of the young commonly removes 
it by washing and wiping it away with her 
own tongue and saliva, or by encouraging 
the new born animal to roll itself on the 
grass or straw, or whatever other substance 
may be the bed that first receives it : thus 
teaching to mankind a lesson of cleanliness, 
which instead of despising, they will do 
well to follow. Cleanliness, indeed, from 
the commencement of life to its termina- 
tion, may truly be said to be next to god- 
liness ; its influence upon the mind is equal 
to that, upon the body. The pleasurable 
sensation it excites is of no ordinary cha- 
racter; it is a powerful prophylactic against 
disease ; it exhilarates the animal spirits, 
and gives a feeling of moral dignity to the 
meanest and most indigent. A habit of 
cleanliness cannot be commenced too soon, 
nor persevered in too punctilious^. 
The next point to be attended to in the 
treatment of infants, is that of lactation or 
suckling. 
There is generally to much eagerness in 
putting the child to the breast; who is 
often worried to suck before he becomes 
actuated by the instinctive principle of 
nature, or before the mother finds her 
breasts sufficiently filled with milk to sa- 
tisfy his desire. In consequence of which 
the mother is as much and as vainly fatigu- 
ed as the infant, passes a restless njght, 
and is harassed with a renewal of after- 
pains from which she would otherwise have 
escaped. 
It is generally about the third day, after 
child-bed, that both are fully prepared ; 
though it sometimes happens that the in- 
fant has a desire to suck and the mother to 
suckle within twenty-four hours from the 
time of delivery. While again the same 
mutual propensity will not in other cases 
occur till a week or a fortnight, or even 
longer from the same period. In the latter 
case the infant should be supported by 
dilute gruel, a dilute solution of tops and 
bottoms, with or without a little cow’s 
milk, according as he seems best to relish 
it ; and if he appear in good health, no 
idea should be entertained of providing a 
wet nurse, till time has fully demonstrated 
that the mother will be incapable of sup- 
porting him herself. 
This maternal support is a duty so im- 
perative, that it should only be relinquished 
under the following circumstances : 1 . Sup- 
pression of milk. 2. Extreme delicacy, or 
disease of constitution, by which it may not 
be supplied in proper quantity or quality. 
3. The indulgence in such a routine of 
fashionable amusements as may render the 
mother incapable of fulfilling her task with 
punctuality and satisfaction to her child. 
This last conduct is unpardonable, but 
it is nevertheless common, and we are 
afraid will be so in the present day, not- 
withstanding all that can be urged to the 
contrary, whether by divines or physicians ; 
and all that we attempt to do is to guard 
against the mischievous effects of such a 
conduct : for if in this respect the mother 
remains deaf to the voice of nature, and 
the languishing desire of her own offspring, 
we are fully convinced that all we, or any 
other body of physiologists could urge 
would be in vain ; neither would she be 
persuaded though one rose from the dead. 
We will just observe, however, that the 
practise of repelling milk from a full breast 
is at times dangerous, and often accom- 
panied with abscesses, that are more in- 
convenient, last longer in the cure, and are 
succeeded by far more injury to the polish 
and harmony of the form than the suckling 
a large family. 
Let us add another reason, the human 
body is so constituted that one part assists 
another in the operations of nature : con- 
sequently there is a necessity for reciprocal 
action and rest. Whilst the womb, lately 
in a state of distention for many months, is 
thus allowed rest sufficient, it recovers its 
former tone. Whereas, when there is an 
annual repetition of pregnancy, the parts 
so distended, sooner lose their elasticity, 
and become at length, perhaps, diseased, 
which especially happens in cases where 
the original habit lias been w’eakly. 
The following is a reason that concerns 
the public, whatever influence it may have 
on the gay and the careless. The hired 
nurse, anxious to save as much as possible 
from her own wages, not only weans her 
own child, but puts him at board on the 
