Endeavour to harden the body, but without violent means. A child is con- stitutionally weak and irritable ; hence we should try to strengthen the child, and diminish this irritability, in order to procure it the greatest blessing, — a firm body; which may resist all influence of air and weather. The cold bath may be used too much, and bodily exercise may be too violent. Infants should by imperceptible de- grees be inured to the cool, and then to the cold bath. If they have been accus- tomed to an effeminate treatment, and should be suddenly subjected to an op- posite extreme, such a change would be attended with danger. The child's skin is to be kept perfectly clean, by washing its limbs morning and evening ; begin with warm water, till, by degrees, it will bear, and like, to be washed with cold water. After carefully drying the whole body, head, and limbs, another dry soft cloth, a little warmed, should be used gently, to take all the damp from the wrinkled and fat parts of the body. Apply gentle friction to the body, but do not press upon the stomach and bowels. If the skin is chafed, hair powder, or violet powder, is to be used, or a thin mixture of fullers earth. For the head, a small soft brush is safer than a comb. It should have clean linen, &c. every day. Some females in dressing an Infant are very rough, and must harass and fatigue it much. The most tender dell- nog 219 INF beration should he observed. Never let the clothes be tight. Never use pins, for they are dangerous. The strings must be tied so slack that one might get two fingers between. Many instances of idiotism, fits, and deformity, are ow- ing to tight bandages. Never expose an infant to open doors or windows, especially in winter. The extreme of a summer day should also be avoided. Excessive heat or cold will injure an infant. Infants should not be kept too near the fire. The wisest course in treating infants, is to follow the simple dictates of nature, yet some people are so devoid of con- sideration as to give them wine, spirits, spices, sugar, and other things too strong for their tender stomachs. The first milk a baby can draw from its mother's breast is medicine and nourish- ment for it, and if she is too ill to give it, it is better to let it wait a few hours, than to give it any kind of food. But if it is very craving, mix milk with soft boiled water, and give it half a teaspoon- ful at a time, only warm, for its mouth cannot bear much heat. Let it swallow one little portion before another is offer- ed, and raise its head that it may pass the gullet easily. Do not overload the stomach, which may greatly disorder the infant, and become the foundation of gluttony. If a mother cannot suckle the child, get a healthy cheerful woman, with young milk, who is fond of infants. After the first six months, broths, and simple food, may do as well as living wholly upon milk. If milk cannot be had, a tea-spoonful of the yolk of a fresh egg, well beaten and mixed with two table-spoonfuls of soft boiled water✪ Infant's Milk Substitute will do instead. Three inches square of lean veal, and one inch thick, will make soup for a baby for two or three days. Boil only half at once, in a pint of soft water✪ Baby Veal Soup, down to two- thirds. Strain. When cold, take off the scum. Warm a little as wanted. A thin gruel also may be made from rice flour✪ Thin Gruel.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Endeavour to harden the body, but without violent means. A child is constitutionally weak and irritable ; hence we should try to strengthen the child, and diminish this irritability, in order to procure it the greatest blessing, — a firm body; which may resist all influence of air and weather. The cold bath may be used too much, and bodily exercise may be too violent. Infants should by imperceptible degrees be inured to the cool, and then to the cold bath. If they have been accustomed to an effeminate treatment, and should be suddenly subjected to an opposite extreme, such a change would be attended with danger. The child's skin is to be kept perfectly clean, by washing its limbs morning and evening ; begin with warm water, till, by degrees, it will bear, and like, to be washed with cold water. After carefully drying the whole body, head, and limbs, another dry soft cloth, a little warmed, should be used gently, to take all the damp from the wrinkled and fat parts of the body. Apply gentle friction to the body, but do not press upon the stomach and bowels. If the skin is chafed, hair powder, or violet powder, is to be used, or a thin mixture of fullers earth. For the head, a small soft brush is safer than a comb. It should have clean linen, &c. every day. Some females in dressing an Infant are very rough, and must harass and fatigue it much. The most tender deliberation should he observed. Never let the clothes be tight. Never use pins, for they are dangerous. The strings must be tied so slack that one might get two fingers between. Many instances of idiotism, fits, and deformity, are owing to tight bandages. Never expose an infant to open doors or windows, especially in winter. The extreme of a summer day should also be avoided. Excessive heat or cold will injure an infant. Infants should not be kept too near the fire. The wisest course in treating infants, is to follow the simple dictates of nature, yet some people are so devoid of consideration as to give them wine, spirits, spices, sugar, and other things too strong for their tender stomachs. The first milk a baby can draw from its mother's breast is medicine and nourishment for it, and if she is too ill to give it, it is better to let it wait a few hours, than to give it any kind of food. But if it is very craving, mix milk with soft boiled water, and give it half a teaspoonful at a time, only warm, for its mouth cannot bear much heat. Let it swallow one little portion before another is offered, and raise its head that it may pass the gullet easily. Do not overload the stomach, which may greatly disorder the infant, and become the foundation of gluttony. If a mother cannot suckle the child, get a healthy cheerful woman, with young milk, who is fond of infants. After the first six months, broths, and simple food, may do as well as living wholly upon milk. If milk cannot be had, a tea-spoonful of the yolk of a fresh egg, well beaten and mixed with two table-spoonfuls of soft boiled water will do instead. Three inches square of lean veal, and one inch thick, will make soup for a baby for two or three days. Boil only half at once, in a pint of soft water, down to twothirds. Strain. When cold, take off the scum. Warm a little as wanted. A thin gruel also may be made from rice flour.

Records on this page

Infant's Milk SubstituteBaby Veal SoupThin Gruel

Consult me