DOMESTIC MEDICINE.

PART I.

Of the General Causes of Diseases.

CHAPTER I.OF CHILDREN.

JL HE better to trace diseases from their original causes, we shalltake a view of the common treatment of mankind in the state ofinfancy. In this period of our lives, the foundations of a good orbad constitution are generally laid ; it is therefore of importance,that parents be well acquainted with the various causes which mayinjure the health of their offspring.

It appears from the annual registers of the dead, that almost onehalf of the children born in Great Britain die under twelve years ofage. To many, indeed, this may appear a natural evil; but on dueexamination, it will be found to be one of our own creating. Werethe death of infants a natural evil, other animals would be as liableto die young as man ; but this we find is by no means the case.

It may seem strange that man, notwithstanding his superior rea-son, should fall so far short of other animals in the management ofhis young; but our surprise will soon cease, if we consider thatbrutes, guided by instinct, never err in this respect; while man,trusting solely to art, is seldom right. Were a catalogue of thoseinfants who perish annually by art alone exhibited to public view, itwould astonish most people.

If parents are above taking care of their children, others must beemployed for that purpose : these will always endeavour to recom.mend themselves by the appearance of extraordinary skill and address. By this means such a number of unnecessary and destructivearticles have been introduced into the diet, clothing, &c. of infantsthat it is no wonder so many of them perish.

Nothing can be more preposterous than a mother who thinks it be.low her to take care of her own child, or who is so ignorant as notto know what is proper to be done for it. If we search Naturethroughout, we cannot find a parallel to this. Every other animalis- the nurse of its own offspring, and they thrive accordingly. Werethe brutes to bring up their young by proxy, they would share tillsame fate with those of the human species.

We mean not, however, to impose it as a task upon every motherto suckle her own child. This, whatever speculative writers mayallege, is in some cases impracticable, and would inevitably prow-ls

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