CHILDREN.

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fœtus everywhere with fluids. This shows the care whichnature takes to prevent all unequal pressure on the bodies ofinfants, and to defend them against every thing that mightin the least cramp or confine their motions.

Even the bones of an infant are so soft and cartilaginous,that they readily yield to the slightest pressure, and easilyassume a bad shape, which can never after be remedied.Hence it is that so many people appear with high shoulders,crooked spines, and flat breasts, who were as well propor-tioned at their birth as others, but had the misfortune to besqueezed out of shape by the application of stays and ban-dages.

Pressure, by obstructing the circulation, likewise preventsthe equal distribution of nourishment to the different parts ofthe body, by which means the growth becomes unequal.One part of the body growè too large, while another remainstoo small ; and thus in time the whole frame becomes dispro-portioned and misshapen. To this we must add, that whena child is cramped in its clothes, it naturally shrinks from thepart that is hurt, and, by putting its body into unnatural pos-tures, it becomes deformed by habit.

Deformity of body may indeed proceed from weakness ordiseases, but in general it is the effect of improper clothmg.Ninè-tenths, at least, of the deformity amongst mankind mustbe imputed to this cause. A deformed body is not only dis-agreeable to the eye, but by a bad figure both the animal andvital functions must be impeded, and of course health im-paired. Hence few people remarkably misshapen are strongand healthy.

The new motions which commence at the birth, as the circu-lation of the whole mass of blood through the lungs, respira-tion, the peristaltic motion, &c, afford another strong argumentfor keeping the body of an infant free from all pressure.These organs, not having been accustomed to move, areeasily stopped ; but when this happens, death must ensue.Hardly any method could be devised more effectually to stopthese motions than bracing the body too tight with rollers,bandages, &c. Were these to be applied in the same mannerto the body of an adult, for an equal length of time, theycould hardly fail to hurt the digestion and make him sick.How much more hurtful must they prove to the tender bodiesof infants, we shall leave any one to judge.

Whoever considers these things will not be surprised that