OF CHILDREN.
But the mother is not the "only person concerned inthe management of children. The father has anequal interest in their welfare, and ought to assist inevery thing that respects either the improvement orthe body or mind.
It is a pity that themenshouldbesoinattentivetothismatter. Their negligence is one reason why femalesknow so little of it. Women will ever be desirous toexcel in such accomplishments as recommend them tothe other sex. But men generally keep at such a dis-tance from even the smallest acquaintance with theaffairs of the nursery, that many would reckon it anaffront, were they supposed to know any thing orthem. Not so, however, with the kennel or the stables;a gentleman of the first rank is not ashamed to give di-rections concerning the management of his dogs orhorses, yet would blush were he surprised in perform-ing the same office for that being who derived its exist-ence from himself, who is the heir of his fortunes, andthe future hopes of his country.
Nor have physicians themselves been sufficiently at-tentive to the management of children: this has beengenerally considered as the sole province of old women,while men of the first character in physic have refusedto visit infants even when sick. Such conduct in thefaculty has not only caused this branch of mvdicine tobe neglected, but has also encouraged the other sextoassume an absolute title to prescribe for children in themost dangerous diseases. The consequence is, that aphysician is seldom called till the good women haveexhausted all their skill; whenihis attendance can onlyserve to divide the blame, and appease the disconso-late parents.
Nurses should do all in their power to prevent dis-eases; but when a child is taken ill, some person ofskill ought immediately to be consulted. The diseasesof children are generally acute, and the least delay isdangerous.
Were physicians more attentive to the diseases ofinfants, they would not only be better qualified to treat
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