consult a Medical man about: pray tell me, is there any objection to a mother giving her child a small quantity of syrup of poppies, or of paregoric, to ease it?

A cough is an effort of Nature to bring up any secretion from the lining membrane of the lungs, hence it should not be interfered with. I have known the administration of syrup of poppies, or of paregoric, stop the cough, and thereby prevent the expulsion of the phlegm, and thus produce inflammation-of-thelungs. Moreover, paregoric and syrup of poppies are dangerous medicines for a young child (unless administered by a judicious medical man) and should never be given by mothers. In the month of April, 1844, I was sent for, in great haste, to an infant, aged seventeen months, who was labouring under convulsions and coma from the injudicious administration of paregoric, which had been given to him to ease a cough. By the prompt administration of an emetic the child was saved.

61. Children who are teething are subject to an eruption, more especially behind the ears, which is most disfiguring, and frequently very annoying: what would you recommend?

I would apply no external application to cure it, as I should look upon it as an effort of the constitution to relieve itself, and should expect, if it were repelled, that convulsions, or inflammation-of-the-lungs, or water-on-the-brain, would be the consequence. The only plan I would adopt would be, to be more careful in the child's diet; to give him less meat (if he be old enough to eat meat) and to give a few doses of mild

aperient-medicine, once or twice a week; and, if the irritation from the eruption be great, to bathe it occasionally with a little warm milk and water or rosewater,

EXERCISE.

62. Do you recommend exercise in the open-air for an infant? and if so, how soon after birth?

I am a great advocate for his having exercise in the open air. "The infant in arms makes known its desire for fresh air, by restlessness; it cries-for it cannot speak its wants,-is taken abroad, and is quiet." The length of time after birth, it should be carried into execution, will, of course, depend upon the season, and upon the weather. If it be summer, and the weather fine, the infant may be taken in the open air a fortnight after birth; but, if it be winter, he should not, on any account, be taken out under the month, and not even then, unless the day be mild for the season and it be the middle of the day. At the end of two months, the infant may be taken out more frequently. At the end of three months, he should be carried out every day, even if it be wet under foot, provided it be fine above, and the wind be not in an easterly or north-easterly direction; by doing so, we shall make him strong and hearty, and give the skin that mottled appearance which is so characteristic of health. Of course, the child should be well clothed. I cannot help expressing my disapprobation of the practice of some

mothers, of smothering up infants' faces with handkerchiefs, veils, or other coverings, when they are taken into the air. If a child's face be so covered up, he may as well remain at home; as, under such circumstances, it is impossible for him to receive any benefit from the invigorating effects of fresh air.

63. Can you devise any method to induce an infant himself to take exercise?

He should be encouraged to use muscular exertion: and, for this purpose, should be frequently laid upon a rug or carpet; he will then stretch his limbs, kick about, and enjoy himself. The following plan is worthy of note:-"The baby, now nearly four months old, lay kicking and crowing on a clean coloured quilt or nursery carpet, which was one of Anne's household treasures; and a treasure to which her babies were mainly indebted for their fine, strong, healthy limbs. This carpet deserves a mention; and, as it is within every one's reach to procure, it may not be out of place to describe it to you. First of all, Anne had sewn together two or three widths of stout grey calico, and formed thereof a bag of about two yards square. This bag she had filled with oatflights, as they are usually called, obtained for a few pence of the corn dealers, and forming a tolerably easy mattress for the purpose. The patch-work quilt was of old dresses of various colours and dates; but gay enough to please the baby. And on this quilt, secure from all harm, and from bumps, or thumps, or tumbles, the children of Mrs. Wright had passed many an hour in infancy. They had none of them

those sad bent legs, so commonly seen among the children of the poor, and as commonly to be traced to bad nursing. Her children did not learn to walk very young, for the good reason that they were never tempted to do so, until they were strong enough to bear their own weight; but when they had taught themselves, and became courageous enough to leave the chair by which they practised the art, every one confessed that they stepped nobly and firmly along, and did their self-teaching credit. Now, believe me, this nursery carpet is worth your trying. A child is none the better, be it rich or poor, strong or delicate, for the constant heat of the lap or the nurse's arm. The enjoyment with which it will first kick and then crawl on the mattress, will soon convince you, if you try the experiment, that your baby, at a very early age, likes liberty. Of course you will watch that it does not feel neglected or alone; a word or two, a smile, a little song may be required, to tell the little one that you do not forget it, and when it shows symptoms of restlessness, it should at once be taken up; but I believe, in most cases, we do too much with our babies-we do not let them rest enough, and are too anxious to keep them constantly excited and alive. German nurses and mothers are great examples to us in this respect; they teach their little ones that which we too often disturb-habits of tranquillity and patience. Even an infant needs rest for its newlyawakened faculties."*

* Household Tracts:' Cottage Homes.-Jarrold and Sons, St. Paul's Churchyard, London.

64. Do you approve of tossing an infant much about?

Violent tossing of a young infant should never be allowed; it only frightens him, and has been known to bring on fits. He should be gently moved up and down (not tossed): such exercise causes a proper circulation of the blood, promotes digestion, and soothes to sleep. He should be always kept quiet immediately after taking the breast; if he be tossed. directly afterwards, it interferes with digestion, and is. likely to produce sickness.

SLEEP.

65. Should the infant's sleeping-apartment be kept

warm?

The lying-in room is generally kept too warm, its heat being, in many instances, more that of an oven than of a room. Such a place is most unhealthy, and fraught with danger both to mother and infant. Of course, we are not to run into an opposite extreme, but are to keep the room at a moderate and comfortable temperature. An infant should not be allowed to look at the glare of the fire, or at a lighted candle; as they tend to weaken the sight, and sometimes to bring on inflammation-of-the-eyes. In speaking to, and noticing an infant, you should always stand before and not behind him, or it may make him squint.

66. Should an infant lie alone from the first?

Certainly not. At first (say for the first few