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CHAP. VI.] one day he put her in a standing position, and to the great surprise of those present, she walked from one side of the room to the other.

In the first attempts to walk the child has to acquire the power of maintaining its equilibrium; if it is held up by one arm the attitude is unfavourable to this, and trunk and spine are twisted to one side; if by both, the position is also unnatural, and in either case there is a risk of dislocation at the shoulder if a stumble occurs, while the lower limbs are apt to yield, and the little one becomes careless of its own exertions, which is alike bad for its body and mind. All baby-jumpers, baby-walkers, and inventions of that kind are to be avoided. Leading-strings give support at the risk of compressing and deforming the chest; but there is no objection, when the child has gained strength to stand, to placing one hand on each side of the chest, so as to give the slightest possible support, while being ready to give more if the balance is lost. By this plan, natural efforts are assisted without being forced, and the child becomes able to walk, not only sooner, but more safely and gracefully than is possible when any artificial method is adopted.

In lifting young children, care should be taken never to take hold of them by the arms, as the sockets of the joints are so shallow, and the connections of the bones so feeble, that dislocation may easily take place. For the same reason the practice of raising children in the air by alternate arms and legs "to see if they are all right" is