Page:The physical training of children (IA 39002011126464.med.yale.edu).pdf/382



is necessary to its existence, are air to breathe, food to nourish, external warmth by suitable covering, and sleep to invigorate and refresh. It is now that the reason of the mother and of her immediate aids should be deliberately exercised in the regulation of these instincts. Selection and limitation of means for the purpose must be made, and the physical training of the infant is thus already begun. How important that this training should be conducted with a full knowledge of the necessities of the case! and yet it is this very knowledge that is so generally wanting, and which it is the great object of Dr. Chavasse to supply. His advice and directions to this end are full and explicit, minute without being tedious and plain without being trivial. All the deeds and contingencies of nursery-life are anticipated, and the treatment required in consequence is carefully detailed. The cardinal purposes of a sanitary teacher are to preserve the health of the child, to restore it when lost and to prevent disease. While giving full scope to the fulfilment of these purposes, the author admits, with reserve, the necessity of indicating the means of curing some of the ailments and chief diseases incident to childhood. He enjoins the mother to send for a physician as soon as the case requires medical aid, and he gives the additional and often-needed advice to abide strictly by the directions of her medical adviser. There are times, however, when the suddenness and violence of the attack and the inability to procure timely professional assistance throw the mother on her own resources, and it is under these circumstances that the author teaches her how to act and what prescriptions to give, but not without many cautions on his part. It must still be continually borne in mind that everything can be done in the way of prevention, and much in the way of cure, by a timely and judicious use of the ordinary hygienic means applied for the growth and preservation of the child, viz.: air, water, food, clothing, exercise of the body and nurture of the affections. The medicine-*chest ought never to form part of the furniture of the nursery. Meddlesome medicine is bad, and that medicine is always meddlesome when it is applied without actual necessity, clearly indicated by a competent judge. The mother will find this judge in the author of the present volume.
 * thought. The first instinctive wants of an infant, the gratifying of which

Especially to be commended are the sub-chapters on The Nursery, Exercise, Amusements and Education, the mere reading of which by parents, and more particularly by mothers, cannot fail, while inculcating new duties on them, to call their affections into increased activity and extend their benevolent feeling to all who are placed under similar circumstances with themselves. Air and light and range for romps and games, pleasant words and nurture in love inspire children with joy and gladness, and parents, in reading these feelings, catch the soft contagion and become happier themselves in making their miniature second selves happy. In a subsequent part of the volume, under the head of "Boyhood and Girlhood," additional advice is given on many of the topics which were detailed in reference to infant life. First among these is daily ablution in its full sense, including the use of the bath as "a grand requisite for health." The transition from bathing to swimming is very natural and easy. "Swimming ought, then, to be a part and parcel of the education of every boy and girl." In urging exercise and amusements for the young, and specifying many ways, including the gymnasium, dancing and skating, in which the desired object may be attained, the author could not fail to caution against the perversion of the pleasures of the dance by the too general accompaniments of tight dress in crowded rooms, impure air, late hours, over-exertion and rapid transitions of temperature, to which are too frequently added excesses in eating and