66 the constrained postures, unhealthy influences, protracted labours, &c., of our manufacturing system than the males. This is one of the remarks contained in their report: The female, as a child, as adolescent, as an adult, bears factory labour better than the male." Still the full exercise of lungs and limbs in a pure atmosphere, and a diminution of the hours devoted to sedentary occupations, are exceedingly desirable. Indeed, it may be well doubted whether the labours of the factory commissioners anywhere revealed to them a system more prejudicial to the health, morals, and understandings of youth, than that which obtains in every portion of the kingdom amongst dress-makers. Their daily pursuits in close apartments, and in positions so unnatural to juvenile agility, are in themselves far too great a tax upon their constitutions; but when we recollect the constant practice of night work which everywhere prevails, who can wonder at the frequent deformities to which they are subject—the indigestion, constipation, and ultimate pulmonary consumption, the occurrence of which amongst them is familiar to those who practise the medical profession? A very partial exercise of the muscles, the imperfect performance of the functions of nutrition, and the aëration of the blood induced by these circumstances, are adequate to account for all their morbific consequences. Indeed, it may be safely affirmed that young females engaged as dressmakers, teachers in schools, and so forth, present the most prolific sources of disease and death of any class in the community. "Were a law to be passed and strictly observed," remarks a clever writer, "which should absolutely prohibit the administration of medicine to children except by the advice of an experienced physician, I am convinced it would annually save the health and lives of thousands.' There does certainly exist with many parents a strange propensity to substitute the drugs of the apothecary for judicious nursing, or rather, to supply, by the plentiful PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF DRUGGING. 237 administration of the former, the errors and omissions in the latter. By this dependence upon medicine, for what medicine is not calculated to effect, the evil produced by one species of error is aggravated by another of an equally dangerous character. The health of the child invariably suffers, and its course to the grave is often greatly accelerated. Were parents, instead of attempting to allay by medicine every trifling complaint of childhood, to look upon the latter as an invariable indication of some defect in nursing, and to have recourse at once to the necessary change of food, air, exercise, or clothing, they would, in the great majority of instances, effectually guard against the occurrence of actual disease, while they added to the comfort, augmented the strength, and prolonged the lives of their offspring. But if the administration of drugs, when pain and uneasiness are actually present, be productive of injury, what shall we say to that most absurd and pernicious of customs, the giving to children in perfect health medicine, under the silly pretext of sweetening their blood, and thus guarding against the approach of disease? This custom, it is true, was far more prevalent formerly than at present; but even now, in the calendars of certain mothers and nurses, the spring and autumn are marked as seasons consecrated to physic. At these periods of the year, no matter how perfect the health of their children, they believe it to be their bounden duty to force upon them some innocent medicine, as they term it, but which is often of the most active character, to cleanse their blood, and to insure their continuance in health. It may, perhaps, be in vain to urge upon such individuals that medicine is not adapted to the preservation of health, but only for the removal of disease; that when the latter is not always present every drug, however mild may be its operation, throws the stomach into immediate disorder, weakens its digestive powers, vitiates the juices designed for the solution of the food, and thus impedes the growth, and impairs the strength and vigour, of the whole system. Under this plan for preventing disease children are actually made sick for fear they should become so, and their constitutions are enfeebled by the perverse means employed to strengthen them. It has been well observed that Art opens all her resources in vain, nor can the greatest efforts of ingenuity make amends for the want of pure air, cleanliness, healthy breast-milk, or wholesome food and proper exercise. The neglect of any of these essential points is attended with irreparable mischief; while, on the contrary, a due attention to them will, in a majority of instances, preclude the necessity of any medical aid. We trust we shall not be misunderstood, from the foregoing remarks, as inculcating any neglect of proper medical treatment in the diseases of children. On the contrary, we insist that when disease is discovered to be actually present recourse should be had, without a moment's delay, to the advice of a physician. All we desire is to point out the necessity of proper regimen and diet for the prevention of the complaints of childhood, and as a means of removing those immediate effects of bad nursing, which are so frequently converted into serious and often incurable maladies by "domestic doctoring." The following maxims for parents who have reason to dread the presence of that fatal scourge, consumption, in their children are worthy of consideration :—1. If consumption has prevailed in either of your families use the earliest precautions to prevent your children falling victims to the same disease. 2. Though consumption may not have been common on the side of either, yet precaution is not the less important. Two or three neglected colds in winter, or a cutting blast in spring, with improper clothing, may, in an infirm constitution, securely seat the relentless destroyer at the best, wretched health will be a certain consequence. 3. When those who must be ignorant of the essential difference between a common cold and consumption boast of their HINTS ON CONSUMPTION. 239 cures, hear, but heed them not. Ask this question of your own common sense. -What experience or inspiration can instruct such pretenders? 4. It is wise to check a cold the first week, but much wiser the first four-andtwenty hours. 5. Attempt not the treatment of your own or your children's colds, lest what may in reality have been in the first instance a trifling disease, should, by your mismanagement, be converted into a confirmed consumption. 6. All remedies which do no good in either colds or consumptions invariably do a very great deal of harm. 7. A strictly sober life, regular active exercise, and a cheerful and contented mind, are the most certain means by which those predisposed to consumption may escape its attack, and preserve their lives to an advanced period. 8. The most certain means by which the predisposed, even when guilty of no intemperance, may invite the attack of their lurking enemy, is a plentiful use of pectoral balsams, balms of life, lung-restorers, cough-lozenges, or, indeed, any of the list of certain cures " in the newspapers. 66 CHAPTER XV. TRAVELLING AS A MEANS OF HEALTH. "His travel has not stopp'd him, Still in the place he was born in, round and blinded." "While yet you breathe, away; the rural wilds ARMSTRONG. TRAVELLING is the best antidote against the injurious effects of too much occupation and business, not less than of the languor of idleness and inactivity. It comes more especially recommended to those whose employment condemns them to a sedentary life, who are continually engaged in abstract studies or oppressive labour, whose minds have sunk into a state of insensibility or melancholy. Of all the great men of antiquity who undertook extensive journeys for health and instruction no one is entitled to more studious imitation than Cicero. He was twenty-eight years old, and had already attracted considerable notice by his successful pleadings, when he set out on the then fashionable tour through Greece |