The Young Mother

d's only food?-SEC. 6 Feeding before teething. Cow's milk. Sucking bottles. Cleanliness. Nurses.-SEC. 7. Treatment from teething to weaning.-SEC. 8. Process of weaning-rules in regard to it.-SEC.

d raw su

eneral Pr

ood of an infant during the first months of its existence, that it seems almost unnecessary to repeat the

neglecting to nurse them, they will. Few, indeed, will publicly acknowledge a state of feeling so unnatural; but ther

ore ready to talk of duty than they who have the least regard to it-can it be their duty, they ask, to exclude themselves from the pleasures and comforts of social life for half or two thirds of their most active and happy years? Ought they not to go abroad, at least occasionally? But if so, and th

ovidence, there cannot be a doubt. And the mischief is, that she who has gone so far, will not scruple, ere long, to go farther. And, strange and unnatural as it may seem, that mothers should turn over their children to

enance their sons and daughters in doing it, will not be slow to imitate this also-especially as it is a very convenient fashion. And I question whether I shall succeed in reasoning them out of it. Habit, both of thoug

ate cause is known to exist. We are to be governed, in these and similar cases, by general rules, and not by exceptions. The general rule, in

aps, that the child must be "fed to spare the mother." That is to say, nursing weakens

ken by the child, or drawn off in some other way, one of two things must follow;-either it must be taken up by what are called absorbent vessels, and carried into the circulation, and chiefly thrown out of the system as waste matter, or it

hild, to "spare its mother," what is this, in practice, but to say that the works of the Creator are very imperfect; and that he has thrown upon the mass of mankind a task to which they are no

no defence that has the slightest claim to solidity. The gene

nduct of t

ood, drink, &c., of the mother while nursing; but repeated solicitations on this point, h

w, indeed, can it be other wise? How can the mother's blood be constantly irritated with improper food and drink, without rendering the milk so? And how ca

proceed quite so far as to make the child a drunkard? If it but lays the foundation of a constitutional fondness for excitements, it tends to disease. Indeed that, in itself, is a disease; and one, too, which is destroying more persons every year than the cholera, or even the consumption. Consumption has at most only slain her tens of thousands [Fo

late, in which people confine themselves to simple water for drink; but they are rather rare. And no wonder. They must be rare so long as an unnatural thirst is kept up everywhere by the most exciting and most strange mixtures of food. Where, I again ask, is the person who will eat and relish plain bread, plain meat, plain puddings, &c.

of food for her poor child without it!)-to kindle a fever that came very near burning up the mother and child both. And yet, if I have once or twice succeeded in convincing the mother that she was o

uses of this premature destruction. In fact most parents-even many intelligent mothers-at once stare, if you attempt to inquire into the causes of their child's death, as if it was either a kind of sacrilege, or an impeachment of their own parental affection

all, the mother. Nay; more-we must not suppress so great and important a truth-it is the first step for the legislator and the minister. What sense is there in continuing, century after century, and age after age, to expend all our efforts in merely

anity, would that I could, but for one moment, divest myself of the idea, that in writing for the young mother I am not writing for legislators and ministers! Would that I could banish from my mind th

least, from all causes which tend to produce a feverish state of her fluids. Among these are every form of premature exertion, whether in sitting up, l

and other fermented liquors, a room too much heated, closed curtains, confined air, too much ex

ing twenty times the air that has already been as often discharged, filled with poison, from her lungs, is not too strongly reprobated by Dr. Dewees, or anybody else. But I have spoken of these things in the chapter which treats on "The Nursery." I would only observe, on this point, that

n. But if the weather is fine and in every respect favorable, a woman who is in tolerable health may venture abroad a little in about three weeks after her confinement, and some

ating. But even this advice of his, if duly followed, would be a great advance upon the practice which generally prevails. There is so universal a belief among females that they demand, at this period of their existence, not only a larger quantity of food than usual, but also that which is more stimulating in

ught to believe and feel that, in every step she takes, she is forming the habitation of an immortal spirit-a spirit, too, whose character and destiny, both present and eternal, must depend, in no small degree, upon the character of the dwelling it occupies while passing through this stage of earthly existence! How long will

then in South Carolina. And though I am far from believing that health depends more on food and drink than on all other things put together, as many seem to suppose, yet I am entirely of opinion that he who should devote himself successfully to

Nursing-

ed by all, that for several months after birth there are serious difficulties in the way of determining, with any degree of precisio

lightest uneasiness, not only from hunger, but from other causes; merely to be gratified with nursing. Besides, if its cries s

time for rest; and this in the case of children as well as adults. But to nurse

requent; I believe that it is seldom proper to nurse a child more frequently than this. But whenever three hours becomes a suitable period by day, once in four hours will be often enough by night. I wil

ion to their indulgence. On the contrary, it is the more necessary to be strict with feeble children, because they are feeble. To keep them hanging at the breast to invigorate t

habit of giving infants pap, and other delicacies, "between meals." Many a child's health is ruined by this p

ife, and to minister to the growth, during the earliest periods of existence." [Footnote: Elements of Hygiene, page

Quantity

The stomach, like every other part, can, and unfortunately does, acquire habits highly injurious to itself; and that of demanding an unnecessary quantity of aliment is not one of the least. It should, therefore, be constantly borne

o the stomach is digested. It is highly probable, that the least quantity which is usually given to an infant is mo

respects, too-that the child's stomach is a pretty correct guide in regard to quantity.

he feet, the fleshy portions of the face, even, may be disproportionally enlarged by constant use. Thus a sailor, who uses his hands and arms much more than his legs and feet, has the former unusually large; one who is much accustomed to walking, has large feet; and in a tailor, who from childhood uses his lower limbs comparatively littl

le quantity of food will be avoided-I mean the too frequent "repetition of aliment." And if we never depart from the general

g should milk b

st approved role, of universal application, is, that the first chang

e fixed to any particular age, but vari

ild," they will ask, "would ever have any strength, brought up so?" Not only a little pap and gru

y do no good, but actually do mischief. Indeed, that which does no good in the stomach must do harm, of cours

substances which are swallowed; and hence, whatever is reduced to a pulp, they regard as being digested. Whereas nothing is better known to the anatomist and physiologist, than that this-the formation of chyme in the stomac

ay go on naturally enough, and yet the chyle may not be well formed, and the chymous mass may find its way out of the system without answering any of the purposes of nutrition. For no matter how well the food is dissolved in the stomach, if it do not become good and proper chyl

ience merely; and how much more wisely they act, in contenting themselves with giving them-at least until they have teeth-such food only as the Author of nature seems to have ass

Feeding bef

eth, the sole food of an infant should be the milk of its own moth

ant of suitable nourishment by the mother; and, 2dly, a feeble constitution, or bad health. In the former case, it should be her first object, as it undou

hich her case requires, a volume might be written without exhausting the subject. But

e infant to suffer, in the mean time, for a due supply of food. The

mix with a suitable quantity of new cow's milk, one third of water, and sweeten it a little with loaf sugar. This is to be given to the child, at suit

mon notion, that children in early life require a variety of food. He even insists on the importance of confining the child to a single article of food when it is practicable. Yet he has not given us so much as one reason why it is not practicable in the case before us; but has gon

or the mother's milk. But there are several minor directions, which ma

f milk often differs very materially, even among cows feeding in the same pasture, or from the same pile of hay; and the stomach becomes most easily re

iven as soon as possible after it is prepared, to prevent any degree of fermentation. It is never so well to heat it by the fire. If taken

immediately from the cow, it should be kept, in winter, where it will

w, no doubt, to see that it is at a proper temperature. This practice is not only wholly unnecessary, but altogether disgusting, and even ridi

e supply of food was adequate to his wants. And when his first supply is exhausted, then let him make up his meal from the sucking bottle. The great advantage of this plan is, that he will not be so

be pure. If it is not, it should by all means be boiled. The sugar used should be of the very best kind;

en in very small quantity only-should prove injurious: though I do not regard the reasoning of Dr. Dewees as very conclusive on the subject, when, in reply to Dr. Cadogan, he has the following language-"If sugar be improper, why does it so largely enter into the composition of the early food of all animals? It is in vain that physicians declaim again

to nurse her own child from positive ill health, or when circumstances exist which render it obviously improper that

such as consumption or scrofula; or when her constitution is tainte

ome very troublesome or dangerous dise

n cause, has been found by experience to disagree with the child. In these circu

failure becomes habitual. In all these circumstances, the proper resort is to a sucking bottle, or a hired nurse. I ge

and free from all impurities, or the remains of the former food, by which the present may

e slower it is, the better. We should stop from time to time, during the process. Nor should the

ion of the milk which we give to the young, wil

edly opposed, so long as they are in health. Boiling takes away,

ng, since such a result can be prevented by another process. You have only to put your milk in a kettle, cover it closely, and heat it quickly to the boiling point, and then r

ty in the case of those who are strong and robust. I would not recommend, however, nor even tolerate, for one moment, the absurd practice of jolting, so common with a few ignorant nurses and, mothers, as if they could jolt down the food in the stomach with just as much safety as they can

high, in quick succession, which is practised not only after meal

ring. The evil, however, of suffering the child to have the bottle when it pleases is, that he will thus be tasting food so often as to interfere with and disturb the process of digestion, to his great and lasting injury. For in this way, a part of the food will pass from the stomach into the bowe

h, which even common sense cannot and ought not to tolerate. Every vessel which is used in preparing or administering anything for children, ought, after we have used it, to be immediately and effectually cleansed. How shocking is it to see dirty vessels standing in the nursery from hour to hour, becomi

cases-for such it will not be doubted there are-where a

health, and temper, and habits were good, who had no infant of her own, and who would do as well for the

ry to see engrafted, in any degree, on the child. For even admitting what is claimed by some, that the temper of the nurse does not affect the properties of the mi

majority of cases, it can scarcely be doubted which it will be. And I doubt the morality of requiring a nurse, i

ast the qualifications above mentioned; and as these are rare, not many nurses, of course, would on this p

e of crookedness in his form. There is another evil which sometimes results from the too common

of the same age as the child who is to receive it. It should be remembered, however, that th

general treatment, and especially to the moral management, it should be done; for even the best nurses may so differ in their principl

m Teething

ding as the teeth begin to appear earlier or later, and

to the age most proper for weaning. The limits of this work do not permit a thorough dis

g was injurious. Yet in some countries, and even in some parts of our own, the period is extended by the mother, from choice, to two years. And although t

f this, position. Thus, he says, in China, where the population is excessive, and the inhuman practice of infanticide is common, they wean a child as soon as it can put its hand to its mouth

his precise opinion-to think that, in all ordinary cases, the period of nursing ought to be protracted to two or three years, and that perhaps it would be better still to

y undergoes no change in its quality. Children are sometimes so old before weaning, as to be able to ask for the breast; and it has not been remarked that the health of mothers, thus suckling, was in any way

ers herself fulfilling a necessary duty, which her constitution, for so long, is well able to bear. So soon, however, as the period of lactation has passed over, as it is established by custom or fashion, she imagines she is exceeding the in

t been otherwise, the secretion of milk would stop at a definite time, in like manner as the period of gestation is definite. That a child, in comparison with the young of the lower animals,

eight incisors and four canine teeth. There are well-authenticated instances of mothers having suckled their children for three, four, five, and

t may be, is an important one, in its effects on the stomach and bowels, it is better to wean a little earlier or a little later, than to do so just at the close of summer or beginning of autumn, at which season bowel complaints are most c

at we should do so while the system is under the irritation to which teething usually, or at least often, subjects

are fed by the hand. The rules and restrictions by which we are to be guided, are the same, except in

upply of good milk, either from the mother or from the cow. For those that are feeble

improve it by adding, instead of the one third of pure water, a similar quantity of gum arabic water, barley water, or rice water. Some

g to pursue it with perseverance, especially when the teeth appear very late. Those who are, however, will be richly reward

ng the proce

g of fall are of all periods the most unfavorable. The best time, on every account, is in the spring-in March, April, May, or June; and

h are purely artificial, to break off-to wean themselves-suddenly; since they can do so with considerable safety, and will seldom have the courage or the perseverance to

ls of nursing. When the intervals become six hours distant from each other, it will be best to add a little good bread to the milk with which it is fed, about two or three times a day. Ar

to nurse, if possible, of his own accord. This aversion may be excited by such an application of aloes, or

ds food at this period, nor is capable of digesting it. For let us be as judicious in the process of weaning as we may, the tone of the child's stomach will be somewhat reduced, or in other words, its powers of digestion will be weakened by it; and to give it strong food, or over

agree, it should be continued perseveringly, until it may become offensive. In this case, some new combination may be required." I do not see the necessity of continuing one kind of food till it offends. Besides, I do not b

o days, old. It may be boiled in a small quantity of water, or what is still better, of milk; or it may be steamed till it becomes soft and light, almost like new bread, but without any of the

to substitute for it a solution of "gum arabic, in the proportion of an ounce to a pint of water," to which may be added a little sugar; and if the child is old enough to observe th

er avoid medicine, however, if possible. A due regard to food, drink, exercise, and rest of bod

subsequentl

re by no means inapplicable to the United States in 1837.] I do it with the more pleasure because, though he wrote almost a century ago, he urges the same general principles on which I have all along been insisting: hence it will be seen that

e years of age; so that half the people that come into the world go out of it again, before they b

disease and death than grown persons; on the contrary, they bear pain and disease much bette

nearer they are to the egg or bud. When was there a lamb, a bird, or a tree, that died because it

ly to protect their nurslings from injury, but to be well assured that their own

s or their children. Health and posterity are the portion of the poor-I mean the laborious. The want of superfluity conf

ly satisfied of this; and have often heard a mother anxiously say, 't

eral times a day, it has been overloaded? While the natural strength lasts, (for every child is born with more health and strength than is generally imag

ers are overcome, being no longer able to throw off the unequal wei

on, till, after gripes, purging, &c., it sinks under both burdens into a convulsion fit, and e

it, the death of many, and the ill health of those that survive. But what I am going to complain of is, that children, in g

ture directs in the case. If we follow nature, instead of leading or driving her, we cannot err. In the

ion of nature was ready for it; nor afterwards fed with any ungenial diet whatever, at least for

m no teeth till about that time. The call of nature should be waited for to feed them with anything more substantial; and the appetite ought ever to precede the food-not only with reg

well assured there is a great mistake either in the quantity or quality of children's food, or both, as it is usually g

ed that whenever a child cries, it wants victuals: it is accordingly fed ten or twelve or more times

ake a hundred other signs of its want, before it will cry for food. If it be healthy, and quite easy in its dress, it will hardly ever cry at all. Indeed, these signs and motions I speak of are but rarely observed, because it seldom happens tha

fed above two or three times in twenty-four hours, and yet were perfectly healthy, activ

lts in the quality

, and other nice things, and sometimes a drop of wine-none of which they ought ever to take. Our bodies

what is light, and fancy that most kinds of pastry, puddings, custards, &c. are light; that is, light of digestion. But there is nothi

know, and the fittest food for young children. Cows' milk is also simple and light, and very good for them; but it is often injudiciously prepared. It should never b

y been presented. But I have expressed my doubts of the soundness of his conclusion in regard to sugar. Used with food, in very small quantity, by person

re. To suit the fashion, everything must be mixed and varied. I have no objection to variety at different meals, both for children and adults; indeed I am disposed to recommen

ishes of food which are often presented

insipid, unless several of these are combined. Few people think a piece of plain boiled or broiled muscle (lean flesh) with nothing on it but a little

olasses, or cream? Potatoes, boiled, steamed or roasted, delightful as they are to an unperverted appetite, are yet thought by many people hardly palatable till they are mashed, and buttered or gravied; or perhaps soaked in vinegar. In short, the plainest and simplest article for the table is deemed nearly unfit for the stomach, till it has been buttered, and peppered, and spiced, and perhaps pearlashed. Even bread and milk

cold water for drink as insipid; and should feel dissatisfied with it, and desirous of boiling some narcotic or poisonous herb in it, or brewing it wi

s very strange that these substances-for these are among the injurious articles which I call mixtures-should ever have obtained currency

eat it; or rather, because it is a fashionable article; and not to make believe they eat it, at the least, would be unfashionable. They will get rid of it, however, when they can. And when they must eat it, they soak it, or cover it with butter or milk, or something else which will render it

potatoes." A thousand times have I been admonished, when eating my vegetable dinner during the hot and fatiguing days of summer-for I was bred to the farm, and ate little or no meat till I was fourteen years of age-to eat more butter, or cheese, or something that would give me s

ormer are hard-boiled, the stomach cannot digest them; and fat meat of any kind is digested with great difficulty. Indeed it is doubtful whether stomachs in temperate climates digest fat at all. They may dissolve it

prove that boiled or roasted potatoes are much more quick and easy of digestion than bread of the first and best quality. Even over-boiled eggs and raw cabbage, bad as they are, are dissolved in the stomach, and appear to be digested as quick, if not quicker, than good wheat bread. But nobody in the world will pretend they form more whol

with everything else; and whatever he eats that is solid, make him chew it well." This writer, by the way, supposed that the teeth were made to be used in beating our food; and that we ought neither t

misled by the custom of eating too much flesh themselves, who will be apt to think their children-as they do themselves-in danger to be starved; if they have not flesh at least twice a day. This I am sure, children would breed their teeth with much less danger, be freer f

the child is healthier without meat till he is three or four years old, why not till he is thirteen or fourteen; or even till thirty, or forty, or seventy? And is not Professor Stuart, of Andover-a meat eater himself, and an advocate for its modera

s from Locke, particularl

he best breakfast for my young master. I am sure it is as wholesome, and will make him as

t is not fit that he should eat. By this you will obtain two good effects. First, that by custom he will come to be in love with bread; for, as I said, our palates and

that many are made gormands and gluttons by custom, that were not so by nature. And I see, in some countries, men as lusty and s

once in a day; and those who used breakfasts, as some did at eight, same at ten, others at

3d epistle, giving an account how be managed himself when he was old, and his age permitted indulgence, says that he used to

ng but a bit of dry bread, or at most a few raisins or some such slight thing with it, to stay his stomach. And more than one set meal a day was thought so monstrous that it was a reproach, as low as Caesar's time, to make an entertainment, or sit down to a table, till towards

f diet for children-I think his views are just. In short, they do not differ, substantially, from those of a large proportion of the best writers on this subject in every country, during the last three hundred years. As if wit

if believed, to be followed. They seem to regard mankind as so inveterately attached to old

ung mothers who read this work, will be led to think and inquire further on the subject; and if they find that the views here advanced are in accorda

s equally, or nearly equally applicable to the whole of childhood, youth, manhood and age. It is not true that one period of life, and one mode of employment, demands a diet essentially different f

ity of food, undoubtedly; and they should be fed at shorter intervals. But as a general rule, what is best for them, as regards its quality, at three years old, is

expended on the poorer substances for food, when they might have better. Nor is it true, as often pretended, that the hard laborer needs either more food, or that which is of a stronger quality, just in proportion to the severity of his labor. The man or the child who labors moderately, just sufficient for the purposes o

he only appropriate drink; but I do not believe that bread, even after the second year, is in all cases and circumstances the best food. Besides that the experiments of Majendie and other physiologists go a little way-though not far, I confess-to p

f food, I must, at the same time, be permitted to regard them as among the best, and as deserving more general attention. E

Common sense seems to have dictated the propriety of its use; though fashion has often led us to overlo

Here they are often useful; either because people cannot get food which is better, or to blend with their fat or oily animal food. For it should never be forgotten, that healthy digestion requires a large proportion of innutritious matter along with the pure nutriment. In

ess; and others still, that it does not agree with them. With others there is another objection-which is that bread of this sort has sometimes bee

and flour of wheat after they have been once separated; besides which, in not a few cases, the finest of the flour appears to be taken away. Now bread made of such materials thus combined, will always be darker colo

t eat it hot, or soaked in butter. No wonder such persons do not like plain bread, and say it is tasteless. But it must not be denied that bakers often suffer thi

ous on this subject, and wishes to change for the sake of changing, or until he has been misled by surrounding example. I speak from observation when I say that infants, whose habits have n

hose habits are correct, and who is the more unwilling to change any of his articles of diet, the longer he has been in the use of them, and who only changes them, or uses variety, from principle-he, I say

month or six weeks. He will then find a sweetness in it, for which he had long sought in vain in

d benumb their sense of taste by their high-seasoned, over-stimulating food and drink, and by such constant variety and strange mixtures;

wet with nothing but water, there is a solid and rational sweetness to it, of which the despisers of bread,

ss we give them other food occasionally, from principle, or seduce them by depraving their tastes, they will continue it through life. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and w

y should not go, but are anxious to retrace their steps as far as possible, there will here be a difficulty. "Our children," they will

n be brought to unite heartily in the change, and to endeavor to be pleased with it, the work of reformation will be more pleasant and probably more speedy. I have never found any difficulty of bringing myself to relish in a very short time an artic

ny, is best for us, and habit will soon render it agreeable. It is important, even to health, that food should be agreeable; but as I have already said, wh

. Wheat, rye, and Indian, in the proportion of one third of each, make excellent bread, sometimes called third bread. Rye and Indian make a tolerable b

ve for it, lead them to eat it in too large proportions, if they use it while it is warm. In these circumstances, it proves itself too active for the stomach and bowels. If warm, six ounces is as much as a hearty adult ought to

ormed, does rice. Of the latter, however, I have never eaten. Oats and barley, and

whether I intend to confine the young almost exclusively to bread,

es the whole of a meal, a great variety of other articles are not only

ommon hasty pudding; but the last is less wholesome, because it requires less chewing; and it ought to have been observ

be wholesome; but used too frequently, it seems to me not active enough for the stomach and bowels; having in this respect precisely a contrary effect to that of warm Indian cakes. The common notion that rice has a tendency to make people blind, is entirely u

r five days old, boiled, or rather steamed, in milk. All kinds of bread are excellent for this purp

e fashions require, than when their temperature is quite below that of our bodies. I would not have them so cold as to chill us, for this would be to go to the other, though less dangerous extreme; but the

rties of nearly every kind of fruit or berry are lost by boiling, unless we eat the water in which they are boiled, and s

The other animals do not generally require or use it.[Footnote: Some considerable savage nations use no salt, and a few have a strong aversion to it.] The cases so often triumphantly mentioned, where animals appear to thrive better from the use of it, are only exception

composition of any sort of pudding. If the puddings are not sweet enough without, it is better to add a little sugar or molasses on your plate. Nor should sauces, or cream, or butter, or

etter never to put these substances, nor indeed any other, into the milk. The bread, pudding, &c., should be eaten by itself, and the milk by itself, also

y are best either steamed or roasted in the ashes. They are also excellent when boiled. Turnips ar

day, during most of the year, except it be the middle of the winter. But neither these, nor potatoes, nor any other vegetables,

d upon the apparent belief that we can scarcely eat anything until it is well covered with lard or butter, is quite objectionable-nay, it is even disgusting. No pure stomach would ever pref

Remarks

lly for children. Others say none is hurtful, if ripe, and eaten in moderate quantity. Some require care in making a proper selection; but here again, in regard to what c

the minority-I think very justly-that whenever fruit appeared to be injurious, it was accidental-that is, the disease, being prepared to make its attack just at that time, happened to do so immediately aft

according to numbers-is in favor of good fruit, used with moderation-even in the face of the

ference of opinion. As I always prefer, in controversies, to see in how many things antagonists a

uncooked-let the season, or prevalent disease, or

st wholesome fruits, under any

an improper condition for receiving anything more, contribute to overta

he skins of fruits, if beaten or masticated finely; may appear to be digested, because

holesome in their own country, an

are less whole

uld be withheld from infa

edical men are generally agreed, though not universally. One of these is, that fruits, if eaten at all, should us

he fact that children's diseases prevail more at the season of the year when fruits are more abundant, many think the fruits are the immediate cause

the Creator should place before our eyes an abundance of fruits, inviting us by all their cooling and tempting properties, only to do us mischief. On the contrary, it seems to me

am most fully convinced, that of all periods for eating fruit, whether we use it alone or make it a part of our regular meals, the morning, soon after we rise, is the most favorable. [Footnote: I ought to remark, that as the morning is the best time for e

general vigor, and consequently has invigorated the stomach, s

d, ripe, wholesome fruit. In the course of our waking hours, meals follow each other in such quick succession, and there is so much variety,

, provided no other circumstance in relation to quantity, quality, &c. had been d

as he rises. I allude to the demand which I conceive that the stomach makes for something, after so long fasting, and the pernicious custom of late breakfasts. I am persuaded that it is advisable to eat something nearly as soon as we rise, be it never

of some of those fruits which universal ex

this single article. Sweet apples are the most nutritious; but perhaps those which are gently acid, and at t

ripen later. In view of this fact, some writers have endeavored to dissuade us from their use; and among others, Mr. Locke. We may judge

been raised in hot houses. Fruits, and indeed vegetables in general, whose maturity is hastened by artificial processes, must be less wholesome than when brought to perfection in nature's own appropria

decay. Many fruits-berries especially-are in perfection for a very short period only. Mulberries, for example-one kind especially-are not in perfection long enough to carry to the market house, even though the distance were very small. Luckily, h

ore quickly digested than any kind of vegetable food whatever, except rice and sago. But even admitting they were slow of digestion, I do not think-as I have already shown in another place-that they ought on that account to be exclu

in its nature and properties by picking it a little before it is ripe, and preserving it during the winter.

ures on Diet and Regimen"-an excellent work, in the main-says that the seeds ought to be eaten; but I believe few physiologists would comply with his injunction, especial

as lived on nothing but apples for his food, and water for his drink, about forty years. And yet he is said to enjoy the most perfect health. I do not propose this as an example worthy of imitation; but it shows that apples maybe made to subserve an important purpose in diet. And though I have more than once expressed an opinion highly unfavorable to the exclusive use of any one article of diet, yet if

the trees ought either to be destroyed or replaced by those that will produce fruit which is better-even if the object were to make it into cider. I have said that apples may be used

; and as much improved for the table by baking. I believe, however, that no cheap process has yet been devised for keeping them as long in the winter. They may be preserved in the fo

s and pears, though I am not confident on this point. But if used at all, they should be used in less quantity at one time. Tempting a

en cannot stand the temptation, though it cost them their health. The regulation of this cannot come under any one general rule; for I am by no means of their mind who would keep children wholly from

y tempting taste, in a very unwholesome juice, so that if it were possible, they should never so much as see them, or know that there wa

ome than peaches-are abundant, may be better omitted, delicious as they are to the taste; and I do not think very highly of plums. But melons, in very moderate quantity, and grapes, if we eat nothing but the ripe pulp, rejecting both the husk and the int

fruits is already found out, even in the present comparative infancy of the world. Now I do not suppose that God has made anything in vain-absolutely so-though I do not think we have found out the true uses of half the t

ent commonly made, that all fruits are the gifts of God, and ought therefore to be used by all persons, is correct, those who make the statement ought to conform to it as a rule of their lives, and to

is, to make a selection, using some, and rejecting others. And the value of studying the nature of these fruits, by ex

ces, sugar, &c., with them. We are thus tempted to eat too great a quantity at once. Besides-which is a worse evil-we change the proportions of the saccharine parts,

. Confe

our cities distinguished by the general name of confectionaries, and which c

there is any strong objection to it; though I believe that it cannot be regarded as indispensable to health-for were that the fact, it seems to me

the use of confectionary, when poisoned in this manner. A family of four persons, in New York, were made sick in this way in March of year before last, and some of them came very near losing their lives. The "frosting" which caused the mischief was pronounced by eminent chemists to be one fifth rank poison.[Footnote: It is to be remembered that those who eat confectionary so slightly poisoned that

Others are called sweetmeats; that is, fruits, or rinds of fruits, preserved

emain to be mentioned. These are of th

lar organ, requires its seasons of repose. Secondly, it destroys gradually the appetite; so that when the regular meal arrives, the accustomed keenness of appetite does not come with it. And the consequence is, not so much that we do not eat enough, as that we are fastidious, and eat a little of this, then a litt

some excitement to his appetite and stomach, and is not satisfied with plain food, who will content himself to study without unnatural excitements of the mind. Duty to himself or to others

moral enjoyments-the society of friends, and the quiet discharge of our duty to God and our neighbor. Just in proportion as we gratify our propensity for excitement at the confectioner's shop, just in the same proportion do we expose ourselves to the, danger of yielding to temptation, should other gratifications present themselves. The young of both sexes who are in the use of confectionary, are on the high road to gluttony, drunkenness, or debauchery; perhaps to all three. I do

ugh. Those who have read and believe what I have written, if they remain wholly

12. P

is "an abomination." And yet, go where we will, we find it often on th

te to eat hot bread, or rolls, or biscuits made of wheat flour, bolted. Now what is this but paste? If we could se

ad, or cake, or biscuit, is deemed singular. He who ventures to lift his voice against it is deemed an ascetic

the most indigestible substances in the world. Besides, it not only tries the patience of the stomach, but according to Willich, whose authority

stance either produced or aggravated by pastry; but I am very sure of one thing, viz., that those who are in the use of pastry, and h

tites, in one way or another, it is seldom that the patient has self-command enough to follow his prescription of temperance or abstinence. Mothers, it is yours to prevent thi

ude or Raw

hich I could not well find it convenient to speak elsewhere. And first, of SALADS, and HERBS used in coo

d, they are more tolerable; especially asparagus. In the midst, however, of such an abundance of excellent food as this country affords, it is most surprising that anybody should ever take it into their heads to eat such crude substances; and

human knowledge be quite certain. But if any of them were intended, by the Creator, for man, it is the chesnut; and this

, ginger, calamus, cloves, cinnamon, caraway, coriander, fennel, parsley, dill, sage, marjoram, thyme, pennyroy

y, will ever require them. Not that they may not sometimes be useful in enabling the stomach-at every age-to get rid of certain substances with which it has been improperly or unreasonably loaded;-this is undoubtedly the fact; ardent spirits would do the same. And it is with

medicine; and we ought to call them by their right name. And if we wi