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The perfection of the human frame, and its admirable adaptation to external nature, together with the fact that the preservation or destruction of life in infancy bears a marked and direct relation to the nature of the treatment to which the young being is subjected, solves the question beyond the possibility of a doubt.

The want of success in the management of the infant cannot be charged to neglect on the part of the parent, for “the kindest feelings flow out instinctively towards a helpless offspring.”

“Morning and evening thou hast watched the bee

Go forth on her errand of industry;

The bee for herself hath gathered and toiled,

But the mother’s toils are for her child.”

The sole cause of the difficulty is that the mother has never been instructed,—no pains has been taken to teach her, and she has neglected to inform herself, and now that she finds the life and welfare of her offspring dependent on her care and management, she applies to her friends for assistance and receives advice of so contradictory a nature that she is ready to give up in despair. It is to relieve mothers from this dilemma, which is one frequently observed by the physician, that the author gives the advice and instruction contained in this volume; and most admirably has he succeeded in his very difficult undertaking to write on a subject so little understood as physical education, and make it perfectly clear to the understanding of all.