Infancy And Childhood

After the sixth month a child usually begins to teethe. Voluntary muscular actiou is theu more frequent. Feeble beginnings of individual will-power are manifested. The babe gradually recognizes the world outside of itself. It is no longer merely an animated stomach ; other faculties and functions start into activity. All this varied development rnakes increasing deniands upon the nervous system, reacting apon the physical nature, and immediately manifesting themselves in a checking of the phenomenally rapid growth to be noted during the flrst six months of very healthy child's existeuce. If the precious flrst months have beeuproperly used, the develoment of the second six months is not less rapid, although it expenda itself in other directions than in purely physical growth. This however should normally take place, without any disturbing elements or violent check. Butif the ftrst half-year has not been employed to build up the maximum of pyhsical strength, and to train the child into normal, healthful habits, the second half-year is confusión worse confounded, and in too many cases records the death of the child. Habit rules us all, but is absolute inaster of the unresisting infant. A baby is a natural autocrat, recognizing no authority. It is in vain that the mother tries to induce it to sleep at the poper time or strives to hush its cries when the desired food is not forth-coming. Wliat she cannot accomplish, the simple power of habit can bring about withowt a struggle. If the child is fed at absolntely regular periods, it will be hungry then and at no other time. If, so to speak, it sleeps day-by day by the cloek, sleep it must when the hour strikes, whether it will or no. Even the stomach can be trained into the habit of digesting the maximum amount of food necessary for the full nutrition and growth of the body ; and when so trained, it possesses marvellous power to carry on its accustomed work under such temporary irritation or derangement of the general system as would render a child with a weak stomach seriously if not violently 111. The first six monthsof life, therefore, fortn the mother's golden opportunity. If she do not then lay well the foundation, the whole superstructure must betray this primary defect. Then and then only will all the elementary forces of nature be on her side. Later some elementa, if not all, will be against her. If she neglect the child at first, or leave it to the untrained care of a nurse, she will, as a penalty, certainly spend many times six tnonths during its later life in nursing it in illness or caring for it in