rous condition of all the animal
organs and functions.

14. MUSCULAR PREPARATION.--Especially should parents cultivate their
muscular system preparatory to the perfection of this function, and of
their children; because, to impart strength and stamina to offspring
they must of necessity both possess a good muscular organization,
and also bring it into vigorous requisition at this period. For this
reason, if for no other, let those of sedentary habits cultivate
muscular energy preparatory to this time of need.

15. THE SEED.--So exceedingly delicate are the seeds of life, that,
unless planted in a place of perfect security, they must all be
destroyed and our race itself extinguished. And what place is as
secure as that chosen, where they can be reached only with the utmost
difficulty, and than only as the peril of even life itself? Imperfect
seed sown in poor ground means a sickly harvest.

16. HEALTHY PEOPLE--MOST CHILDREN.--The most healthy classes have
the most numerous families; but that, as luxury enervates society, it
diminishes the population, by enfeebling parents, nature preferring
none rather than those too weakly to live and be happy, and thereby
rendering that union unfruitful which is too feeble to produce
offspring sufficiently strong to enjoy life. Debility and disease
often cause barrenness. Nature seems to rebel against sickly
offspring.

17. WHY CHILDREN DIE.--Inquire whether one or both the parents of
those numerous children that die around us, have not weak lungs, or a
debilitated stomach, or a diseased liver, or feeble muscles, or else
use them but little, or disordered nerves, or some other debility or
form of disease. The prevalence of summer complaints, colic, cholera
infantum, and other affections of these vital organs of children is
truly alarming, sweeping them into their graves by the million.
Shall other animals rear nearly all their young, and shall man,
constitutionally by far the strongest of them all, lose half or more
of his? is this the order of nature? No, but their death-worm is born
in and with them, and by parental agency.

18. GRAVE-YARD STATISTICS.--Take grave-yard statistics in August, and
then say, whether most of the deaths of children are not caused by
indigestion, or feebleness of the bowels, liver, etc., or
complaints growing out of them? Rather, take family statistics from
broken-hearted parents! And yet, in general, those very parents
who thus suffer more than words