any their cries, or if these expressions be repeated
at certain periods of the day, we ought not to slight them, but
endeavour to discover the proximate or remote causes.

2056. Sleep.

Infants cannot Sleep too Long; and it is a favourable symptom when
they enjoy a calm and long-continued rest, of which they, should by no
means be deprived, as this is the greatest support granted to them by
by nature.

2057. Faster Life.

A Child lives comparatively much faster than an adult; its blood flows
more rapidly; every stimulus operates more powerfully; and not only
its constituent parts, but its vital resources also, are more speedily
consumed.

[DO A LITTLE WELL, AND YOU DO MUCH.]

2058. Aid of Sleep.

Sleep promotes a more Calm and Uniform Circulation of the blood; it
facilitates the assimilation of the nutriment received, and
contributes towards a more copious and regular deposition of
alimentary matter, while the horizontal posture is the most favourable
to the growth and development of the child.

2059. Proportion.

Sleep ought to be in Proportion to the age of the infant. After the
age of six months, the periods of sleep, as well as all other animal
functions, may in some degree be regulated; yet, even then, a child
should be suffered to sleep the whole night, and several hours both in
the morning and in the afternoon.

2060. Night Preferable.

Mothers and Nurses should endeavour to accustom infants, from the time
of their birth, to sleep in the night preferably to the day, and for
this purpose they ought to remove all external impressions which may
disturb their rest, such as noise, light, &c., but especially not to
obey every call for taking them up, and giving food at improper times.

2061. Day Sleep.

After the Second Year of their age, children will not instinctively
require to sleep in the forenoon, though after dinner it may be
continued to the third and fourth year of life, if the child shows a
particular inclination to repose; because, till that age, the full
half of life may safely be allotted to sleep.

2062. Proportion of Sleep.

From that period, however, sleep ought to be shortened for the space
of one hour with every succeeding year, so that a child of seven years
old may sleep about eight, and not exceeding nine hours: this
proportion may be continued to the age of adol