ngle leaf would somewhat mar the general effect, but
still the remaining pages might retain their worth if pregnant with
good. On the other hand, if every leaf that was torn out had the effect
of loosening the rest, and causing them to be lost, till but a few would
be left in the cover, the effect would be far more serious.

XXXII.

INFANTS' EXERCISE-MACHINES.

"Does a man throw his precious pearls and diamonds into the sea?"

"Why, then, do ye cast the priceless health and beauty of your
children to the winds?"

I cannot undertake to relate at present one tithe of the precautions
taken in the care of infants. Did I venture so to do I should have to
"descend" to the minutest particulars, such as the dispensing with
"pins," and the making the baby's dress in one piece, the nursing, and
form of the cradle, to the mode in which the baby is to be placed at the
side of the mother, to prevent its being overlaid or injured,--
everything, in fact, which in Montalluyah is thought essential to
protect infants and save them from unnecessary suffering, in order that
their young strength may be husbanded for the future requirements of the
man.

To give you some notion, however, of the minutiae to which our care
extended, I will explain to you one series of precautions which has
great influence on the child's health, beauty, and intelligence.

Young children formerly suffered greatly from fits and various diseases,
caused by the want of healthy circulation. When more advanced, and
whilst learning to walk, they were subject to falls. This was amongst
the most serious evils of early neglect, for it was demonstrated beyond
doubt that accidents to the infant, prominent amongst which were blows
received on its head, not only affected its after-growth, and laid the
foundation of nervous and other disorders, but were often attended with
the sadder result, that the child's intellect was impaired.
Nevertheless, so little was this danger apprehended, that many people
long indulged in the foolish habit of boxing children's ears, unaware
that the shock produced on the nerves of the head, which are the
conduits of electricity, often made a child stupid, if, indeed, the
effects of this brutal practice were not in after-life attended by more
serious consequences. In learning to walk, also, the weight of the
child's body, pressing on the legs too heavily, has a tendency to make
them crooked or bent, and to affect