n diet.

THE DRYING UP OF THE MOTHER'S MILK.--This will generally be attended
with no difficulty. When the weaning is effected gradually, the milk
will usually go away of itself without any measures being resorted to.
If, however, the breasts should continue loaded, or indeed painfully
distended, a gentle aperient should be taken every morning, so that the
bowels are kept slightly relaxed; the diet must be diminished in
quantity, and solid nourishment only taken. The breast, if painfully
distended, must be occasionally drawn, but only just sufficiently to
relieve the distention. In either case they must be rubbed for five or
ten minutes, every four or five hours, with the following liniment,
previously warmed:--

Compound soap liniment, one ounce and a half;
Laudanum, three drachms.

Sect. III. DIETETICS OF CHILDHOOD.

Childhood, as has been before intimated, extends from about the second
to the seventh or eighth year, when the second dentition is commenced.

No precise rules of diet can be laid down for this period, as this
requires to be adapted in every case to the particular constitution
concerned. There are, however, certain general principles which must be
acted upon, and which can be easily modified by a judicious and
observant parent, as circumstances and constitution may require.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS, AND OF ANIMAL FOOD.--The diet of the latter months
of infancy is still to be continued, but with the important addition of
animal food, which the child has now got teeth to masticate. This must
be given in small quantity; it should be of the lightest quality, only
allowed on alternate days, and even then its effects must be carefully
watched, as all changes in the regimen of children should be gradual.

A child at this age, then, should have its meals at intervals of about
four hours:--thus its breakfast between seven and eight o'clock, to
consist of tops and bottoms, steeped in hot water, a little milk added,
and the whole sweetened with sugar; or bread may be softened in hot
water, the latter drained off, and fresh milk and sugar added to the
bread. Its dinner about twelve o'clock, to consist, every other day, of
a small quantity of animal food (chicken, fresh mutton, or beef, being
the only meats allowed) with a little bread and water; on the alternate
days, well boiled rice and milk, a plain bread, sago, tapioca, or arrow-
root pudding, containing one egg; or farinaceous food, with beef-tea.