ol as soon as he or she can be
trusted to go alone on the streets, and the tiny victim too
frequently contracts diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping-cough,
measles, or some other disease as a reward of merit. Truly we see
to it that the helpless innocents early realize the truth of the
melancholy and hopeless biblical lament that "man's days here are
few and full of trouble."

We should rear our children with as little interference as possible,
allowing them the utmost freedom compatible with their safety, and
permitting them to do those things that nature and instinct demand. Above
all let them sleep as much and as long as they will, insist that they
live in the open air, and encourage them in every possible way to perfect
their physical education by those active amusements that they
instinctively prefer. After they have established a sound and rugged
constitution ample time will be left for them to develop mentally.

_Feeding of Nursing Infants._--The most important thing in connection
with the feeding of infants is to always remember that nature has
provided in their mother's milk, when sufficiently abundant and normal in
quality, everything in the way of food and drink that they require.
During the three days that usually intervene between birth and the coming
of the milk in the mother's breast, infants may be given from time to
time small quantities of pure water, but under no circumstances should
anything else be allowed. During this period the child may be put to the
breast four or five times in the twenty-four hours, for, while it gets
but little in the way of nourishment, there is even at this time a watery
fluid secreted in the breast that goes far towards supplying everything
that the infant needs for the time being.

A child should never nurse longer than twenty minutes at one time. It is
likewise of importance that the time of nursing be strictly regulated.

Particularly during the first year it is of the utmost importance to
watch with an intelligent eye the growth and development of the child.
Where the milk agrees with it it has a good color and gains regularly in
weight; it cries but little, and is good natured, and thoroughly
contented. Should it, on the other hand, lose weight, appear fretful and
listless, and sleep badly, there is something wrong, and the mother
should at once have her milk examined by a competent physician.

In case the mother does not give sufficien