sed in children, on account of the
pain they occasion, and the too great irritation which they would cause
of the delicate skin of children. A mixture of one part of mustard to
two of linseed meal is, however, often of much use in the chest
affections of children.

Bread poultices are less generally useful than those of linseed meal.
They do not retain the heat nearly so well as those of linseed meal, and
are chiefly used in cuts, wounds, or small abscesses; and also because
they are so easily made. A slice of stale bread without the crust is put
on a plate, boiling water is poured over it, and drained off; it is then
placed on a piece of muslin, pressed between two plates to squeeze out
the remaining water, and its surface is greased before it is applied
with a little oil or lard. I would refer for details about how to make
poultices, and for many other things well worth the knowing, to Miss
Wood's _Handbook of Nursing_, London, 12mo, 1883.

[6] I am not ignorant of the doubts which have been raised with
reference to the special influence of mercurial remedies on the liver,
but prefer in a book written for non-medical readers to leave the
popular opinion unquestioned.

PART II.

All that has been said hitherto is only introductory to the great
purpose of this book, which is to give an account of the nature,
symptoms, and course of the more important diseases of infancy and
childhood.

Any attempt at scientific arrangement of a popular book is useless. I
prefer, therefore, to consult simply the general convenience of my
readers. I think I do so best by considering first the disorders which
beset the child in the first month of its existence, during what may be
termed its transition from the condition of existence in the womb, to
its living, breathing state as an inhabitant of this world; and next the
more important ailments to which it is liable during that important time
of development which ends with the completion of teething. Afterwards
may be studied the diseases of the head, the chest, and the bowels; next
constitutional diseases, such as consumption and scrofula; and lastly,
the various fevers, as typhoid, or, as it is popularly called, remittent
fever, measles, scarlatina, and small-pox; and last of all I will add a
few remarks on the mental and moral characteristics of childhood, and
their disorders.

CHAPTER IV.

ON THE DISORDERS AND DISEASES OF CHILDREN DURING THE FIRST MONTH AFTER
BIR