gress and
health. It is not an absolute test, but it may safely be relied upon.
The fattest baby is not necessarily the healthiest. A gradual and a
uniform increase is a satisfactory growth. At birth a baby weighs, on an
average, from seven to eight pounds, though some babies weighing less
are equally healthy. The normal and customary gain is from four to six
ounces every week after birth.

The baby should be weighed about the same time of the day each week, and
before a meal.

The average weight of a male child at different ages is as follows:

Birth 7-1/2 lbs.
3 weeks 8 lbs.
1 month 8-1/2 lbs.
3 months 12 lbs.
4 months 13-1/2 lbs.
5 months 15 lbs.
6 months 15-1/2 lbs.
7 months 17 lbs.
9 months 19 lbs.
1 year 21 lbs.
1-1/2 years 23 lbs.
2 years 26-1/2 lbs.
3 years 31-1/2 lbs.
4 years 35-1/2 lbs.
5 years 40 lbs.
6 years 45 lbs.
7 years 49 lbs.
8 years 54 lbs.
9 years 59 lbs.
10 years 65-1/2 lbs.

A female child weighs about one-fifteenth less than a male child, as a
rule.

Table showing the average height of a male child, at different ages:

At birth 20-1/2 in.
6 months 26 in.
1 year 29 in.
2 years 32-1/2 in.
3 years 35 in.
4 years 38 in.
5 years 41-1/2 in.
6 years 44 in.
7 years 46 in.
8 years 48 in.
9 years 50 in.
10 years 52 in.

THE RATE OF GROWTH OF A CHILD.--A child grows most rapidly during its
first year--six to seven inches; from fourth to sixteenth, about two
inches annually; thence to twentieth, one inch. Commonly, a child at two
and a half years has attained half of its ultimate adult stature. The
diseases of youth always accelerate growth.

PULSE RATE IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS.--Normal Pulse,--of new born, 130 to
140, per minute; first year, 105 to 115; second year, 106 to 115; third
year, 95 to 105;