other parts of the body.

To obviate these evils, a man named Drahna invented, at my suggestion,
certain mechanical contrivances, which were so efficacious, and
prevented so much suffering, that his name will never be forgotten as
one of the great benefactors of our world.

These contrivances are respectively adapted to the infant when it cannot
sit up, when it can sit up, when it has acquired strength beyond the
second stage, and, lastly, when the limbs have acquired sufficient
strength to support the increased weight of the body.

The contrivance, in the first stage, is calculated to give the infant
healthful exercise, circulate the blood, and, at the same time to
protect him from injury. It consists of a soft spring-cushion, on which
the baby is laid; two little elastic bands on this cushion secure the
arms, whilst other bands secure the head, ankles, and waist. By turning
a small handle the machine is very gently set in motion, but by pressing
down a knob its velocity may be increased at will. So agreeable is the
action of the machine, that when the motion is altogether stopped the
child will often cry, or rather coo, that the movement may be repeated.

For the second stage, the instrument is similar to the first, but larger
and stronger.

The third stage is adapted to the time when it is judicious to begin to
teach the child to walk. The legs, and, indeed, every part of the body,
are supported by the instrument, which cannot be overturned. When this
is put into motion, the child's left leg is first moved, then the right,
and so on alternately. A perfect idea of walking, with the necessary
movement of the joints, is thus given to the child, without the
slightest strain on its limbs, as yet unfitted to bear the weight of its
own body. The machine continues in motion for a time sufficient to
exercise without causing fatigue.

As soon as the child has acquired the knowledge of the motion, and his
limbs are strong enough to support the weight of the body without
injury, these machines are put aside, and the fourth contrivance is
used. In this, the mechanism consists of a framework with very light and
soft bandages, made with the plumage and down of birds. With these
bandages the child's head, knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and loins
are gently bound. The framework to which the bandages are attached has a
projection from every point, on which the child, in case of accident,
can possibly fall, and he is thus eff