ASES OF CHILDREN.

The especial province of the mother is the prevention of disease, not
its cure. To the establishment and carrying out of this principle,
every word contained in the preceding pages has directly or indirectly
tended.

This, however, is not all. When disease attacks the child, the mother
has then a part to perform, which it is especially important during the
epochs of infancy and childhood should be done well. I refer to those
duties which constitute the maternal part of the management of disease.

Medical treatment, for its successful issue, is greatly dependent upon
a careful, pains-taking, and judicious maternal superintendence. No
medical treatment can avail at any time, if directions be only
partially carried out, or be negligently attended to; and will most
assuredly fail altogether, if counteracted by the erroneous prejudices
of ignorant attendants. But to the affections of infancy and childhood,
this remark applies with great force; since, at this period, disease is
generally so sudden in its assaults, and rapid in its progress, that
unless the measures prescribed are rigidly and promptly administered,
their exhibition is soon rendered altogether fruitless.

The amount of suffering, too, may be greatly lessened by the
thoughtful and discerning attentions of the mother. The wants and
necessities of the young child must be anticipated; the fretfulness
produced by disease, soothed by kind and affectionate persuasion; and
the possibility of the sick and sensitive child being exposed to harsh
and ungentle conduct, carefully provided against.

Again, not only is a firm and strict compliance with medical
directions in the administration of remedies, of regimen, and general
measures, necessary, but an unbiased, faithful, and full report of
symptoms to the physician, when he visits his little patient, is of
the first importance. An ignorant servant or nurse, unless great
caution be exercised by the medical attendant, may, by an unintentional
but erroneous report of symptoms, produce a very wrong impression upon
his mind, as to the actual state of the disease. His judgment may, as a
consequence, be biased in a wrong direction, and the result prove
seriously injurious to the welldoing of the patient. The medical man
cannot sit hour after hour watching symptoms; hence the great
importance of their being faithfully reported. This can alone be done
by the mother, or some person equally competent.