Health, or, How to Live

PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

PARENTS have a responsibility in regard to their offspring originating prior to their birth. Their own state of health — the health of father and mother — has a very important bearing upon the constitutions of their yet unborn children. If a father’s nervous system has been marred and broken by habits which are at war with nature’s law, the children following him will be more or less unhappily affected. While, then, he is doing wrong to himself, he is doing wrong and bringing suffering to his posterity. If a mother’s system has been weakened by violations of law, her children will be obliged to participate with her in suffering the penalty. And, having received the inheritance of disease or debility before birth, they must, more or less, be partakers of it through life. Parents have also a heavy responsibility on them, touching the moral character given to their children before birth. If parents are accustomed to undue indulgence in any of the natural propensities, — in eating or drinking, or any other animal appetite, — their children may inherit appetites of the same kind, possessing a similar degree of undue activity and moral tendency. HHTL 113.1

In the same way children are affected in their dispositions. A child, after birth, and more or less through life, will give a living illustration of the feelings and immediate character of his mother during the period of her pregnancy. If the mother, during that period, especially the latter part of it, indulge a gloomy, evil-foreboding state of mind, her child will give proof of it in after life. If she indulge a peevish, or fretful, or crying disposition, her child will give her ample testimony to the fact after birth. Some have inherited, directly from a mother, an almost unconquerable appetite for strong drink; some for tobacco; others, an almost uncontrollable inclination to theft; not because their mothers, in all cases, were habitual drinkers or thieves, but because they suffered strange appetites and feelings to affect them strongly some time during their pregnancy. Some physicians would deny the truth of these facts strongly, but no one who has taken the pains of observing facts touching this matter, will be found in that category, for facts are unconquerable things. The inspired proverb, — “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,” — contains a great practical truth as a general rule; but, under the most judicious discipline, the child will bear, in greater or less degree, the moral complexion and physical appetites which his mother gave him before she gave him birth. HHTL 113.2

Fathers, as well as mothers, and all those with whom a mother may associate, are involved in this responsibility. The father should remember that his manner and treatment of his wife during her pregnancy has much to do with the disposition she may possess during that period. He should be careful to remove, so far as possible, every source, real or imaginary, of uneasiness, unhappiness, peevishness, or gloominess, from her way. He should take pains to make her happy and cheerful: and see that every appetite which comes up is, if possible, forthwith, gratified. If that appetite should be for strong drink, it had better be gratified to the full, rather than that she give, by that continued longing, an indelible imprint of that kind upon her offspring. HHTL 114.1

In the light of these truths, what tremendous responsibilities are evidently laid upon parents! The physical appetites, mental inclinations, and moral feelings, in a very large degree, are enstamped on the character of children so deeply in this way, that they may remain visible in all after life. If through the moroseness of the father, the mother be driven into a desponding, discouraged and lifeless state of feeling, her child may bear traces of the same features of ill feeling for life. If she indulge in an irritable or ill-tempered disposition, she will probably mark these characteristics on her offspring. If, on the other hand, she indulge a habit of great levity, trifling or recklessness, she will probably see more or less of her own likeness in her child. HHTL 114.2

Responsibilities of unmeasured extent also are laid on parents, in regard to the influence of a right physical training of their children for the security of health, during childhood and youth. One great cause of the feebleness of constitution with which the great body of community is at this day afflicted, may be found in the total ignorance or recklessness of parents and guardians of the laws of health, as applied to those under their care. To look in upon many domestic circles, and see how the children are managed, is enough to move a heart of marble with sorrow for the children, and with indignation toward their parents. The children may be seen, about every hour in the day, with a lunch of bread, or pie, or cake in hand. Their young and tender stomachs are kept in continual confusion and toil. Consequently, a deranged tone and action of that organ must exist, which prepares the way for other unnatural habits of eating and drinking, and lowers the tone of mental sprightliness and moral feeling. HHTL 115.1

Children should eat only three times a day. They should be brought under the same dietetic rules which are laid down for all persons. It requires about as much time for their organs to digest food as is required for grown persons. And, if the digestive process be hurried and confused, their food does not nourish them as well, and they cannot grow as strong and robust. Little, new-born infants’ constitutions are not unfrequently ruined for life, by mismanagement. Because the child cries a little, it must be dosed with a little peppermint, or anise-essence, or paregoric, or some other stimulating article, which begins at once to derange its stomach; and through its stomach, its whole system is injured, and perhaps for life. And if the inquiry should be made, in after years, what can be the cause of such a feeble, slender constitution? an enlightened observer might be able to reveal the secret, by showing the treatment it received in its infancy. HHTL 115.2

A systematic diet should always be adopted by mothers and nurses at the very dawn of the child’s existence. In the first place, after birth, a little cold water only should be put into the child’s mouth. The habit of beginning to give some stimulant, as though the Creator of the child had given it only half life enough, is perfectly murderous; instead of giving it a chance to live of itself, a course is taken which is adapted to kill it; or, if not kill it, to maim the little constitution for life. If the writer of this could be heard, he would “cry aloud, and spare not,” in the ear of every nurse, with the little being in her arms LET THAT CHILD LIVE! The Creator gave it natural life; he made it to live: and it will live, if not killed. If it be necessary to give the child any nourishment before it can obtain it from the mother, it might take a little slippery-elm water, or something of that mild and simple nature: but, if it can draw its first nourishment from the fountain which the Author of its being has provided, it is better. HHTL 115.3

Babes should be nursed but three times a day. This may seem a preposterous rule; but let us reason together upon it. The food which nature has provided for the child is adapted to its age and capacity for digesting: and it requires about the same length of time for the infant to digest its meal as it does the man of ripe age to digest his; and the various steps in the digestive process are the same in both cases. Then, if five hours are required to complete the process well, why disturb it till it is finished? By letting the child have only its regular breakfast, dinner and supper, it digests its food well, and is well nourished by it. But, adopt the course usually taken, and the little one’s stomach is kept confused and oppressed, and its system is but half nourished from the same quantity of food which would be requisite under a regular system. As infants are usually treated, they are subject to repeated vomiting, colic, and, not infrequently, fits; and the cause is obvious: the stomach has been overloaded. Only feed infants right, and there is no reason why they should vomit, any more than grown persons. What danger can there be of a child’s suffering from want of food before the expiration of the five hours between meals, when they not unfrequently go from twelve to twenty-four hours, and sometimes longer, after birth, before they take any substantial nourishment? The idea that a child will suffer hunger, if it does not take food oftener than once in five hours during the day, is all nonsense; and, worse than this, great injury is done by such a notion. The “little and often” system is destructive — contrary to the laws of health — contrary to true philosophy and reason; and should forever be abandoned. HHTL 116.1

As infants are now treated, they have but a small chance for life. By confusing and fretting their stomachs, they have wind, and colic, and heart-burn, and other distress; then, if they cry, they are put to the breast, and nursed so full that they cannot cry. They become so oppressed as to produce stupefaction of brain and nerves; and then, if at all restless, they are put into the cradle and rocked from side to side, till they have no senses left. Then the child, from extreme pressure of the stomach, vomits — Nature’s kind effort to save it from fits and death. Then the mother or nurse exclaims, — “What a healthy child! See how it vomits!” HHTL 117.1

Why does the child vomit? Because the abused stomach rebels against its ill-treatment, and tries to save itself. What sort of symptom of health would it be in an adult to go along the street vomiting up his dinner? Would the old ladies put their heads out of their windows, and exclaim, — “Oh, what a healthy man that is!” The stomach of the child should be so well treated that there should be no occasion for its vomiting. It should have a full breast on which it can depend for a full meal, three times during the day, and never be nursed during the night. If the breast be scanty in its allowance, the child must nurse what it can get, and have its meal finished by a little diluted sweetened new cow’s milk. Then let it be gently moved about for awhile, and finally go to sleep. HHTL 117.2

In this way the stomach has time to digest its food, and time to gather up its forces for another regular meal. Its meals should be about the times of regular meals for adults. Under this course, there would be little occasion to use those rocking brain-destroyers. HHTL 117.3

Cradles could then be broken up for fuel — a much better purpose than their present use. If any old ladies think they have more wisdom, let them attend the school of natural law another term: let them study Nature, and demonstrable facts. This matter has been tested. Since entering the medical profession, nearly thirty years ago, it has been my determination to examine and test these and other matters pertaining to this general subject. And these truths, as demonstrated by myself and others of my acquaintance, fully sustain and justify my position. HHTL 118.1

The most healthy and robust children which have ever come under my observation, were brought up in the way here advised. No failure in this experiment has ever come under my knowledge. Let those mothers try it who really wish for healthy children. Let the child have all it wants three times a day. Do not half nurse or feed it, and thus starve it to death, and then cry out condemnation: but give it a full breast or make up a full meal by feeding; keep it awake an hour, and then let it sleep, if it choose, till within a short space of another meal. Keep it clothed in accordance with the weather and the season, and give it free air to breathe; and not keep it staved up in a room hot enough to roast beef, where the oxygen is all consumed by the fire and respiration, and no fresh air is admitted. HHTL 118.2

If infants from the first were treated in this way, they would not only be more healthy, but altogether more quiet, and easy to be taken care of. Then, instead of putting the child to the breast to stop its mouth and get rid of its crying, it would feel better, and be far less likely to cry. And generally, instead of worrisome nights, — usually caused by a disturbed stomach, — it would sleep quietly till morning; and the mother with it. The food of the infant, taken just before it sleeps, or in the night, interferes with its quiet rest; just as the rest of an adult person is disturbed from a similar cause. This method has been tried, and proved successful; let others try it. HHTL 118.3

A gentleman recently informed me of a test he had made in this matter. A child fell into his hands who lost its mother at its birth. He found himself obliged to bring it up by hand. He began and continued his undertaking, by giving the child as much milk, properly prepared, as it would receive three times a day, and no more. He said, — “A more healthy, thriving, robust child I never saw. It was subject to none of the ordinary illnesses of children, has continued in perfect health up to the present time, and is now twelve years of age.” A relative informs me that his family physician in Vermont is bringing up his children in this way, from their birth; and that they are unusually healthy and vigorous. HHTL 118.4

When the children are old enough to take solid food, they should have only three meals a day. If they eat oftener, their stomachs will be deranged, and their food will not so well nourish them. If any mother will take pains to look at the laws of digestion, she will at once see that no child can take food oftener than once in five hours, without interfering with a previous meal, and injuring the healthful operation of the digestive organs. Those young people who have been brought up on the exclusive system of eating but three times a day, have been found to be more than ordinarily strong and healthy. While others have been afflicted with worms, colic, cholera-morbus, and a host of other ailments common to the young in general, they have usually escaped. HHTL 119.1

Why, then, will mothers suffer their children to violate the laws of their natures, and expose themselves to suffer the penalty of those violated laws? Will a mother have such a tender concern for her offspring’s gratification, as to suffer it to destroy its own comfort and health, and perhaps life? It is often said, “My child has no appetite for breakfast; therefore it must have a lunch before dinner.” But this is a sure way of prolonging the difficulty; the child will never be likely to have an appetite for breakfast, as long as this irregular and unlawful course is indulged; and especially as long as the child knows that he may depend on the precious lunch. Let the child go from breakfast-time till dinner and it will not be long before he will eat his regular breakfast. HHTL 119.2

If parents would secure for their children a healthy appetite and a sound constitution, let them rigidly insist on their eating but three times a day, using simple food, and having other things in keeping with nature’s laws; and, so far as all human means are concerned, they may be sure of accomplishing their purpose. HHTL 120.1

The almost continual hankering for food which many children have, arises wholly from a habit of constant eating. If their eating were reduced to a regular habit, their appetite would become regular. This irregular appetite is not natural; it is created, and unhealthy. If we get into a habit of eating seven times a day, we shall hanker after food as many times. If we once establish a habit of eating but three times a day, we shall want food only as many times. HHTL 120.2

Now, what will mothers and nurses do? Will they begin with the infant by a regular system, and continue it? or will they go on in the old beaten path, to the injury of those they profess to love and cherish? Will they make a mock of paternal love and fondness, by unrestrained and unlimited indulgence? or will they love so sincerely as to keep the child from every hurtful thing? That pretended love, which, knowing the evil consequences at all hazards, seeks only to gratify, proves its own falseness. Shame — SHAME on that mother’s love which passes heedlessly by her child’s chief and ultimate good, to indulge it in a momentary gratification, or to save herself the trouble of controlling its solicitations! Shame on that mother’s humanity, even, whose refined and tender sympathy cannot refuse indulgence where health, and, it may be, life are at stake! If mothers and fathers have a substantial affection for their offspring, let them manifest it under the dictates of reason and common sense, — let them seek their permanent good. If those having the care of children would be able to give a final account of their guardianship in peace, let them, next to their morals, seek, for those under their charge, soundness of constitution. And, in doing this, they do perhaps as much for their morals as could be done through any other means; for physical and moral health are closely allied. HHTL 120.3