The new domestic medicine : or, a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases, by regimen and simple medicines. With an appendix, containing a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners. ... ; To which is now first added, memoirs of the life of Dr. Buchan : and important extracts from other works, particularly his Advice to mothers, ... / by William Buchan.

Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The new domestic medicine : or, a treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases, by regimen and simple medicines. With an appendix, containing a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners. ... ; To which is now first added, memoirs of the life of Dr. Buchan : and important extracts from other works, particularly his Advice to mothers, ... / by William Buchan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    54/772
    duce the worst.effects upon the body; nor is the mind less injured. Early application weakens the faculties, and often fixes in the mind an aversion to books, which continues for life. -But suppose this were the way to make children scholars, -it certainly ought not to be done at the ex- pence of their constitutions. Our ancestors, who sel- dom went to school very young, were not less learned than we. But we imagine the boy's education will be quite marred, unless he be carried to school in his nurse’s arms. No wonder if such hot-bed plants sel- dom become either scholars or men! Not only the confinement of children in public schools, but their number, often proves hurtful. Chil- dren are much injured by being kept in crowds within doors; their breathing not only renders the place un- wholesome, but if any one of them happen to be dis- eased, the rest catch the infection. A single child has been often known to communicate the bloody flux, the hooping cough, the itch, or other diseases, to al- most every individual in a numerous school. But, if fashion must prevail, and infants are to be sent to school, wc would recommend it to teachers, as they value the interests of society, not to confine them too long at a time, but allow them to run about, and play at such active diversions as may promote their growth, and strengthen their consti- tutions. Were boys, instead of being w hipped for stealing an hour to run, ride, swim, or the like, en- couraged to employ a proper part of their time in these manly and useful exercises, it would have many ex- cellent effects. It would be of great service to boys, if, at a proper a^e, they were taught the military exercise. This would increase their strength, inspire them with courage, and, when their country called for their assistance, would enable them to act in her defence, without being obliged to undergo a tedious and troublesome course of instruc-