The management of infancy, physiological and moral : intended chiefly for the use of parents / by Andrew Combe.

  • Combe, Andrew, 1797-1847.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The management of infancy, physiological and moral : intended chiefly for the use of parents / by Andrew Combe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    82/296 (page 46)
    CAUSES OF BAD HEALTH. the irritation of the gums tinallayed, or the diet ill adapted to the child, our attempts to remove the disorder must terminate in disappointment. In the same way, all the causes of disease are infringe- ments of the conditions of health of some organ or organs of the body; and were it in our power to discover the whole of these conditions in reference to all the organs, as well as to fulfil them perfectly, we might prevent disease altogether, and prolong our lives till the natural period of decay. The grand aim, therefore, in attempting to improve the treatment of infancy, ought to be, the discovery and fulfilment of the conditions on which the healthy action of the principal organs depends. By fixing our attention steadily ou this guiding prin- ciple, two excellent practical results will be gained. The first is, that we shall never witness suffering or disease without being instantly stimulated to the discovery, re- moval, and future avoidance of its cause; and the second, that we shall be kept constantly alive to the influence of surrounding agents, and thus be led to the earliest detection of errors which, if left long um^emedied, might be fraught with destruction. To this view of the origin of disease it has been objected, that diseases are specially sent by Providence for the spiritual benefit of the sufferer, and not with reference to any physical errors or omissions with which he may be chargeable. But this objection arises from a very narrow conception of the workings of God's providence, and is contradicted by daily and hourly experience, as well as by the habitual conduct of mankind. No man capable of observing and reasoning can fail to know that health is affected by his own conduct, and is under the influence of