On growth or health and diseases of youth / [A.-M. Bureaud-Riofrey].

  • Bureaud-Riofrey, A.-M. (Antoine-Martin), 1803-
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On growth or health and diseases of youth / [A.-M. Bureaud-Riofrey]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    bring themselves to think there can be any thing wrong in their children’s constitution ; and yet man in marrying has paid little or no attention to the constitution of his wife, his mind having very often been more attentive to the state of her fortune. In civilised life, but little is done according to the laws of nature; social conventions are the chief objects of care; marriage is contracted without due regard to the physical state and condition of every party. Sickly children are brought into the world, to the great grief and astonishment of anxious parents. But, while intermarriages take place without regard to physical beauty, and physical constitution, the na¬ tural result must be expected. There is no just cause of complaint. It is not my province, in this work, to consider how to prevent the birth of sickly and delicate children, but when they are born to watch over their growth, and by scientific means to protect young plants, to consider if they de¬ viate from a natural course, and to bring them to a normal and healthy state as gently and as efficiently as possible. The destiny of a child is to grow. On the pheno¬ menon of growth, health and happiness depend. An infant comes into the world merely sketched, nature and society continue the work. Neither ani¬ mals nor vegetables attain any degree of perfection, if they receive a check during growth. Whether in infancy, childhood or youth, no human being re-