Volume 2

Practical observations on the management and diseases of children. With additional observations and a biographical notice of the author / by Thomas Alcock.

  • Haden, Charles Thomas, 1786-1824.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on the management and diseases of children. With additional observations and a biographical notice of the author / by Thomas Alcock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    youngest infant soon learns the task which is im- posed on it. Yet, on the other hand, the same mother would not thwart her child, of a month old, when he cries from passion, or from any other wilful cause, be- cause “it knows no better;”’ but would rather fondle it until it is quiet: which really means, that she has taught it something indeed, but not what she intended it should learn. By being allowed to gain its wishes, one more instance is added to the small sum of its experience; which has, how- ever, even thus early, taught it the important fact, that to resist and to cry, is the way to attract at- tention, or to gain its ends. Fathers are naturally even more ignorant than _ mothers, of their children’s capacity. Many fa- thers will avow, that they never think of looking attentively at their children until they are a year old; whilst almost all shut their eyes to the fact, that their sons at six or eight months old, are the masters of the house, and domineer over their mothers and nurses in the most tyrannical way. The truth too is so palpable! It is wonderful how a mother can find herself obliged to lean over her child for half an hour together, in an uneasy posture, when it is going to sleep, with- out detecting the fact !—that she should not dare to stir, lest he open his eyes and begin to cry, because he thinks that he is neglected !—but it is still more wonderful, that she should say, ‘“ what