velled the Indies, went to the emperor, and told him, that they could very eafily fettle that manufacture amongst his fubjects, fo that they might never be under the neceflity of dealing with any strangers, much lefs with the Perfians, for that commodity. This filk, faid they, which is fo precious here, is, in Serinda (the most populous and moft civilized country in the Indies, where we have fpent many years), fpun by certain little worms, which inftinct they receive from nature. As for thefe worms, it is impoffible to tranfport them; but their eggs may be brought thence without any difficulty, and hatched here by giving them a certain degree of heat. "Such were the propofals made by the monks to Juftinian, who readily clofed with them, making them great promises, in cafe they were able to bring this matter to bear, which, without much difficulty, they did; for, returning to the Indies, they brought thence a confiderable quantity of the eggs, nourishing the worms, when they came out, with the leaves of mulberries; and thus, according to Procopius, was the art of making filk introduced into the Greek empire ‡. "This tranfaction fell out A.D. 550, but it was a long time before it spread itself much beyond the bounds of the Greek empire; for we find that, A. D. 1130, Roger, king of Sicily, having conquered a part of Greece, brought over into his own country the art of managing filk-worms, which was quickly transferred thence to Calabria, and other parts of Italy, where it flourished for fome ages, before it was transferred to the fouthern parts of France, which, the great hiftorian Mezeray tells us, happened under the reign of Francis the Firft, in which, however, he is deceived; for Lewis XI. A. D. 1476, introduced it into his dominions, and sent for persons ikilful in the art of managing filk, not only from Genoa, Venice, and Florence, but alfo from Greece; and, by his letters patent, dated in the year 1480, granted them confiderable privileges. But the price of this commodity was ftill kept up at a great height. "That magnificent prince, Henry VIII. wore commonly woollen hofe, unless by chance he had a pair of filk from Spain. His fon, Edward VI. had a pair of filk stockings prefented him by Sir Thomas Grefham, which prefent of his was much taken notice of. Queen Elizabeth in the third year of her reign, had a pair of black knit filk ftockings given her by Mrs. Montague, and the never wore worsted afterwards. In the year 1600, Mr. William Lee, a native of Nottingham, invented the art of frame-work knitting, which has been fince carried, with the manufacture itfelf, in all its various branches, to fuch a high point of excellence and national importance." P. 741. VIII. A Familiar Treatife on the phyfical Education of Children, during the early Period of their Lives. Being a Compendium addreffed to all Mothers who are seriously concerned for the Welfare of their Offspring. Tranflated from the German of CHRISTIAN AUGUSTUS STRUVE, M. D. Phyfician of Görlitz, in Saxony; honorary Member of the Royal Humane Society of London, and of several literary Inftitutions. To which are prefixed, Introductory Lectures on the fame Subject. By A. F. M. WILLICH, Author of the "Lectures on Diet and Regimen," &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 449. 8s. Murray and Highley. CONTENTS. LECTURE I. An historical Sketch of the Manners and Customs prevailing among different Nations An Inquiry into the Truth of the fuppofed Degeneracy of the present Age, when compared with the Condition of our Ancestors.-II. On the Ecors and Prejudices prevailing in the Treatment of Infants; on the Danger attending improper Application of medical Remedies; Hints towards radical, but gradual Improvements, &c.--III. Strictures on modern Syftems of Education, particu-1 "Procopius de Bello Gothic. lib. iv. cap. 17." larly larly that of Rouffeau; a curfory View of their Merits and Defects; an Abstract of Prof. Hufeland's Opinions relative to the Food and Drink, Sleep and Cries of Children. Preliminary Obfervations. On the Importance of Education during the first Period of Life; the great Morta lity of Infants must be attributed to an injudicious Syftem of Treatment; Neceffity of Mothers taking an active Part in the Management of their Off fpring, &c.--General Principles of Education, applicable to the firft Years of Infancy-On the Conduct which ought to be obferved by preg nant Women, with refpect to their Children--On the injurious and fuperftitious Customs of Midwives. Chap. I. On the Establishment of a Nurfery.II. On the Nutriment of Children-On Sleep. III. On Drefs.-IV. Of Walking and Exercife in general.-V. Of Air.VI. Of Cleanlinefs.—VII. Of juvenile Employments--On manual Labour Of Learning.-VIII. Of the Affections of the Mind-Of Inclinations and Defires. Appendix. On the Period of Evolution, during the Age of Childhood Of juvenile Amufements, with refpect to their Influence on Health -Of Games detrimental to Health Of Playthings tending to injure Health. EXTRACTS. PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF THE SAVAGE. - "THE favage, as he is called, prefers the active free life of nature to every other confideration; furrounded with perils, his powers, his courage, his refolution, are awakened, and he is rewarded with health in the field, with independence in his hut, with refpect and honour among his tribe. He neither wants, nor defires more: ad what addition to his happiness could he derive from another ftate, with the advantages of which he is unacquainted, and to the inconveniencies of which he cannot fubmit? Let us read the various unadorned speeches of those whom we call favages, and fay, The whether found fenfe and natural juftice be not confpicuous in them. frame of man, too, in this ftate, is as hand, and but little advantage, as it is much improved, though with a rude formed for a contented equanimity, capable of being improved in it: he is and to welcome death with calmness, after the enjoyment of a life of permanent health, The Bedouin and Abiponian are both happy in their respective condition; but the former fhudders at the thought of inhabiting a town, as the latter docs at the idea of being interred in a church, when he dies; according to their peculiar feel. ings, it would be the fame as if they were buried alive. "In Canada, Virginia, the Brazils, and other American provinces, children are generally laid naked on raw cotton, in hammocks or cradles covered with fur. In the province of Peru, they are frequently placed in fhallow pits dug in the earth, fo as to allow them room fufficient to move their clothes are faftened around the child, arms freely above ground, where a few that it may receive no injury.-I will not decide whether this circumftance has not induced a late noted empiric, in this country, to try his experiments for the cure of difeafes, with patients who were weak and credulous enough to fubmit their bodies, as it were, to be buried alive. infants are generally laid on couches "In fome parts of North America, filled with the duft of worm-eaten timber: this fimple contrivance answers the useful purpose of keeping them dry and cleanly, as the powdered wood abforbs all moifture. When they are able to move, the folicitous mother incites them to meet her by presenting the food appointed by Nature. Thus, it is almoft inconceivable, that little favages, at the tender age of a few months, especially in Africa, fhould poffefs fuch ftrength and agility as to embrace the waift of the mother with their arms and legs, without the least fear; and imbibe the maternal gift while fhe is engaged in fatiguing purfuits. In that country, it is truly aftonifhing to fee infants two months old creeping about, and others fomewhat older, walking upon their hands and knees, almost as speedily as adults.On the contrary, in our quarter of the globe, it is not uncommon to fee boys G 2 feveral feveral years old, nurfed either by the THE EXPERIMENTS OF NURSES ON not to be lefs attentive to the caufes which may imperceptibly produce them; for it is a remark which occurs to every reflecting obferver, that the prefent generation difplays an unac countable debility, and incapacity to withstand the fenfible changes of the weather, as well as the influence of the feafons. It feems, from the general con duct of nurfes, almoft doubtful, that fresh air, in whatever temperature, is the true balm of life. "The digeftive organ of children is likewife fubject to very furious assaults: their tender ftomachs ought not to be measured by thofe of adults. And in this refpect, neither the quantity, nor the THE TENDER FRAME OF INFANTS, quality of nutriment, is properly at EXPOSED WALKING MACHINES, &c. "BEFORE the child is fcarcely two months old, I have often had the mortification to obferve, that over-wife nurfes begin to try experiments on its legs. As the bones, however, have not yet acquired fufficient firmnefs, it may be cally conceived what injury must be done to the formation and growth of the child, by attempts equally prepofterous and detrimental. "No la abfurd is the practice of confining infants for feveral hours in walking-machines, as well as the prevailing method of carrying them on one arm. Both the nurfe and the child often experience the bad effects of this habit the former may become fidebent and crooked, while the child is unnaturally compreffed, fo that its joints and bones cannot unfold their organic powers. I fhall upon a future occafion fuggeft a more rational and proper method of carrying infants, than is at prefent uniformly practifed. "There are other very injudicious cuftoms, which deferve fevere animadverfion. I allude to the ftrange habit of taking very young children to places of worship or amufement; fending them to fchools, with the view of making them fedate, or confining them, efpecially during cold weather, in hot and fuffocating rooms. By fuch deftruétive means, the foundation is laid for that plethoric habit, which difpofes them either to apopleétic or eruptive diforders, to convulfions, palfy, cpilepfy, in fort, to that very general irritability of the fyftem, which is the forerunner of confumption. If thefe effects do not always follow, we ought tended to: tea, coffee, beer, and wine, all are more or lefs hurtful, and here generally mifapplied. Nor are we fufficiently ftudious to contrive fuch exercife as is adapted to the age, ftrength, temperament, and inclination of the child. Farther, many parents feel an invincible defire to improve the infantile mind, at an age when fuch attempts cannot be realized, without producing confequences felt by the child, during the whole of its life;— they are anxious to exhibit the progrefs made by forward children in reading, in hiftory, geography, arithmetic, &c. not confidering that every premature exertion is attended with the most dangerous effects. Thus, the access of the fluids towards the head is promoted; preternatural irritability of the whole nervous fyftem, and a tendency to fpafmodic ftrictures, are thereby occafioned; digeftion is likewife impaired, or rendered weak and inactive for life; and laftly, early confumption, or dropfy of the head, terminates the calamitous fcene." P. 55. THE UTILITY AND ABUSE OF COM POSING DRAUGHTS, &C. "COMPOSING draughts, powders, or pills, refemble in fome degree the fharp and dangerous inftruments of the mechanic, which can be fafely employed only by the mafter.-Want of fleep, and loud complaints, may indeed often induce parents and nuries to have recourfe to anodynes, paregoric elixirs, and other opiates; but thefe expedients are the more objectionable, as they frequently become habitual; and though they should regularly cure one symp tom tom of diseased action in the body, that of reftleffness and pain, yet it is not in the nature of things, that they could uniformly effect a radical cure of the difeafe. On the contrary, they in general ftupify the heads of children, produce great relaxation and preternatural irritability, a fickly habit, and at length total imbecility, both of mind and body. Let us therefore keep a watchful eye over indolent and unprincipled nurfes, who perhaps often poifon our children with narcotics and foporifics, merely to indulge their own convenience. P. 63. EFFECTS OF VIOLENT IMPRESSIONS ON THE SENSES. "ALL violent impreffions on the fenfes and the body of children, ought to be carefully avoided. It is injurious to tofs them about with rapidity in the arms. Loud crying, or fhouting in their ears, discharging fire-arms, prefenting glittering objects to their view, as well as fudden, and too great a degree of light, are equally injurious. Thus infants are frequently ftupified and affrighted; the brain is fhaken in the moft detrimental manner; and hence arife the moft diftreffing confequences. On fuch occafions, we cannot beftow too much attention to the conduct of wet-nurfes, or fervants. I knew a fimple man, who reforted to the abfurd practice of placing himfelf over the cradle, and making a horrible noife, with a view to intimidate and filence the crying infant. A child, however, ought to enjoy the most perfect reft and compofure, if it be our wifh to promote found fleep, regular growth, and its confequent profperity. "It is equally detrimental to both mind and body, when infants are continually carried about on the arm of the nurfe, teafed with loud foliloquies, prayers, or other mechanical prattling; and efpecially when they are inceffantly provoked to difplay their anger or revenge. Such conduct is neceffarily attended with pernicious effects, while it prevents the fpontaneous expanfion of infantine powers, blunts their fenfes, and is ultimately productive of nervous and muscular debility: a proof how imperfectly we are quainted with nature, and how little we are accuftomed to reflect that the tender nerves of children must experience a violent ftimulus from impreffions, to which an adult may be habituated, or which do not fenfibly affect him. "The bodily education of boys and girls ought in every refpect to be uniform. A great difference usually prevails in the education of both fexes during infancy; a diftinction which, unfortunately, is the offspring of prejudice, and on that account female children are cruelly neglected. Parents, being too anxious for the accomplishment of girls, imagine that they must be kept under a certain restraint. Boys, in general, are not laced, but poor girls are compreffed tight enough to fuffocate them, because it is erroneoufly fuppofed, that this injudicious practice contributes to an elegant hape, though ultimately the contrary effect is obvious; as it is the fureft way of making children round-shouldered and deformed. Girls are from their cradle compelled to a more fedentary life; and, with this intention, dolls and other playthings are early procured; yet boys are permitted to take more frequent exercife. Thus, girls are con fined in their apartments, while boys amuse themselves in the open air. Such abfurd conftraints impede the free and progreffive evolution of the different faculties inherent in the human mind. If, therefore, it be our wish to educate healthy wives and happy mothers, it is indifpenfably neceflary to treat the female fex, as well as the male, in a manner equally confiftent and rational.” P. 153. OF WALKING. "EVERY kind of spontaneous exercife is preferable to that artificially enforced. We should therefore afford children early opportunities of ufing their legs. But a queftion here arifes, how do they in general learn to walk? Certainly in a very abfurd manner, and with danger to their health and straight growth. Many a well-meaning mother enjoys the fhort, but illufive pleasure, of feeing her child ftand on its legs at a very early age, without confidering whether thefe limbs have acquired fufficient ftrength and firmnefs to fupport the body; and many nurses prema turely induce infants to walk, that they may indulge their own idle difpofitions, or purfue their ordinary bufinefs, while they expofe their charge to all all the effects of fuch mifmanagement. Sometimes, alfo, vain mothers endeavour to excel their neighbours in teach ing children the ufe of their legs; but this artificial effort may with more propriety be termed waddling than walking it is a wretched way of tottering about, and ftumbling, which cannot but offend the eye of every judicious fpectator. "Children are often, in a manner, fufpended by what are called leadingftrings, which are faftened to their jackets, or corfets, at the fhoulders. These have the appearance of an harnefs contrived for the taming of a wild animal, rather than for leading a tender and fprightly infant. Whoever has once obferved the wanton manner in which nurfes pull and tofs about thofe illfated children ufed to leading-ftrings, muft be convinced of the injurious tendency of fuch practices; efpecially when in danger of falling, they are railed by them, as a horfe is checked by his bridle, fo that they are often fubject to dislocations. Befides, they thus rely upon extraneous affiftance, and do not exert their own powers. Leading-ftrings farther comprefs the fhoulders, and impede the circulation of the blood in thofe parts; and, while the child reclines forward with the whole weight of its body, it habitually acquires an improper and difagreeable posture. "Not lefs objectionable are the moveable machines, vulgarly called go-carts. When infants remain for a length of time in fuch a conftrained fituation, the weight of the body bends the feeble legs, which ultimately be come crooked. The breaft alfo fuffers, by leaning upon the circular top, and puthing the machine. "To teach children to walk, by holding one of their hands, tends to produce a deformity of that fide by which they are led; or at least they are apt to become round-fhouldered. Even though they be conducted by both hands, between two perfons, we may apprehend fimilar confequences; as the body of the child fill preponderates to one fide or the other. "Thofe mothers who poffefs true, affection for their little ones, fhould not be too anxious to teach them the ufe of their legs. It is indeed far more prudent to delay thefe exercifes for a few weeks or months, than by too premature an exertion of their strength to expofe infants to the misfortune of bandy legs, crooked spine, and round fhoulders. In my own neighbourhood I have reluctantly noticed numbers of bandy-legged children, because walking is here generally attempted by artificial means; and go-carts, as well as leading-ftrings, are much in vogue, May thefe inftruments of torture foon be abolished, and mankind trust to Nature alone, whofe parental wisdom forms no caricatures. "To compel children to exert themfelves to walk during the period of dentition, is highly detrimental. At this time they are in an extremely debilitated state, and their limbs are in danger of growing deformed, or being dislocated. Hence I folicit mothers to pay particular regard to them at this critical change.' P. 325. OF GAMES DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH. "ALTHOUGH I do not intend to furnish a complete lift of the various amufements which have been introduced among children, yet I conceive it will not be difficult, from the nature of those I shall mention, to understand the tendency of others, with which I may be unacquainted. Thus, if I fucceed in exciting a fufficient degree of intereft on this topic, the reflecting parent will, I prefume, be enabled to draw ufeful inferences from my general obfervations. "Almost every game may tend to injure health, by the manner in which it is played. The limits allotted to this work, however, do not admit of entering into minute explanations. He who poffeffes but a flight knowledge of the human frame, cannot fail to difcriminate between fafety and danger, as every thing depends upon the relative ftrength and exercife of the young individual. By gradual practice, for inftance, one boy may attain to a degree of dexterity in fencing and leaping; which exercises cannot be attempted by another without expofing himself to certain deftruction. But there are various poftures which are always attended with danger; inafmuch as they may occafion dislocations, or ruptures. Hence parents ought, in this refpect, to be attentive to the following gymnaftic |