The
next day it was discovered that the mother brought the child very
nearly a pint of gin, every drop of which before night he had consumed.
It is easy to discover when children have been fed upon spirits: they
are always emaciated; have a lean, yellow, haggard look: the eyes
sunk, the lips pale, and the teeth discoloured, the cadaverous aspect
of the countenance being most fearful. They are continually suffering
from bowel complaints and convulsive disorders; which, under these
circumstances, terminate invariably in an early death.
Sect. IV. SLEEP.
DURING INFANCY.--For three or four weeks after birth the infant sleeps
more or less, day and night, only waking to satisfy the demands of
hunger; at the expiration of this time, however, each interval of
wakefulness grows longer, so that it sleeps less frequently, but for
longer periods at a time.
This disposition to repose in the early weeks of the infant's life
must not be interfered with; but this period having expired, great care
is necessary to induce regularity in its hours of sleep, otherwise too
much will be taken in the day-time, and restless and disturbed nights
will follow. The child should be brought into the habit of sleeping in
the middle of the day, before its dinner, and for about two hours,
more or less.
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