suitable diet; regulation of the bowels; cold bathing and sponging, and exercise short of fatigue, not of particular muscles only, but of the whole frame.

My advice, therefore, is to let the girls join in the boys' play. By this plan the latter gain, because they are naturally forced to be more gentle, and the former, because their rapidly-developing frames get the requisite amount of exercise. It is well, however, to curb the ambition of the girls to equal the athletic powers of the boys, for their muscular strength is less. Without letting the subjects know, keep a strict lookout upon the general morals, for it is absurd to shut one's eyes to this risk in mingling the sexes in later childhood and youth.

Amusements.-A child's life must be devoted to the cultivation of his mind and his body, an undue development of either resulting in an incomplete manhood or womanhood.

After writing the above sentence I was called from my desk to the bedside of a little sufferer, and on my way met two boys, both about nine years of age, and both patients of mine. The first had a spirituelle face, and spoke to me with a tip of the hat and the grace of a little Chesterfield; but his features were pinched, so it seemed to me, while his face was anxious and his legs were hardly thick enough to carry his body. Nevertheless, his arms were full of books, which, as I had curiosity enough

to examine, I found to be a Greek grammar, Cæsar and the elements of algebra. I felt sorry for the overtaxed little brain, and he showed no symptoms of joy at release from school, for he was on his way home to study all his books, to get the teacher's approval and a high mark on the morrow. Scarcely a block away I met my next little friend ; his cheeks were rosy, his arms and legs sturdy, and his eyes brimful of health and fun. The burden of books he bore was light, and his teacher probably considered him stupid; but his simple "Halloo, Doctor, I am off for a game of ball this afternoon," and his jolly smile, were more pleasing than all the learning of the first little gentleman.

The lesson taught by these two children is very plain to my mind, and the question which will come out ahead in the long run is easily answered; for health has no handicap in the race of life.

It is right, of course, to let the children study— after the sixth year; but the brain is not to be cultivated at the expense of the body; in other words, our boys and girls must have plenty of play.

The subject of childish diversion is a broad one, and it is only possible to outline it here. Let the healthy child play as much as possible in the open air, and let him be as active as he pleases; for his own sensations will tell him when to stop and when to begin again. The only cautions are not to over

look him too much; to let him make as much noise as he wishes out of doors and in his own kingdom -the nursery; to make him play those games which will exercise all the muscles of the body equally, and to guard him, when heated, from drinking ice water or from lying on the cold, damp ground or sitting in a draught. It must be remembered, also, that play is the child's business, so that during convalescence from a debilitating disease it must be regulated according to the strength.

Before closing this chapter a protest must be entered against roller-skates, as they are dangerous to life and limb. Bicycles with wheels of equal size are not objectionable, if the proper upright position on the seat be insisted upon and if the temptation to too long and too fast riding be resisted.

CHAPTER VI.

SLEEP.

For some time after birth infants spend the intervals between being fed, washed and dressed, in sleep, and thus pass fully eighteen out of the twentyfour hours. As age advances, the amount of sleep required becomes less, until at two years thirteen hours, and at three years eleven hours, are enough. The amount of sleep required will, however, vary considerably in different children, but an observant mother can soon determine this question for herself.

Any marked diminution in the average duration of sleep, or any decided restlessness indicate disease, and demand attention from the physician. At the same time, sleep, perhaps more than any other item of nursery regimen, is a matter of training, and many a mother, by want of judicious firmness, has rendered the early years of her child's life not only a burden to himself, but an annoyance to the entire household.

One cannot too soon begin to form the good habit of regularity in sleeping hours, and so far as circumstances admit, the following rules may be enforced :—

From birth to the end of the sixth or eighth month the infant must sleep from II P.M. to 5 A.M., and as many hours during the day as nature demands and the exigencies of the nursery permit. This does not mean that the baby is not to be put to bed until nearly midnight; on the contrary, he should practically settle for the night at six or seven o'clock, but the last feeding should be at eleven o'clock. After this he must rest undisturbed until the early morning hour, when he should be fed and sleep again.

From eight months to the end of two and a half years, a morning nap should be taken, say from 12 M. to 1.30 or 2 P.M., the child being undressed and put to bed. Occasionally an afternoon nap for half an hour or more seems necessary, though, as a rule, sleep at night is more undisturbed and refreshing if this be omitted. The night's rest must begin at 7 P.M. If a late meal be required, the child can be taken up at about ten o'clock, but if past the age for this, he may sleep undisturbed until he wakes of his own accord, some time between 6 and 8 A.M. So soon as thoroughly awake the child must be taken up, washed and dressed, and given breakfast. This is the only way to cultivate the habit of early rising, which promotes both bodily and mental welfare, and of all habits is the most conducive to a long and healthy life.