On the disorders of infantile development, and rickets : preceded by observations on the nature, peculiar influence, and modifying agencies of temperaments / by A. Schoepf Merei.

Schoepf Merei, Agost, 1804-1858.

Date:: 1855

Credit: On the disorders of infantile development, and rickets : preceded by observations on the nature, peculiar influence, and modifying agencies of temperaments / by A. Schoepf Merei. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$in health, and not live long under such diet. Not only 30; a ptii'e animal nutrimeut, dthough more compound, as for instance, flesh, butter, or .cheese, without a due admixture of bread or vegetables, is altogellier un- wholesome. Pm-e farinaceous diet, however, particularly in warm climates, has not the bke evil eHect. There must be, in general, a mixture of articles derived from both kingdoms, animal and vegetable. The general principles of diet for the different terraperameirts are the same everjwhere, and the modifications necessary for the particular climate, are easily conceived, and almost instinctively adopted. They are, generally, in accordance vdth. the climate and with its prevaihng temperament. Thus, the diet in Italy is cooling; in England, on the contraiy, it is strengthening and to a certain extent stimulating. The difficulty consists in individuahsing, in speciahsing; because eveiy indi\ddual in a country does not represent the peculiar temperament of that countiy; the great majority are of a certain shade, or of a mixed variety of temperaments, in Russia as well as in Spain, in Italy as weU as in England. Though, by inquiry, and assisted by the experience of intelhgent self- observers, we are generally able to find out the temperament or the mixtm*e they possess, this discrimination is very difficult to be made in in- fancy and cliildhood. It seems, however, that infancy does not possess the different types of temperaments in their distinctive development. I have not been able at least, though I have seen a good deal of them, to determine exactly before the fom'th, fifth, or even the sixth month, the temper- ament of an infant, and not then generally. Nature has designed for all of them at first, one kind of food—the milk of the breast, which will answer all purposes in ordinary cases till the sixth month, frequently longer; but after that age, some light and shade will begin to appear, and gradually form the outhnes of the future temperament; and thus it wiU become more important to regulate the diet of the individual accordingly. I shall endeavour to sketch the characteristics of the different types from infancy upwards, such as I have observed them—with due allowance for the numerous deviations and exceptions. I can pay attention only to the prini'ipal types, not to mixtures ; this would lead the enquiry too far. SKETCHES OF THE PRINCIPAL TEMPERAMENTS, FROM INFANCY TO ADVANCED AGE; THEIR DISH)SITIONS AND DIET. I will, in the first place, take irito consideration the muscular tem- perament ; because a strong development of the muscular fibre of the heart, stomach, and chest, must have a strengthening influence on the functions of circulation, digestion, and respiration. Moreover, the mus-$