A treatise on the physical and medical treatment of children / by William P. Dewees.

  • Dewees, William P. (William Potts), 1768-1841.
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the physical and medical treatment of children / by William P. Dewees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    PREFACE. We thought it would be useful, before we treated of the diseases of children, to give a summary, of the physical treatment proper during the period of childhood. This subject is almost new in this country, though deserving of so much consideration. In treating this important part of education, we have consulted some of the best authorities, as well as endeavoured to make our own experi- ence useful. We have tried to avoid speculation, by appealing to experience, and to reason; and have not permitted ourselves to be seduced into the diffuseness of Jean Jacques, nor to rest con- tented with the limited, though generally correct views of Faust. We have endeavoured to condense within as narrow a space as appeared consistent with perspicuity, most of the important points, which reason has dictated, or experience has sanctioned. The physical treatment of children, in its details, is almost in- finitely varied; for custom, prejudice, and speculation, have im- posed regulations, which in their extent are neither sanctioned by reason nor experience. The first declares its influence, by the per- petuation of restraints upon the body and limbs of the passive child, who suffers itself to be moulded to the form, which caprice, or hypothesis judges best for its future health, or proportions— hence, the unnatural practice of swaddling. We cannot but regard the now almost universal banishment of swathes, and stays, as one of the greatest improvements in mo- dern physical education. This unnatural practice, will by and by, be looked upon as a tale of the oldei) time, when fable usurp- ed the place of truth; and we are not certain that we shall obtain belief, when we declare, that even in Great Britain, this custom was almost universal, half a century ago. Dr. Buchan informs us, (Advice to Mothers, p. 108,) that he was very instrumental in abolishing this cruel and absurd practice. His Inaugural Disser- [U]