“If the child is unwell, attention must be turned to the state of the mother’s health. Administering drugs to the child is as good as murdering it, for the child with its delicate constitution, easily succumbs to their poisonous effects. Hence the medicine should be administered to the mother, so that its beneficial properties may be transmitted to the child through her milk. If the child suffers, as it often does, from cough or loose bowels, there is no cause for alarm; we should wait for a day or so, and try to get at the root of the trouble, and then remove it. Making fuss over it and falling into a panic only makes matters worse. The use of shoes prevents the free circulation of blood and the development of hardy feet and legs. Dressing the child in silk or lace cloths, with cap and coat, and ornaments, is a barbarous practice. Our attempt to enhance by such ridiculous means the beauty that Nature has given, only bespeaks our vanity and ignorance.”
Share this quote
About this quote
Also a genuine early text, its advice to withhold medicine from a sick child reflects dated naturopathy, not modern pediatric care, and shouldn't be followed. What still holds is the calmer thread: look for the root cause instead of panicking, and favor simplicity over dressing a child up out of vanity.
When to use it
- A parent traces a child's evening meltdowns to an overpacked schedule and trims the activities.
- Parents choose plain, comfortable clothes for a toddler over showy outfits meant to impress relatives.
- A caregiver meets a fussy afternoon by checking first whether the child is simply tired or hungry.