in some countries which seem to favour the belief in ghosts; for instance, the Christmas pantomimes, as performed in England, are of a nature to perpetuate fear; for though children may laugh at the figures, more or less deformed, the actor who plays the part of being frightened, does not make less impression on the infantine mind. Mad-houses are filled with individuals affected by fright; it must therefore be sedulously avoided in the physical education of children born with predominance of the cerebral system. There are other causes of chorea and idiotcy, which we shall not enumerate. All parents must feel that it is incumbent on them so to watch over their children, that they may prevent their indulging in vicious habits, which weaken the constitution, and affect the mind. It often happens, that after too rapid growth, or after certain diseases, children are subjected to different cerebral affections; paralysis, for instance, is not uncommon. As to the education to be given to certain idiots, and those not born in the last stage of degradation, or in whom accidental idiotcy has not annulled all the mental powers,-it can only be comparative; and must be specially adapted to each individual. Education thus considered, under the head of Orthophreny, will be found the subject of a chapter in the fourth division of this treatise. We shall not here speak of gouty, rheumatismal, herpetic, and cancerous affections, which may also powerfully modify the constitution; the diathesis we examine have a more distinct character, occur at a more tender age, and the only age adapted for physical education. However this may be, the cerebral constitution, or predisposition to nervous affections, being known early, parents must avoid all that may cause any physical or moral emotion on their children's brain. The body must be strengthened, the mind left in repose, the nervous susceptibility being so much the more developed, that the muscular power is less so, and vice versa: it is principally to muscular exercises, to recreation, and to plain food that recourse must be had. Allow not young girls to frequent the theatres, nor indulge in novel-reading, which only serve to exalt the imagination, and injure the judgment. Keep them from balls, and societies, where they may be over excited; above all, give them the example of a simple and peaceable life,-an example of the most beneficial influence to delicate girls unable to bear the violent emotions arising in mixed societies. A study we most particularly recommend, as conducive to bodily health and mental improvement, is botany; it necessitates gentle exercise, and cultivates simple and pure taste. The gymnastic exercises, given in the second part of this work, cannot fail to be of the most essential service; a judicious choice is however requisite for children subject to epileptic fits. We cannot conclude this chapter without adverting to the power of the will in the cure of some affections. Hysteria, for instance, so common at the period of womanhood, may be mastered by the will. If these attacks are often renewed, they may terminate in madness or paralysis. Young girls should not be allowed to see persons in hysterical fits, as such attacks are catching, and we have no hesitation in saying that no governess or servant liable to them, ought to have the care of children. CHAP. III. Sanguine Constitution. Scrofulous Diathesis. We have pointed out two principal elements, as the foundation of all the varieties of constitutions. In the preceding chapter we have shewn which are the affections that may arise from predominance of the morbid state of the nervous system; it now remains for us to remark on some of those which may originate in the impoverishment of the blood-the necessary and indispensable element of all growth. The primitive alteration of all circulatory fluids, blood, and lymph, is to be traced to the human seed; and hereditary scrofulous and tuberculous diseases, which constitute part of the individual, are also there to be found. It is the blood which contains the different principles which are successively developed and organized; it is in the sanguine particle that the different tissues of the economy in the normal and anormal state should be sought. A French physician designated blood as running flesh, and the saying was much lauded; would it not have been better to say, that blood was composed of flesh, bones, cellular tissues, nerves, scrofulous and tuberculous matter; as in fact, blood contains this mixture of good and evil, of organization and pseudo-organ ization? We are either born healthy, with an admirable equilibrium of the primitive element, nervous and sanguine; or we come into the world with diathesis or dispositions to different diseases, which are in the essence of the nerves and blood. An accidental irritation, and deleterious cause, either temporary or lasting, has power on the economy, by vitiating these two elements, if they have not been vitiated before birth. It is the same with children as with plants, if the seed be sown in good ground, it is well developed; if the earth be bad, the plant is weak. While children are placed in favourable conditions, which act on the whole economy, and are in a healthy atmosphere, moderate temperature, enjoy the benevolent rays of the sun, take suitable exercise, and food is adapted to growth-if they be born healthy, they will thrive. But if born with morbid predispositions, the favourable situation in which they may be placed, cause the healthy elements to predominate; the impure fluid which runs in the veins is neutralized; and life becomes more strongly fixed in the organs, which expand freely. But if a child comes into the world with a weak or vitiated constitution, and is placed in situations differing from those we have described, what will be the result? Deprived of the benevolent influence of physical agents, evil predominates over good, the scrofulous or tuberculous |