We have a faint impression that Mrs. CHILD is an
Americars economist, the delicacies of whose " Frugal Housewife r we had occasion to exhibit in a small way some years ago. In its nriginal state, her Family Nurse was most probably distinguished by niceties of a similar kind ; as may be gathered from the number of corrections inserted by the English Physician who has "edited" the work. The greater part of the book consists of an account of the diseases of children, with the proper medicines and doses. This information, in a country like America, where doctors are often scores of miles away, may be more satisfactory to the parents than trusting to Nature, if not better for the patients ; but it was scarcely needed in England. The remainder of the book consists of commonplace directions for making drinks and dishes for inva- lids, and rules for the preservation. Some of them, however, have a naIret6' which rescues them from the charge of common- place. Er. gr.
"Weakly and consumptive patients are benefited by being washed in warm white rum."
" A feather-bed is the safest place in a severe thunderstorm." "If shoes and stockings get wet, change thein—it is a mistaken idea to dry them on."
"If not as well u UMW, eat nothing." "A very speedy cure for the itch, is standing half an hour or more in • tight barrel, covered to the throat with old blankets or carpets: two or three lighted brimstone matches should be Owed inside the barrel, by means of a small hole near the bottom, and every crevice stopped, that no smoke may escape."
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