308. _If a child, while playing with a small coin (such as either a threepenny or a fourpenny piece), or any other substance, should toss it into his mouth, and inadvertently allow it to enter the windpipe, what ought to be done_? Take hold of him by the legs, allowing his head to hang downwards; then give him with the palm of your hand several sharp blows on his back, and you may have the good fortune to see the coin coughed out of his mouth. Of course, if this plan does not succeed, send instantly, for a medical man. 309. _How can a mother prevent her child from having an accident_? By strict supervision over frim on her own part, and by not permitting her child to be left to the tender mercies of servants; by not allowing him to play with fire, to swing over banisters, and to have knives and playthings of a dangerous character; to keep all poisonous articles and cutting instruments out of his reach; and, above all and before all, insisting, lovingly, affectionately, but firmly, upon implicit obedience. Accidents generally arise from one of three causes, namely, either from wilful disobedience, or from gross carelessness, or from downright folly. I quite agree with Davenant, that they do not arise from chance-- "If we consider accident, And how, repugnant unto sense, It pays desert with bad event, We shall disparage Providence." PART III. BOYHOOD AND GIRLHOOD. _Just at the age 'twixt boy and youth When thought is speech and speech is truth_--SCOTT _'Tis with him e'en standing water. Between man and boy_--SHAKESPEARE _Standing with reluctant feet, Where the brook and river meet, Womanhood and childhood fleet_--LONGFELLOW ABLUTION, ETC. 310. _Have you any remarks to make on the ablution of boys and girls_? How is it that a mother thinks it absolutely necessary (which it really is) that her babe's _whole_ body should, every morning, be washed; and yet who does not deem it needful that her girl or boy, of twelve years old, should go through the process of daily and _thorough_ ablution? If the one case be necessary, sure I am that the other is equally if not more needful. Thorough ablution of the body every morning at least is essential to health. I maintain that no one can be in the enjoyment of perfect health who does not keep his skin--the whole of his skin--clean. In the absence of cleanliness, a pellicle forms on the skin which engenders disease. Moreover, a person who does not keep his skin clean is more susceptible of contracting contagious disease, such as small-pox, typhus fever, cholera, diphtheria, scarlet fever, etc.