Sec. 219. The only certain Method of surmounting all the Danger of this Malady, is to inoculate. But this most salutary Method, which ought to be regarded as a particular and gracious Dispensation of Providence, can scarcely be attainable by, or serviceable to, the Bulk of the People, except in those Countries, where Hospitals [57] are destined particularly for Inoculation. In these where as yet there are none, the only Resource that is left for Children who cannot be inoculated at home, is to dispose them happily for the Distemper, by a simple easy Preparation. [57] That I have long since had the Honour of agreeing with our learned Author, in this Consideration for the Benefit of the Body of the People, which is the Benefit of the State, will appear from p. 288 of Analys. Ed. 1st. and from p. 371, 372 of the Second. _K._ Sec. 220. This Preparation consists, upon the whole, in removing all Want of, and all Obstructions to, the Health of the Person subject to this Disease, if he have any such; and in bringing him into a mild and healthy, but not into a very robust and vigorous, State; as this Distemper is often exceedingly violent in this last. It is evident, that since the Defects of Health are very different in different Bodies, the Preparations of them must as often vary; and that a Child subject to some habitual Disorder, cannot be prepared in the same Method with another who has a very opposite one. The Detail and Distinctions which are necessary on this important Head, would be improper here, whether it might be owing to their unavoidable Length; or to the Impossibility of giving Persons, who are not Physicians, sufficient Knowlege and Information to qualify them for determining on, and preferring, the most proper Preparation in various Cases. Nevertheless I will point out some such as may be very likely to agree, pretty generally, with Respect to strong and healthy Children. [58] [58] The Substance of this Section flows from the Combination of an excellent Understanding with great Experience, mature Reflection, and real Probity; and fundamentally exposes both the Absurdity of such as universally decry any Preparation of any Subject previous to Inoculation, (which is said to be the Practice of a present very popular Inoculator in _Paris_) and the opposite Absurdity of giving one and the very same Preparation to all Subjects, without Distinction; though this was avowed to have been successfully fully practised in _Pensylvania_, some Years since; which the Reader may see Analys. Ed. 2d, from p. 329 to 331 and the Note there. _K._ The first Step then is an Abatement of their usual Quantity of Food. Children commonly eat too much. Their Limitation should be in Proportion to their Size and Growth, where we could exactly ascertain them: but with Regard to all, or to much the greater Number of them, we may be allowed to make their Supper very light, and very small.