66. _But if an infant be allowed to suck his thumb, will it not be likely to become a habit, and stick to him for years—until, indeed, he become a big boy?_ After he has cut the whole of his first set of teeth, that is to say, when he is about two years and a half old, he might, if it be likely to become a habit, be readily cured by the following method, namely, by making a paste of aloes and water and smearing it upon his thumb. One or two dressings will suffice, as after just tasting the bitter aloes he will take a disgust to his former enjoyment, and the habit will at once be broken. Many persons, I know, have an objection to children sucking their thumbs, as, for instance— “Perhaps it’s as well to keep children from plums, And from pears in the season, and sucking their thumbs.” My reply is— P’rhaps ’tis as well to keep children from pears; The pain they might cause is oft followed by tears; ’Tis certainly well to keep them from plums; But certainly not from sucking their thumbs! If a babe suck his thumb ’Tis an ease to his gum; A comfort; a boon; a calmer of grief; A friend in his need, affording relief; A solace; a good; a soother of pain; A composer to sleep; a charm; and a gain; ’Tis handy at once to his sweet mouth to glide; When done with, drops gently down by his side; ’Tis fixed like an anchor while the babe sleeps, And the mother with joy her still vigil keeps. 67. _A child who is teething dribbles, and thereby wets his chest, which frequently causes him to catch cold; what had better be done?_ Have in readiness to put on several _flannel_ dribbling-bibs, so that they may be changed as often as they become wet; or, if he dribble _very much_, the oiled silk dribbling-bibs, instead of the flannel ones, may be used, and which may be procured at any baby-linen warehouse. 68. _Do you approve of giving a child, during teething, much fruit?_ No; unless it be a few ripe strawberries or raspberries, or a roasted apple, or the juice of five or six grapes—taking care that he does not swallow either the seeds or the skin—or the insides of ripe gooseberries, or an orange. Such fruits, if the bowels be in a costive state, will be particularly useful. All stone fruits, _raw_ apples, or pears ought to be carefully avoided, as they not only disorder the stomach and the bowels—causing convulsions, gripings, etc.—but they have the effect of weakening the bowels, and thus of engendering worms. 69. _Is a child, during teething, more subject to disease, and if so, to what complaints, and in what manner may they be prevented?_