Letters to married ladies, to which is added, a letter on corsets, and copious notes

Front matter

I

LETTERS

TO

Letter XV

Old Age — By virtue rendered truly honorable. The steps by which we mounted into life, shown to be the easiest and best paths to descend into the grave. 187

ADDITIONAL LETTER

On Corsets. 199

INTRODUCTORY LETTER,

BY THE

AMERICAN EDITOR.

When a book is to be published, no matter what its nature, no matter who the author, a few scattered sentences must be brought together, and inserted after the title page ; not for the purpose of being read, but only to be over-looked ; and after it is completed, it is called either "An Introduction," or a ''Preface." In conformity to custom, therefore, I have huddled together a few sentences about one thing and another, supposing, of course, that no one will ever read them.

A short time since, the editor of this little volume, enjoyed the happiness of seeing a niece of his, a young lady for whom he entertains the greatest esteem, united to the man of her choice, — the object of her affection. She requested him to draw up some general directions and give her, — ^just such instruction and advice as he thought would be of use to her in the capacity of a mother. Her education had been such as to keep her in utter ignorance of things which she found now intimately concerned, more than herself. She, like hundreds and thousands of our young ladies, knew not how

to fulfil many duties, which she now found herself called il INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

upon to perform. Her time had been occupied in the attainment of many branches of education, which she discovered to be capable of yielding her very little profit, and the true value of v^hich she found was mostly vanity. What greatly added to her embarrassments was, she had buried her mother, — that sure counsellor, that elder portion of herself, that sweet soother of life's rugged path. She now became sensible that the loss of a fond mother, and one whose judgment and whose experience were worth possessing, was a loss upon which she had not calculated ; a loss she found totally irreparable. Surrounded with every blessing which wealth could procure, an indulgent father could supply, and an affectionate husband heighten, she discovered that neither wealth, father, nor husband, could supply the place of a mother in her new situation. Ye who have enjoyed the envied privilege of having a mother to guide, to counsel and to direct you — a mother to explain and smooth over the ten thousand little difficulties, and apparently trifling circumstances, during the first months of the married state, are not aware of the magnitude of the blessing you possess, and are equally unable to imagine the irreparable loss this amiable young lady sustained. To supply, in some measure, this loss, and to fulfil a request I could not deny, I searched around in order to find some plain familiar author, which I could cheerfully put into her hands : and of all which I examined, and they were neither few nor small, I met with none which more fully met with my approbation, than •^ SmitKs Letters to Married Ladies,'"'^

INTRODUCTOKY LETTER. HI

The grand objection to most works of this nature, books written to put into the hands of mothers, is, they contain directions and instructions better calculated for physicians than for mothers ; and thereby bewilder and alarm, where no such effect was intended : it is no difficult point, I am aware, to determine the precise line of distinction, and completely separate the duties of the one from those of the other. Of the most pains-taking individual, afler he has completed his task, some will be ready to say, " he has fallen short in portraying half the duties of the mother," while others may say, "he has done a great deal more." But notwithstanding this, there is one point I shall hold sacred, one right which may not be infringed ; no direction should ever be given to the mother^ calculated to make her the physician of her child.

In this respect, I think Buchan, and Herdman, and Burns, and a host of others, have greatly erred. The moment you license a mother, or a nurse, to prescribe and administer, you allow a liberty which may prove fatal to the subject. If any prescription is necessary, (and the necessity should be more than imaginary,) it certainly requires to be a judicious one, and one exactly adapted to the circumstances of the case. A little superficial knowledge, or that which may be obtained from deceitful experience, without one particle of sober reflection, is not sufficient to know the when, and what, and how, of a medical prescription. It should always be considered a matter of serious moment for any person, but more especially for a child, to take a dose of medicine.

iv INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

There can be no question but thousands of valuable lives are yearly sacrificed by the injudicious prescriptions of ignorant women. Is it conjectured their nostrums are harmless and innocent, and if they can do no good, they certainly can do no harm ? I tell you nay ; — we have no authority for considering any prescription, however gentle and mild, as harmless and inoffensive ; for if it offends in no other way, it does by taking the place of a more active remedy, and thereby passively becomes the cause of unmeasured mischief.

It takes the physician, who appropriates all his time to his profession, many years of laborious study, and hard earned experience, to acquire the knowledge necessary to prescribe with tolerable success ; and the more he labors, and the older he grov^rs, the more sensible he becomes of his ignorance ; and yet the inexperienced nurse, the bold and ignorant hand of one who cannot know, may be licensed to do it.

In this view of the case then, does it not clearly appear that those books calculated to encourage the ignorant to undertake a business requiring so much nice discrimination, so much correct judgment, are far more likely to produce a greater amount of evil than of good ? I would, therefore, advise every parent who has any regard for the health and comfort of his family, or any desire for economy, never to lay his hand upon any book for the purpose of being instructed in the art of home-made prescription ; and let it be a motto engraven upon the bracelets of every nurse, never to assume THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PHYSICIAN, either by inter-

INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

fering with the economy of nature, of which she knows nothing, or with the philosophy of a judicious medical prescription of which she knows, if possible, much less.

The objections, therefore, which I form to Buchan's "Advice to Mothers," and '^Herdman on Infants," and others which I might mention, are, that while they contain matter of paramount importance, and matter excellently well arranged and forcibly set forth, and (especially the first,) elegantly dressed, that as a whole, they are more befitting the library of a physician than that of a mother, notwithstanding they contain a vast amount of information and instruction, which is indispensable to the correct management of the nursery.

I am of opinion that the work of Dr. Smith is, for the most part, free from these faults, (if faults it will do to call them,) and hope that the notes which have been added, will not make them less worthy the acceptance of the public than they have been without them. I found the letters were out of print, and that an edition of them might probably be disposed of; and to make them more acceptable, I have, in many places, altered the text so as, if possible, less to offend the eye of delicacy. The additional letter, on Corsets, appeared to be called for, because the habit of wearing them is becoming universal, and thousands of ladies are daily girting themselves up, without any knowledge of their injurious effects, and without any idea of the extent of mischief they are causing themselves. If my labor has the effect of preserving the life of only one young lady, it

will not have been in vain ; but if it should produce the

1^

VI INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

still greater effect of causing Corsets to be held in disrepute, and banished for ever from the toilet, to the cells of the mad-house, and within the bars and the bolts of the prison, whence they originated, it will be an ample compensation ; but which, considering the power of prejudice and the infatuation of fashion, I dare not anticipate.

In the notes which I have added, I have endeavored to keep in view the grand object of these letters,- — that of allaying unnecessary fears, and quelling needless purturbation, as far as could be done consistently with truth.

In what I have had to do with this little book, I have aimed at perspicuity, more than elegance, — at matter, more than manner. It is hardly to be expected that a physician, no matter how correct a scholar he may have been at the period of his leaving college, should retain in his writing all the rules of criticism which were once taught him, especially if an extensive and laborious practice in his profession occupies his time and engrosses his attention. How far I have succeeded in making myself understood, and how far I have attained the object I have contemplated, remains not with me to determine.

I do not, however, feel wilhng to close these introductory remarks, without noticing one or two little faults in which many ladies, and especially the unmarried, are apt to indulge themselves ; and which appears to be owing more to a false idea of modesty, or an affected degree of sensibility, than to correct or natural feelings.

One thing is, their apparent terror and alarm at the

INTRODUCTORY LETTER. Vll

sight of blood. So prevalent are these expressed feelings, that in cases of emergency, it is, oftentimes, next to impossible to obtain from them the least assistance. Especially do we see it when their friend, to whose relief the physician is summoned, is to be bled ; not one can be found to help ; not one to hold the bowl ; and, not unfrequently, a neighbor must be sent for, before the operation — the terrible operation — can be performed I To such young ladies, (if any such should perchance cast their eyes upon these pages,) I would say, overcome these affected terrors, — yield not to the temptation, but rather determine to suffer a little while, than to be the subject of such unenviable timidity.

Another censurable practice is, a concealing of the truth from your physician. Recollect, when called upon to prescribe, it becomes necessary that he should be informed of all your symptoms : it is not for you to judge what symptoms are essential, and what are not, to influence his prescription ; and no one can tell the amount of evil this folly may bring upon the patient. There is no necessity for a bold, unblushing declaration of the whole truth ; but on your part, there should be no desire to conceal, and no effort to hide the true state of the case. I am unwilling to ascribe any thing of this kind to modesty. True modesty never interferes, in any respect, with health ; it must be nothing less than mock modesty, bearing no alliance to that lovely charm which sheds such lustre over every female grace. No men delight more to see modesty shine forth conspicu-

Vlll INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

ous in the female character, than physicians ; and none, I am sure, do more abominate its counterfeit ; and, generally speaking, I think I may say, without fear of contradiction, that few men are better able to detect it. Certainly, no class of men have a better opportunity of studying human nature ; her book lies open all the while before their eyes, and, usually, they are pretty thoroughly acquainted with every leaf Ladies, therefore, should be upon their guard, how they exhibit the mere pretence of character before any one, but especially before physicians.

A third evil that I would mention, which, although, perhaps, not as common an occurrence as those already noted, is still of equal, if not greater magnitude. It is that of deviating from the prescriptions of your physisician, or in any way interposing your own judgment, which may serve to counteract his. He leaves you directions, and to those directions you should implicitly adhere ; indeed, they cannot be infringed upon without danger to yourselves, and injustice to your physician. The former may appear, if you reflect, that from the prescription, a certain effect is expected, and cannot be produced, if the means to produce it be neglected. The injustice to your physician may appear, if you reflect, that his subsistence depends upon his practice, and the extent of his practice usually upon his success in the management of disease ; and how can he calculate upon success, if interference with his prescriptions should be tolerated ? It is exceedingly disgusting to hear parents, or others, when a physician is about prescribing

INTRODUCTORY LETTER. IX

for any member of their family, to say, " Doctor, won't it do to give such and such a thing ? — Such and such a person was just so, and tried it, and it helped them directly. — Why ! Doctor, don't you think that is too large a dose for such an infant, or for such a delicate person ? — I am afraid to give it this^ I am afraid to do tliat^ I am afraid it will do more hurt than good. — Oh, Doctor, have you not taken blood enough ? why, you will kill him by bleeding him. — Surely, you are not going to put on so large a blister ! why, that is enough to produce fever itself 1" and ten thousand such like exclamations, which are too common to need repetition.

Let me ask you ; if you have no confidence in your physician, why employ him ? And if you have,— why act as if you had not? Why trammel him, and fetter him in this manner ? — Rather would I never prescribe — I would sacrifice my interest in the most wealthy family, if my prescriptions must pass the ordeal of their judgment. I must practice without such restraints, or I shall not practice at all. I would rather carry the hod, or drive the cart ; and so would any physician whose soul was not smaller than a ''microscopic mite."

The last evil which I shall mention, requires me to premise, that it is by no means confined to the female sex ; and I am not certain, but they are more free from it, than their "wiser companions." I allude to the rapid extinction of gratitude. Perhaps, gratitude never runs higher upon our earth, than it does toward the physician, who, by a judicious interference of the healing art, has been the happy instrument of snatching

INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

from the yawning jaws of death, some endeared companion, and restored such an one to arms just ready to hang down in despair. One would be ready to think, that an attempt to express the amount of such rapturous feehngs by ghttering dust, would almost be offering an insult to gratitude ; and yet, strange as it may appear, Ihave lived to see such gratitude entirely cancelled by less than a dozen dollars. The bill is very apt to sweep off every vestage of good feeling, especially if some months chance to intervene between the services rendered, and the payment of the bill. This leads me to observe, that the compensation given to physicians, is usually inadequate to the services rendered. No bills are generally paid with so much reluctance as those of the physician ; and one great reason, (as I said,) why it is so, is, because they are usually left so long unsettled, and memory being so treacherous, the nature and the value of the services are forgotten.

The extravagance of physicians' bills is proverbial ; and yet how few — how very few — die rich, or ever lay up any thing against a day of adversity ! No class of men deserve more to collect together a little heap of this world's provender, than physicians ; their labor is incessant ; night or day, rain or shine, sick or well, they must observe the beck of all who demand their services, be they rich or poor, bond or free, with a soul or without one ; not a day out of the seven, not an hour out of the twenty -four, can they call their own. If such a life does not deserve a rich compensation, no toil, or labor, or anxiety, does.

INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XI

My advice to you, then, is, remunerate your physician while gratitude feels warm, and before it is possible to forget the value of his services ; and I will engage his bill will more commonly be thought low and moderate, than high or extravagant.

Preface

TO THE LAST LONDON EDITION.

It would be ungrateful not to acknowledge the candor with which the public have been pleased to receive this little volume, although it contains some doctrines repugnant to the present opinions : the honorary degree which a respectable university were pleased to confer upon the author as a token of their approbation, demands likewise his acknowledgment, and emboldens the doctor to hope th^ his observations are not entirely erroneous.

With a view, then, to promote the happiness and comfort of his fellows-creatures, and to preserve helpless infants from their present almost certain destruction, Dr. Smith earnestly recommends the perusal of these letters to such persons as are likely to have a young family ; to those whose duty may require their attendance in a sick chamber ; and likewise to invalids.

The maxims insisted on throughout are agreeable to the laws of nature ; and the author trusts that he has rendered them evident to common sense : they are the result of an assiduous attention to the duties of his profession ; and it may with truth be added, that they have the further sanction of successful experience.

XIV PREFACE,

It is only necessary to observe, that the treatise, according to a promise, made some years ago, is dedicated to the ladies, under the title of " Letters to Married Ladies :" and as a familiar style is aimed at, it is presumed that the digressions will not only be thought alloM^able, but even a relief to the subject itself, naturally dry and unentertaining.

If the opinion with respect to those marks which are incident to children at their birth should be supposed chimerical, yet the design, it is hoped, will prove a sufficient apology. Perhaps it may induce some others to pursue the inquiry, and thereby fully illustrate the fact ; in which case the author will give up his opinion, as freely as he now delivers it to the public.

In considering my intended subjects, the familiar style of letter-writing appeared the most eligible ; and particularly, when I reflected upon the absurdity of using technical language, in an address to the ladies. The three first letters will not, I hope, be esteemed foreign to my purpose, as they seem to me altogether introductory to the design. I was induced to add the last letter, upon old age, in order to make the series of letters complete ; having now, in this collection, taken up man from the first period of his existence, and car- • ried him through the various stages of life.

It being much to our present purpose, and intimately connected with the following letters, I shall transcribe a part of the introduction to a popular work, published about twelve months ago.

^^ Experience in physic is the wisest patli to tread :

PREFACE.

XV and considering what poor crazy constitutions too many of the human race unhappily sustain, and the various disorders which even the most robust are Hable to, no one can be too particular in remarking such innocent remedies as may relieve slight indispositions, and consequently prevent terrible and fatal diseases.

^^ Good nursing is a point which has either been too much neglected, or mistaken ; nevertheless, it is of the first consequence towards the cure of diseases, and the preserving of delicate and feeble constitutions. It is equally so to render advanced age easy and comfortable, and to preserve helpless infants. To speculative minds it must be" matter of astonishment to observe the fatality among children, which the following table of births and infant burials, collected from the bills of mortality, of the city of Dubhn, presents for their serious consideration.

In

Total number

Barials under

Burials under of births.

5 years of age.

2 years of age.

15351

10659

15133

11163

.16801

16374

1766 ""

16257

10197

16980

16042

10670

16714

10061

17109

10121

17072

10)162833

10)101454

10)79877

16283 10145

The average upon the last ten years.

XVI PREFACE,

" Thus we see that almost two thirds of the children born in that metropohs and its environs are totally lost to society : 16283 are, upon the average, the annual births ; 10145, the infant burials ; and, what deserves particular attention, 7987 are cut off before they are two years old, which is more than three fourths of those children who die under five years of age. How ardently, therefore, is it to be wished that such a fatality could be prevented ! — It may be prevented.

" Is it not affecting, that so many beings, just entering into life, should be so untimely cut off, to the detriment of society, and the affliction of their weeping mothers ? It is, truly, a subject of commisseration, a scene which draws a silent tear from the eye of humanity, and pierces the wounded bosoms of afflicted parents. Above three fourths of these little innocents fall a sacrifice under two years old. It is well known, that the Thrush and Summer complaints generally terminate their existence in the early months ; and if they survive these maladies, the time of teething too frequently brings on the fatal catastrophe.

'^ Could we but conquer the prejudices of the times, and abolish unnatural and absurd practices — could we but restore that natural and simple method of rearing children, which the All Wise Giver of life has sufficiently pointed out — did we but confine them to that nutriment, which he has prepared for their first state of existence — and consult that reason which he has bestowed upon us, to conduct them forward — all would be well — But, alasl indolence and luxury forbid the

PREFACE. XVli task ! Nevertheless, to the rational few the following remarks are submitted.

" The Thrush and Summer complaints are, in the author's opinion, artificial diseases, and both of them usually occasioned by improper food ; such as all kinds of pap, whether made from flour, bread, or biscuit : they all cause too much fermentation in an infant's stomach, and irritate its tender bowels beyond what nature can support. This appears to him to be the evident cause of the before-mentioned complaints.

" When infants are past this period, the danger in cutting their teeth is justly to be feared. This difficulty proceeds altogether from a weakness of constitution, arising from the same first mismanagement in point of diet : and here a train of dreadful symptoms present themselves ; the head, the stomach, the bowels, are all at times terribly affected ; a general wasting of the body frequently ensues ; and unconquerable fevers prevail, which generally terminate in convulsions and death.

^^To prevent all these unhappy consequences,- let us but for a moment reflect that every mother is designed by nature to foster her own child. If the breast is not to be obtained,* cow's milk is in general to be preferred to any kind of food that can be invented, because it is nearly similar to that w^hich nature intended."

I sincerely wish the hints thrown out in the following letters may be attended to ; as the success of rearing children, and the preserving infirm and aged constitutions, greatly depends upon good nursing ; much more indeed than it does upon the application of medicine.

2*

XVlll PREFACE.

For although, by the medical art, many violent and dangerous diseases may oftentimes be prevented from proving fatal ; yet, even when the doctor has taken his leave, the good nurse must still be vi^atchful, "to restore again the invalid to a healthy and vigorous constitution."

I was apprehensive that many objections would be started, both against my opinions and maxims ; which, indeed, was a leading motive for concealing my name in the first edition : but as I hope I have spoken with candor, and as I mean to persuade, rather than to find fault, it is to be wished, that the younger part of the female sex at leasts whom it more nearly concerns, will not receive this little present with such unconquerable prejudices, as would probably have been experienced from their grand-mothers. If, by addressing their understanding, I should be happy enough to convince their judgment of the propriety of the following observations, I trust they may prove in some measure beneficial both to themselves and their future daughters, in the exalted characters of wives and mothers.

There is a certain respect due to our ancestors and their customs ; and, for my own part, ' I would never embrace new maxims or opinions, but upon full conviction of their claiming preference to old ones. Still it should be remembered, the mind was never designed for a state of slavery ; therefore, when once our reason is truly convinced of former errors, let the sanction for such mistakes be never so redoubtable, there is a glorious freedom inherent in human nature, that prompts a

PREFACE. XIS

generous mind to revoke erroneous opinions, and adopt, those systems, which, upon mature deliberation, shall appear more rational. And whenever the contrary disposition is discovered, it altogether shows a want of candor, and points out an obstinacy, not only culpable with respect to our private characters, but deserving of censure, as it regards society ; for such a temper tends to prohibit every kind of discovery, that may either improve our own knowledge, or benefit our fellow-creatures.

All our knowledge with respect to infants, must be obtained from observation alone ; as no one ever pretended to remember those sensations and wants which he himself experienced in the earliest days of childhood ; therefore, a careful attendance is required in the nursery. When infants are properly managed, there is but seldom an occasion for the help of medicine ; and should it be necessary to call in assistance of this kind, as they are totally incapable of relating their distress, it requires an accurate observation,* together with a circumstantial account from the nurses who attend upon them, to enable a medical practitioner to form a right judgment of their diseases.

Letter I, Of

MARKS.

LETTER I.

Of Marks — the imaginary consequences of* frights and longings, A candid inquiry into the merits of this doctrine.

Prejudices, which have been imbibed in our early clays, received from those we esteem and reverence, and supported by the authority of past ages, must needs make impressions upon the most candid and ingenuous minds ; particularly when almost every day produces strange and wonderful stories to corroborate the supposed fact.

The various blemishes frequently discovered upon children at the birth, have been generally considered as the effect of fright, or a disappointment of the mother's longings : and, indeed, this opinion has so far prevailed, that it has been, for a long time past, looked upon as incontestible. Should any one, therefore, presumptuously dare to deny this amazing pecuHarity in pregnant women, and the consequent effect upon the embryo, he must expect nothing less than the general censures of the female world. Besides, the many positive assertions upon this head, from the most sensible persons of undoubted veracity, will naturally lead a prudent man to speak with caution against the doctrine. Nevertheless, it surely cannot be improper to make a candid inquiry into so wonderfld a phenomenon.

24 liETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES.

It is a subject by far the most interesting to the ladies : it comes, indeed, particularly under their cognizance : for the dreaded evil affects the fair sex much more essentially than it does ours.* With my female friends, therefore, I beg leave to discuss this important point.

It is by every one allowed, to the honor of this nation, (and let particular commendation be given to the daughters of Great Britain themselves,) that in the education of young women, learning, and the polite improvements, are much more attended to in this age than formerly ; accomplishments which not only render their manners more engaging, but qualify them .likewise for the happy domestic life ; and contribute muchto adorn these amiable and sweetly-endearing companions of the social hour. How essentially necessary is such a friend, to make life comfortable and happy. t

What a lustre does every good and accomplished woman add to the matrimonial state 1 — She must by every reasonable man be considered not only as the partner of his bed, but of his very soul.

I can at this time readily call to mind many such exalted characters, to whom in a most particular manner I now address myself: — women, whose enlarged minds are capable of a much greater depth of reasoning than these speculations will afford ; and in whose company I have oftentimes enjoyed the happiness of friendly conversation^ — with whom, upon different occasions, I have,