INTRODUCTION.

From the nature of the subjects treated in this work, the information given becomes of interest to every woman, and is not intended for the nurse of lying-in women only. It is believed that many young women will study it carefully, that they may be prepared for all the duties and responsibilities of life; some, perhaps, that they may be fitted for a vocation under certain contingencies. But many of the instructions are addressed particularly to mothers, because they especially will be able to make a practical application of the knowledge received. Hence considerable matter is inserted which is designed to be used by mothers in their daily life, and having only a slight bearing on monthly nursing. Necessarily, as the two objects are combined to suit the wants both of the mother and nurse, there is not as much order and system in the topics presented as would otherwise be desirable. I seek only to have my instructions in the form that will be most useful, and I believe that if mothers at the present time are sufficiently taught there will be no lack, a few years hence, of nurses who are fully competent to care for the sick, under the direction of competent physician. Hence I address myself, first,