Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

The broken sleep excites

Fresh pain, increased distress;

The quiet slumber undisturb’d

Soothes pain and restlessness.

Sleep is the gift of God:

Oh! bear these words at heart,—

‘He giveth his beloved sleep,’

And gently do thy part.”[^[254]]

If there be other children, let them be removed to a distant part of the house; or, if the disease be of an infectious nature, let them be sent away from home altogether.

In all illnesses—and bear in mind the following is most important advice—a child must be encouraged to try and make water, whether he ask or not, at least four times during the twenty-four hours; and at any other time, if be expresses the slightest inclination to do so. I have known a little fellow to hold his water, to his great detriment, for twelve hours, because either the mother had in her trouble forgotten to inquire, or the child himself was either too ill or too indolent to make the attempt.