Young children formerly suffered greatly from fits and various diseases, caused by the want of healthy circulation.  When more advanced, and whilst learning to walk, they were subject to falls.  This was amongst the most serious evils of early neglect, for it was demonstrated beyond doubt that accidents to the infant, prominent amongst which were blows received on its head, not only affected its after-growth, and laid the foundation of nervous and other disorders, but were often attended with the sadder result, that the child’s intellect was impaired.  Nevertheless, so little was this danger apprehended, that many people long indulged in the foolish habit of boxing children’s ears, unaware that the shock produced on the nerves of the head, which are the conduits of electricity, often made a child stupid, if, indeed, the effects of this brutal practice were not in after-life attended by more serious consequences.  In learning to walk, also, the weight of the child’s body, pressing on the legs too heavily, has a tendency to make them crooked or bent, and to affect other parts of the body.

To obviate these evils, a man named Drahna invented, at my suggestion, certain mechanical contrivances, which were so efficacious, and prevented so much suffering, that his name will never be forgotten as one of the great benefactors of our world.

These contrivances are respectively adapted to the infant when it cannot sit up, when it can sit up, when it has acquired strength beyond the second stage, and, lastly, when the limbs have acquired sufficient strength to support the increased weight of the body.

The contrivance, in the first stage, is calculated to give the infant healthful exercise, circulate the blood, and, at the same time to protect him from injury.  It consists of a soft spring-cushion, on which the baby is laid; two little elastic bands on this cushion secure the arms, whilst other bands secure the head, ankles, and waist.  By turning a small handle the machine is very gently set in motion, but by pressing down a knob its velocity may be increased at will.  So agreeable is the action of the machine, that when the motion is altogether stopped the child will often cry, or rather coo, that the movement may be repeated.

For the second stage, the instrument is similar to the first, but larger and stronger.

The third stage is adapted to the time when it is judicious to begin to teach the child to walk.  The legs, and, indeed, every part of the body, are supported by the instrument, which cannot be overturned.  When this is put into motion, the child’s left leg is first moved, then the right, and so on alternately.  A perfect idea of walking, with the necessary movement of the joints, is thus given to the child, without the slightest strain on its limbs, as yet unfitted to bear the weight of its own body.  The machine continues in motion for a time sufficient to exercise without causing fatigue.