REARING YOUR

BABY

NATURALLY

A Brief Elementary Manual for the guidance

of Parents-to-be.

By

KENNETH S. JAFFREY

4th EDITION
Revised and Enlarged
REARING YOUR
BABY
NATURALLY

A Brief Elementary Manual for the guidance

of Parents-to-be.

BY

KENNETH S. JAFFREY

Published by
KENNETH S.JAFFREY
9 Mandalay Avenue
Nelly Bay, Qld. 4819
Australia

2
 REVISED AND ENLARGED.
4th EDITION - 1983.
Number 5 of a Series.
First published 1970.

This booklet is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research,
criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act no part may be reproduced by any process
without written permission of the publisher.

This booklet is dedicated to the memory of

THE LATE MR. L. O. (DADDY) BAILEY
Founder of the Youth Welfare Association of Australia,
who showed us the way.

STATEMENT BY THE PUBLISHER

The statements made in this book are based on the naturopathic philosophy of health. The opinions
expressed do not coincide with currently-accepted medical theories. The publisher does not claim that
anything contained herein is a "cure" for disease nor must it be construed as "medical" advice.

Printed by Presage Litho Pty. Limited ACN 009 655 681. PH (077) 714087

3
Introduction ........................................................................ Page 4
Chapter one - Is This Booklet Necessary?........................... Page 5
Chapter two - The New Life Begins ...................................... Page 7
Chapter three -The Baby ..................................................... Page 10
Chapter four - Baby's Hygiene ............................................. Page 11
Chapter five - Early Training of the Child ............................. Page 12
Chapter six - Mother's Milk Substitutes ................................ Page 13
Chapter seven - Weaning the Baby ....................................... Page 16
Chapter eight - The Child Growing Up ................................. Page 17
Chapter nine - Prophylaxis ................................................... Page 19
Chapter ten - A Brief Lesson in Positive Thinking ................. Page 20
Chapter eleven - Emergencies ............................................. Page 22
Chapter twelve - Difficulties ................................................. Page 24
Chapter thirteen - Contraception ........................................... Page 27
Chapter fourteen - Nature Cure for Babies ............................ Page 27
Chapter fifteen - Child Psychology ....................................... Page 34
Chapter sixteen -The Last Word .......................................... Page 53
List of Books ........................................................................ Page 54

4
INTRODUCTION...
This booklet is not an encyclopedia. The author does not pretend that he
knows it all or that what he says herein is all one needs to know in order
to rear a baby naturally.
The information contained in the pages that follow is based on
experience gained over a period of fifty years, advising parents and
observing how this advice worked in practice.
Inevitably, there will be some omissions. If any suggestions are received
they could be incorporated in a fifth edition.
I am quite convinced that the struggle to heal and bring some comfort to
sick adults could largely be avoided simply by not causing illness in
childhood. By rearing our children in accordance with natural law we can
make the "cure" of most illnesses redundant. If you don't damage an
article, you don't have to repair it.
With this objective in view I have set out my thoughts on the natural
approach to health as it applies to the baby. It is my hope that the
parents of the future will give their children a better start in life than our
parents gave us.
If they do this, we can look forward confidently to a new generation of
people far healthier - physically, mentally and morally - than those who
preceded them.
K. S. J.

5
 Chapter One

IS THIS BOOKLET NECESSARY?

When you bought your motor car, sewing machine or motor mower you
were supplied with an instruction manual setting out clearly what fuel, oil
or other material to use. You were shown how to clean, adjust and
service your machine and how to make minor replacements when parts
became worn. This is as it should be. The makers of these machines
could not expect every purchaser to know these things.
Yet, with a human being no such manual is supplied. An almost helpless
baby is thrust suddenly into the world and the parents are faced with the
problem of feeding it, keeping it clean and protecting it from harm.
Humans are not alone in this regard. When a plant bursts its way
through the soil or an animal, bird or fish is born, no instruction booklet
arrives with it either. Yet, the animal or plant seems to manage quite well
without such assistance. It is true that in the animal kingdom there are a
few exceptions in which the parents do provide some care and attention,
but even in these cases no instruction manual is at hand for their
guidance. The parents seem to know instinctively what to do and how to
do it.
Are the members of the animal and vegetable kingdom specially
favoured? Must man be the only organism on earth to be placed at a
disadvantage? Not at all.
Man has chosen in a wilful way to disregard natural law and has
deviated from the natural path. Animals in their natural state live in
accordance with natural law. They react normally to their environment as
they find it. If you stroke a cat it will purr. Pinch it and it will react
immediately by clawing you. Animals lack sentiment. If a cat is hungry it
will kill and eat a beautiful bird. The cat suffers no pangs of conscience.
The bird is simply its natural food. So it is throughout the natural
kingdom. Every living organism has its own natural food and will eat no
other. A plant or animal takes what it needs and makes use of whatever
is available and suitable, to the best of its ability.
Man seems to be the only animal which regularly, consciously and
deliberately ignores natural law, destroys and fouls his own environment.
Man is the only animal which eats indiscriminately. Man is the only
animal which, through its breaking of natural law suffers disease and
then makes frantic efforts to overcome the consequences by cutting

6
parts out of the body or by taking deadly poisons into its digestive
system and bloodstream.
Surely such practices cannot be classed as normal, natural or
necessary. Indeed, they are not.
Man is subject to the same laws of nature as the lower organisms. If
man provides himself with a favourable environment, eats his natural
foods and practices normal hygiene, he will live in good health. Such an
obvious fact has apparently eluded many otherwise intelligent people.
These people cannot grasp the fact that "It is NATURAL to be healthy".
They will give loving care and attention to a motor car. They keep it
cleaned, oiled, fuelled and serviced. They believe that this is their best
guarantee of long, useful and trouble-free service.
Yet these identical people will eat any food regardless of its quality or
suitability. They will eat substances which are not foods at all. They
neglect the simple rules of hygiene and body care. When they become ill
as a result of this neglect they fail to link this neglect of their body's
requirements with the resultant disease. Why?
If they neglect to supply oil to their motor car they will not be at all
surprised if a bearing or other vital part wears prematurely. For some
obscure reason they will accept the fact that a mechanical machine must
be cared for. Their own body which is far more complicated and
delicately balanced gets little or no care and is even expected to function
normally when grossly abused.
There is a reason for this anomaly. Unlike mechanical contrivances,
living organisms have the ability to make adjustments according to their
environmental conditions. If you put sand into the lubricating oil of your
motor car it will cause serious damage. The motor car cannot adjust to
this unfavourable situation.
Human beings ill-treat their bodies in the same way. They consume
unsuitable food every day of their lives with apparent impunity. They
may cut or otherwise damage tissues and the body may not appear to
suffer permanent injury. All living organisms have the power to adapt
themselves to unfavourable conditions. They have the power to heal and
repair damaged tissues. In these ways they differ from non-living things.
It is because of this phenomenon that many human beings have ignored
the natural law. Because death or immediate illness does not occur and
because the body makes vigorous efforts to repair damage, we do not
see the necessity for the avoidance of unnatural living habits, which
cause disease and injury.

7
The usual reaction is to burn or cut out a diseased tissue or to make
efforts to force the body to heal itself by taking poisonous substances
such as drugs and medicines. This way of life is a travesty.
The natural way of life, on the other hand, is based on the principle that
human beings are subject to the same natural laws as the lower
animals. If human beings are given their normal natural needs they too
will enjoy good health.
Most people wait until serious deterioration is evident before making any
efforts to change these conditions, and only in rare cases do they
change their living habits. It is seldom that they will adopt a more rational
way of life BEFORE they become seriously diseased.
The correct time to commence building health is before conception. If
two normal healthy people obey the natural laws they will produce a
healthy normal child. If the child is reared naturally it will grow into a
normal healthy adult.
Are you interested? Would you like to rear your children naturally and
assure them of long, healthy lives and avoiding the usual childhood
ailments? If not, then you should read no further. This booklet is not for
you. But, if you are prepared to give as much thought and attention to
the well-being of your child as you do to your motor car, then you may
find the answer to your needs in the chapters that follow.
BE SELF-CONTAINED!
By a close study of your child and of natural law you can be self-
contained. You will have within yourself all the knowledge and resources
necessary to become a good parent and a good mother.

Chapter Two
THE NEW LIFE BEGINS

As with the motor car, the service you get from your body depends on
the quality of materials and workmanship used in the manufacture and
the care given during its lifetime.
Unlike the motor car, we have no control over the materials used to
create our bodies. This responsibility lies with our parents. If you aim to
become parents, it becomes your responsibility to provide your child with
the best possible heredity. You can do this, if before your child is
conceived, both parents are in reasonably good health. This sounds fair
enough. How do we achieve this ideal condition?

8
Since this booklet deals only with the rearing of children we will confine
ourselves to this subject. The achievement and maintenance of normal
health is fully dealt with in my previous booklets, LIVING NATURALLY
and NATURAL FOODS, and the reader is strongly advised to get these
two booklets and put the advice given therein into practice.
If the prospective parents live in accordance with the principles laid
down in these two booklets the creation of a new life can be faced with
confidence.
If the couple are not in good health then it is necessary for them to
restore their health naturally. This is called Nature Cure. It is fully
described in my booklet WHAT IS NATURE CURE? Nature Cure makes
use of Natural Foods, Fasting, sunlight, air, water, exercise, relaxation,
and other natural factors in the restoration of health. No drugs or
medicines are used.
It is important not to attempt intercourse when either partner is physically
or mentally tired. Only when both are at their peak of vitality can the best
heredity for the child be assured.
If a married couple decide to have a baby there are three factors which
could be considered in addition to the need for good health and a pure
blood-stream. What time of day should the baby be conceived? What
day of the month should it be conceived in? And, what month of the year
is most favourable for conception? In Australia, the most favourable
months for conception are January and February. The most favourable
days in the month are the 14th and 15th days before the date of the next
menstrual period. The most favourable hours for conception are the
hours between midnight and 6 a.m.
When a woman conceives she will know by certain signs that occur soon
afterwards. The first sign is the cessation of the usual monthly menstrual
period. If a woman is not in good health, this sign is not reliable. Some
women frequently miss a period or two either through ill-health or
following a Fast. So the absence of one period is not a conclusive sign
of pregnancy.
There will usually be a slight tenderness and fullness of the breasts and
a darkening of the skin surrounding the nipples.
After one month has elapsed it is advisable for a woman who has
missed a period and suspects that she may be pregnant to carry out a
simple test on her breasts. Massage the breasts firmly towards the
nipples and at the conclusion of the movement, press the nipples firmly
between finger and thumb. If a thin watery fluid exudes and forms
several small blobs on the end of the nipples you can be fairly certain of

9
pregnancy. If there is no liquid present, you must wait for another month
before repeating this test.
Assuming that the woman is pregnant, the normal length of a pregnancy
is 280 days counted from the first day of the last menstrual period.
If a woman is unhealthy or has been subjected to severe mental strain or
shock this period could be shorter. If a woman is anaemic and in a badly
run-down condition the length of the pregnancy could be greater.
As soon as the woman has conceived she should turn her attention to
the new life which is developing inside her. She should do everything
possible to provide the best conditions for the birth of a healthy baby.
It is absolutely essential at the outset to understand that pregnancy and
childbirth are NOT diseases. They are pefectly natural phenomena for
which the female organism is specially designed. If a woman is a
normally healthy person there is no reason why pregnancy should be
accompanied by aches, pains or the so-called "morning sickness". There
is no reason why the birth should not take place normally, and without
recourse to drugs, anaesthetics or instruments. These aids are best left
to those too lazy to investigate or too ignorant to comprehend the natural
way of life, or for those who came too late for the full benefit to be felt.
Only in cases where the pelvis has become hardened and inflexible will
there be any difficulty. Even here, these difficulties will be minimised.
Providing there is no cause for complications, no special preparations
are required. If the bloodstream is pure, the muscles and tissues strong
and flexible, we can expect the birth to take place in due course,
naturally and without pain. All pregnancies entail some discomfort and
inconvenience due to the increase in size and alteration in shape of the
abdominal area but these can be tolerated well by any healthy woman.
During pregnancy the mother-to-be should refuse all medication such as
vitamins, iron and calcium tablets. These are all unnatural and harmful.
They serve no useful purpose and only lead to difficulties later on.
If a woman is a normal healthy woman she will be quite capable of
giving birth to her baby naturally. Her abdominal organs will soon return
to their normal size, shape and tone.
No special treatment is necessary, except where the mother-to-be has
neglected herself. Then it is advisable to carry out a program of physical
exercises and to practise conscious relaxation. The three exercises
described here are the best of their kind and if practised daily will ensure
good muscle tone.
The relaxation exercise should be done daily just after the midday meal.

10
 EXERCISES

All exercises should be accompanied by deep rhythmic breathing in

harmony with the movements being made.
No. 1 Exercise: Stand with the feet together, body erect and with fists
clenched and hanging at the thighs. Fill the lungs with air. Now raise the
arms until the fists are above the head. As you raise your arms you take
in more air. Hold your breath for a few seconds and then lower the arms
to the original position, breathing OUT slowly as you do so. Always
breathe in and out through the nose. Never open the mouth while you
are doing these exercises. When you feel it necessary to open your
mouth to breathe, you should stop and rest for a few minutes before
repeating the exercise.
No. 2 Exercise: Stand with your feet about ten inches apart. Hold the
arms at shoulder height with fists clinched. Imagine you have a
broomstick tied to your arms so you can't move them without moving
your chest also. Twist your body to the left, breathing IN as you do so.
The fist should now be directly in front of your chest. Now, bend the
trunk forward so your fist will touch the floor at the spot midway between
your feet. As you make this movement you breathe OUT. Then
straighten the trunk up, breathing IN as you do this. Now, twist the trunk
to the right, continuing to breathe IN. Now, bend the trunk forward again,
breathing OUT again as before. Repeat these movements smoothly and
continuously, without jerky movements, several times until you feel it
necessary to open your mouth to breathe. Then stop and rest for a few
minutes before resuming the exercise.
No. 3 Exercise: Lie on your back. Place a small pillow under your neck.
Allow the arms to lie alongside the body. Raise both legs until they are
vertical, breathing OUT as you do so. Now, separate both legs and then
allow them to fall slowly towards the floor, breathing IN as you do this.
Do not allow the heels to touch the floor. Bring the legs together and
then raise them to the vertical position again, breathing OUT as you do
so. Keep your mouth closed. Repeat this exercise several times until you
must open your mouth to breathe. Let the legs fall to the floor and rest
for a few minutes before repeating the exercise.
Do these exercises on rising each morning or midway between these
meals. Never exercise just before or just after a meal. The best place to
exercise is in the open-air, exposed to the sunshine. Exercises are best
done lightly clad. In this way you receive a sunbath and airbath and
exercise simultaneously.

11
The finest exercises for a pregnant woman are jogging or brisk walking
for two or three miles each night.

RELAXATION

Here is one way to relax: Lie on the floor. Place a piece of black cloth
over the eyes to exclude light. Cross the left leg over the right leg. Place
the right hand on the abdomen, then place the left hand on the right one.
Close the eyes gently and smile. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply.
As you breathe IN your abdomen should rise. As you breathe OUT your
abdomen should fall. Imagine there is a vast ocean of air in front of you.
See the air being breathed into your nose, then into your throat, down to
your lungs and finally into the abdomen. Then follow the path of the air
as it makes its way from the abdomen, through the chest, the throat and
out of the nose.
Only by living naturally will a woman ensure that she will give birth to her
baby naturally. If the pregnancy has proceeded along according to
schedule the prospective mother should feel a slight pain or warning of
the impending birth on the 280th day.

HAVE SELF-CONFIDENCE!

Believe that the natural forces are sufficient for our needs, that what
sustained man for many thousands of years before we had the
amenities of modern civilization, will still supply the basic needs of
mankind.

Chapter Three

THE BABY

After baby is born the mother should Fast for twenty-four hours. She
should not eat any food at all, simply drinking water whenever she feels
thirsty.
The baby may be put to the breast as soon as it demands food. Early
feeding assists greatly in returning the abdominal area to its former size,
shape and tone. It is most important not to give the baby water or

12
anything else to drink before it is put to its mother's breast for the first
time. It is also important not to attempt to express milk from the breast
before the baby is put to it.
The reason will be obvious when it is understood that the first issue of
fluid from the breast is not milk but a substance known as Colostrum.
This liquid cleanses and prepares the baby's digestive system in
readiness for its first feed of milk.
If the baby does not get this Colostrum there could be difficulty in
establishing normal digestion and in achieving contentment in the baby.
Baby demands food by crying. If it does not cry for some time do not
worry. Be patient. There is no hurry.
From now on, if the mother leads a normal healthy life she will have
ample milk of the best quality and composition. Until the baby is three-
years-old it should be fed exclusively on its mother's milk. This may
sound revolutionary to some but it is in accordance with natural law.
No other food supplements such as minerals, vitamins, cod liver oil, etc.
are necessary. If the mother's milk is lacking in some essential quality
this should be corrected through rational adjustment of the mother's diet
or living habits, and NOT by attempting to introduce these to the baby
direct.
If for some reason the mother cannot or does not wish to feed her baby
on the breast for three years, then she should feed it for as long as
possible on the breast. Then when the mother decides to cease breast-
feeding at some time before the three years have elapsed, she should
feed the baby with a bottle using a substitute food as recommended in
chapter six.
While breast-feeding the baby the ideal number of feeds daily is three.
These may be given at 6 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m. No other food is
required. If thirsty, the baby may have water between meals.
If the mother decides to feed the baby four times daily (which is more
orthodox), this would be best done at the following times: 5 a.m., 10
a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Baby should get enough milk but not too much.
Overfeeding is a cause of disease. Chubby cheeks, fat limbs and
protruding abdomens are signs of disease, not health. Children should
be lithe, supple and slim. Unlike their animal friends, children should be
allowed to develop and grow slowly. It is a mistake to think that a child
which grows quickly is advanced physically or mentally. Very often quick
growth leads to unequal development and distortion. Allow your child to
grow slowly and develop naturally.

13
How are we to know whether baby is getting enough milk? The answer
is that baby should gain weight regularly and lightly. As long as baby
gains weight, no matter how little, it is satisfactory. If baby is not getting
enough food he will either lose weight or fail to gain weight.
How can we tell whether baby is getting too much food? Baby will not
only gain too much weight, too rapidly, but there will be other indications.
Watch the secretions in the inner corners of the eyes. This is the area
known as the canthus. When mucus appears at this spot this indicates
that baby is being overfed. Another indication is excessive mucus
discharge from the nose.
Baby should be weighed regularly so the mother will know whether it is
progressing normally or not.
Normal babies do not cry except when in pain or discomfort or if they are
hungry. There is a difference between a baby's cry and baby talk. If baby
cries and there are tears in its eyes it is in pain or discomfort. If it cries
and there are no tears present then baby is only hungry or thirsty. It is
simple when you know what to watch for.
Baby should be fed in a quiet private place away from the bright lights
and noise. The mother should not be subjected to worries or
disturbances. The mother should be at ease. If a mother leads a normal
life and gets ample rest and relaxation she will ensure a supply of good
quality milk. A mother's milk is very sensitive to psychological
disturbances. Enervation or depletion of nerve force (caused mainly by
fears, worries, tensions or distractions) or excessive tiredness will alter
the composition of the milk to such an extent that it will have an adverse
affect on the baby.
The mother should relax and rest for a few minutes before commencing
the feeding of baby and during the feeding period. It is not wise to
attempt to talk to friends or use the telephone or prepare a meal while
feeding baby. Her mind should be relaxed and her attention
concentrated on the baby only. A contented baby depends largely on a
contented mother.
A mother should never drink alcohol or smoke tobacco.
BE SELF-RELIANT
Depend on your own inner resources. Women were meant to give birth
to babies and to be mothers. Rely on yourself entirely.

14
 Chapter Four
BABY'S HYGIENE

A young baby should be allowed to sleep most of the time. It should not
be picked up and nursed excessively. Friends and relatives should be
politely and tactfully asked to refrain from handling the baby. "Hands off.
Eyes on".
The average baby needs at least ten hours sleep during the day. If a
baby is sleeping soundly NEVER wake it up to give it a feed. Sleep is
more important to a baby than food. You may rest assured that no baby
will sleep if it is in dire need of food. It is also a most unwise practice to
give a baby a bottle of water every time it stirs. If there is something
wrong with baby there MUST be a reason. Find out what it is. Babies
don't cry for fun. Don't just fill the baby with water in the vain hope that
this will by some mysterious means cure whatever is wrong. If the
napkin is soiled, if a safety pin has become unclasped, or if the bed is
uncomfortable, no amount of water will help. Look for the cause and
correct it.
Babies do not live and develop according to textbooks or predetermined
schedules. No two babies are alike. You must be prepared to learn
YOUR baby's needs from baby himself. Mother your own baby. Learn
self-reliance. Think of the animals.They do not run to a doctor, nurse or
relative every time a problem arises. They solve their problems to the
best of their ability in their own way. Human mothers can do this too. It
needs only a little practice and common-sense.
Baby's bedclothes should be coarse. Very smooth materials and plastic
should be kept away from a baby. The mattress should be firm so there
is no sag whatever. No pillow is needed. If these simple precautions are
taken there will be no danger of baby smothering.
Baby must be kept clean. It should be bathed in warm water only. Soap
is unnecessary. Oils and powders are also unnecessary and are a waste
of money.
A baby should never be left on a bed or table unattended. Contrary to
general belief, babies do roll about, and - they do not bounce. If you can
you should let baby lie on the floor. It is safer this way.
Baby needs freedom to move his limbs, so the less clothing he wears
the better. Tightly-fitting panties are not advised. All clothing should fit
loosely.

15
If baby is indoors, see that all the windows are kept open. Don't be afraid
of the night air harming baby. This is sheer superstition. Babies should
not wear shoes. Soft, loosely-fitting booties may be worn for looks only.
Clothing should be made of cotton or flannelette material only. Woollen
materials should never be worn next to the skin.
BE INDEPENDENT
Do not lean unduly on others, be they friends, relatives or nurses. Learn
from your own baby and from your experience. Use your intelligence.

Chapter Five
EARLY TRAINING OF THE CHILD
The early training of the child depends to a large degree on the attitude
of the parents and it cannot start too early. Emotions or sentiments must
not be allowed to influence them. They should decide early what is best
for baby and guide him gently and firmly. The parents must never yield
to a baby's tantrums. Once a baby learns that it can get what it wants by
crying, then the parents are in the grip of a superior power. It will be
difficult later to break this hold.
It is not kind to a baby to allow it to develop harmful habits and desires. It
is much kinder to prevent the formation of bad habits. Kindness,
gentleness and absolute firmness must go hand in hand. Never do
anything for a baby which you have no intention of repeating. Never
make a promise to a child which you cannot fulfil or have no intention of
fulfilling. Babies do not readily forget, as some people seem to believe. A
disillusionment with the parents will leave a stain on the child's mind for
life. If a child is wilful and defies the parents it must be punished
immediately. Do not delay. The child must understand that the
punishment is for something which it has done immediately preceding
the punishment. The most effective kind of punishment is the deprivation
of some privilege and the knowledge that the child has offended the
parents and has earned their displeasure.
Although this advice may sound a little premature in the case of a young
baby, it must be stressed that only by early training will the pattern of the
child's behaviour be set for the future.
Once you have decided that some kind of punishment is to be given, do
not waver. Be sure you keep faith and that you do what you have
promised. On the other hand, never promise the child anything or any
privilege which you may not be able to fulfil, in the hope that the child will
forget. The child will most likely never forget what you have neglected to
do and will be slow to forgive you. You will have sown the seeds of

16
doubt and mistrust in his mind. The main thing is to instil complete
confidence, that no matter what you say you will do.
Toilet training should not commence too early. The early insistence on
strict toilet habits places a severe psychological strain on a young child
and could lead to mental problems in later childhood. At about six
months the baby should be held against the mother's body for a few
minutes with the baby sitting on a small chamber. Do not overdo this. At
first it is only familiarization. Later you can use gentle pressure on the
lower abdominal area to show the child that slight effort on its part is
needed here. This may be done after every feed.
BE AUTONOMOUS!
Home rule is the best rule for the family. Learn to carry on without the
help of outsiders, for the maintenance of discipline. Rearing a child is a
very personal matter between the child and the parents.

Chapter Six
MOTHER'S MILK SUBSTITUTES

There is no real substitute for mother's milk but a close approximation

may be had by using nut milks, soy bean milks, unpasteurized goat's
milk or carrot juice.
On no account should a baby be given cow's milk, whether it is
pasteurized or not. Neither should it be given pasteurized goat's milk, or
any kind of condensed, powdered milk or patent infant foods in
powdered form. These should all be strictly avoided. They are most
unsuitable and can only lead to infantile and childhood illnesses such as
whooping cough, measles, tonsillitis, poliomyelitis, etc.
Cows milk has a composition quite different from that of human milk. It is
specially compounded to suit the needs of a quickly-growing calf.
Human babies grow and develop at a much slower rate and require less
proteins. If cow's milk is given to an infant the body is stimulated
excessively, and excessive mucus is formed in the respiratory system.
The baby may become fat but this is only inferior waste material which
does not form firm healthy flesh. Baby should never be fed on cow's
milk. Goat's milk is much nearer to the composition of human milk if it is
suitably diluted but there again there is still a discrepancy and it should
only be used as a conscious compromise.
We must reiterate that there is no milk, no matter how carefully
compounded, which compares with mother's milk. It is always on hand,

17
is free from adulteration or contamination and is exactly right for the
baby.
The substitutes I have recommended are not to be used on their own.
They must be accompanied by a small amount of diluted fruit or
vegetable juices given between the usual milk feeds.
Goat's milk is generally preferred by most mothers because of its
convenience. For the mother who is prepared to make the nut milks this
might be preferable. Nut milk has one advantage over any other kind of
milk substitutes in that it is easy to prepare. If the mother is travelling she
has only to carry a supply of nuts and a vitamizer with her. Within a few
minutes she can make a supply of fresh milk for the baby. This saves
the trouble involved in getting a supply of goat's milk every day or so.
Of course, if the baby is fed on the mother's breast, this is the best of all
arrangements and no trouble is involved at all. Baby's meal is always
ready when it is wanted without any necessity for special preparation.
Another important factor is that mother's milk is at just the right
temperature.
NUT MILKS. Nut milks may be made by grinding any nut to a fine
powder using a nut mill, grist mill or vitamizer, and then mixing
thoroughly with pure water. The vitamizer is the best machine providing
it is good quality. Some inferior vitamizers do not reduce the nuts to a
fine enough powder.
You may use: Almond nut, peanut, barcelona nut, brazil nut, coconut,
cashew nut, filbert nut, pistachio nut, hazel nut, walnut, sunflower seeds,
or pine kernels. All of these will make a good milk for baby.
Take one breakfastcupful of nuts, grind to a fine powder. Add one quart
of water, put into a vitamizer and run it for one minute. Strain to remove
any large remnants of nut which did not grind finely enough. Nut milk
may also be made by using any unsalted raw nut butter such as peanut
butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter. Take two
dessertspoonsfuls of nut butter and one quart of pure water. Place into a
vitamizer and run for one minute. Strain. You may also make nut milk
from nut butter by using a good egg beater if you do not have a
vitamizer.
Watch baby's weight and act accordingly. If baby is losing weight you
should use more nuts or nut butter and less water. If baby is gaining too
much weight and shows signs of overfeeding then the water should be
increased and the nuts or nut butter decreased.

18
SOY BEAN MILK. Soy bean milk is made by taking half a
breakfastcupful of raw soy beans. Soak them in distilled or rain water for
twelve hours. Then boil for half an hour. Place into a vitamizer with one
quart of water. Run vitamizer for one minute. Strain to remove any large
lumps that may remain. Another way to make Soy bean milk is to place
the raw beans into a vitamizer and run it until the beans are reduced to a
fine powder. Then add one quart of pure water to the powder and boil for
a few minutes. Place into a vitamizer again for one minute. Strain.
If you can buy the commercial soy bean flour you may use three
dessertspoonsful of flour to one quart of water. Boil for a few minutes,
place into a vitamizer, run for a minute and strain. Here again you could
also use an egg beater instead of a vitamizer. NEVER USE SOYA
COMPOUND.
Soy beans must NEVER be given to a baby in any form unless they
have been cooked. Raw Soy beans are harmful for babies. In their raw
state they contain several harmful chemicals which can only be
dispersed by heating.
Watch your baby's weight and vary the composition of the Soy bean
milk, accordingly. If baby is losing weight you should use more Soy
beans and less water. If baby is gaining weight too rapidly or is showing
signs of overfeeding reduce the amount of Soy beans and increase the
amount of water.
GOAT'S MILK. Goat's milk should be used raw only and in the liquid
state. Never give baby pasteurised goat's milk or powdered goat's milk.
Commence with a mixture of two-thirds goat's milk and one-third pure
water. As the months go by you can gradually increase the proportion of
milk and decrease the proportion of water as it proves to be necessary.
Watch your baby's weight and act accordingly.
CARROT JUICE. Many kinds of vegetable juices are suitable for baby
but carrot juice will be found most acceptable and most readily available
all through the year. Put washed carrots through a juice extractor and
mix with pure water. Use two-thirds carrot juice and one-third water.
Watch the baby's weight and adjust accordingly.
With ALL mother's milk substitutes it is essential to feed baby with a
small supplement of fresh fruit or vegetable juices. Take one ounce of
freshly-extracted juice and add four ounces of pure water. Put this into a
feeding bottle and give to baby in between the substitute milk feeds.
If it is impossible to secure fresh fruit juice then tinned or bottled juices
are second best. Read the labels carefully to see that the juice does not

19
contain any sweetening agents such as sugar, cyclamates, etc. or any
preservatives or colouring matter.
Breast-fed babies do not need any fruit juice supplements. Breast milk of
a healthy mother is a complete food on its own.
Do not add any sweetening agent such as sugar, honey, etc. to milk
substitutes or fruit juices.
If you wish to go to a little extra trouble you can provide sun-exposed
water for use with milk substitutes or fruit juices. Place rainwater or
distilled water into a clean glass jug exposed to the direct rays of the sun
for at least half an hour.
NEVER give your baby any water which you suspect may be fluoridated.
You should buy a still or fluoride filter which will remove all fluorides and
other chemicals and impurities.
The following fruits will provide the best juices for baby : Apple, apricot,
blackberry, boysenberry, gooseberry, grapefruit, grapes, guava, lemon,
lime, mandarin, mango, cumquat, mulberry, watermelon, youngberry,
pineapple and orange.
Mash the fruit to pulp and then put through a juice extractor.
STRIVE FOR THE OPTIMAL!
If you cannot breast-feed your baby then strive for the next best under
your particular circumstances. Do your best always.

Chapter Seven
WEANING THE BABY

When a baby is about three years old he should be weaned. No purees,

porridges or starchy concoctions should ever be given to a baby. When
baby is three years old he should be introduced to the same natural
foods as his parents SHOULD be eating. At three, baby should learn to
eat raw fruit, raw vegetables, whole grains and proteins such as nuts,
eggs, cheese, etc. All of the foods listed in my booklet NATURAL
FOODS are suitable for a child of three and indeed for the rest of his life.
You simply reduce the amount of milk or milk substitutes progressively,
at the same time as you increase the amount of solid natural foods. The
changeover from milk may take about four to eight weeks. From now on
the child is to be regarded as having the digestive capacity of an adult.
This does not mean that a child is to have large quantities of food.

20
The child should be taught to masticate his food thoroughly. His teeth
and salivary glands will now be ready to function normally. His teeth
should be well developed and firmly set in the gums. He is now ready to
give his teeth some hard work to do.
In the beginning the child can be taught to eat slowly by using a small
teaspoon to eat his food with.
Infants who have been forced to eat cereal foods at an early stage
develop serious digestive disturbances, have catarrh and tonsil troubles.
A child up to three years of age is not able to handle carbohydrate foods
or proteins due to the immature state of the salivary glands, liver and
pancreas. All of the carbohydrates and proteins an infant needs are
found in mother's milk or nuts, soy beans, goat's milk and fruit juices.
BE ENTERPRISING!
Show your individuality. Give your baby what it needs, when it needs it
and not because some "authority" says so.

Chapter Eight
THE CHILD GROWING UP

At three years of age the mind of the child has not developed to the
same degree as his teeth. He will now go through the various stages of
fantasy, make-believe, adventure and romance. He will be searching for
knowledge, anxious to learn new things and to make discoveries. Each
phase brings its own particular problems. In the beginning the child will
pretend that things take place which are only figments of his own
imagination. This sounds like lying to an adult, but it is simply wish
fulfilment. It is an expression of the child learning to experience the new
thoughts that come to him every day. These things are natural and we
should not place too much importance on them.
A piece of wood with cloth wrapped around it is a real baby to a little girl,
while a piece of wood may be a real gun to a little boy. These fantasies
are part of the growing-up phase of childhood.
Children should be encouraged to get most of their pleasures in the
outdoors. Do not encourage children to play inside the house. It is not
good for them and they will become a nuisance as they get under your
feet at the wrong times. Children should get their natural physical
exercise by walking, running, jumping and climbing in the fresh air and
sunshine. Semi-shade is best for the very young child. It is a good idea
to have a sandpit under a shady tree so the child can play in the sand in

21
the semishade of the tree. He will run into the sun and return to the
shade as the mood takes him. Outdoor living enables children to
develop healthy tough skins and muscles.
In the outdoors, children also learn about plants, animals, birds and
reptiles. By living close to nature and the interesting organisms around
them they develop a reverence and respect for all living things. Children
who learn these lessons early in life will want to preserve the life around
them. These things are their friends. No normal person would want to kill
or destroy anything they understand and have learned to love. If we rear
our children naturally they will develop a normal reverence for all of life.
They will shrink from killing or cruelty of all kinds. In this way we will build
healthier, happier and better human beings.
It has been repeatedly observed that children who are reared naturally
have more emotional control, more mental poise and gentler natures
than most of those reared along orthodox lines.
When a child does something that is socially unacceptable it should not
be embarrassed or punished in public. If a child should play with its
genitals, pick its nose or do something else which is socially undesirable,
it should not be scolded. Divert its attention and direct its actions into
some other channel. If a child picks up some dangerous object such as
a sharp knife, do not panic and try to take it from the child, or excite it.
Offer it something prettier or more attractive. The child will drop the
dangerous object and take the new and more attractive one. Speak
decisively and quietly.
Sometimes, children hear an undesirable word and repeat it. Don't make
an issue of it but pass the matter off as though it is of no consequence or
that you did not hear it. The child will forget the word if it thinks it is of no
importance. If it continues to use the word you must quietly explain the
more acceptable word to use in its place and that this word is much
better than the other. Explain that other people don't like that word and
might misjudge the person who uses it. If you give the impression that
people will think it funny or interesting the child will use this word again
to bring attention to itself.
Bad habits cannot be eradicated by using violence. The remedy for all
bad habits is to replace them with good ones.
Children need one thing more than anything else - love. They will put up
with all kinds of hardships if they have love and security.
Love does not mean simply kissing or hugging or even indulgence. A
child must be given a sense of importance. They must feel they are
wanted and that they are an important part of the family.

22
When a child is afraid it is wrong to make a fuss over it, or panic. If a
child is afraid it needs only to be quietly removed from the danger area
and to be firmly held. No words are necessary. Just hold the child firmly
until it settles down. If a child is simply held close to the parent's body
and if the parent acts calmly and confidently this will telegraph itself to
the child. It will feel safe, secure, calm and confident.
As the child grows from babyhood into childhood, probably the most
difficult problem will be that of sweets and harmful soft drinks. The only
practical solution is to be quite firm and to set a good example. Parents
who eat sweets and drink harmful soft drinks cannot logically expect the
child to accept the deprivation of these things.
Well-meaning relatives and friends in their ignorance will persist in
offering gifts of sweets. By seeing that the child is properly nourished
and regularly fed only at mealtimes there will be less temptation on the
part of the child to eat anything between meals. No matter how good a
food may be, the child should not be allowed to have it between meals.
Encourage the child to drink water or fruit juices when it is thirsty. Water
is the best drink of all.
When the child is very young you may put a complete ban on anything
that is offered. As the child grows up and you are able to communicate
clearly, explain why the child is being treated differently from other
children around him. Explain how the general health and teeth of other
children suffers if they eat ordinary foods. Explain that you are trying to
avoid the sickness and toothaches that most children get.
On page 14 of my booklet NATURAL FOODS you will find full
instructions and recipes for making delicious fruit and vegetable drinks
which can be given to the child on special occasions instead of soft
drinks which may contain benzoic acid, phosphoric acid, sugar and other
harmful ingredients.
On pages 18 and 19 of the same booklet you will find recipes for making
attractive sweets from wholesome ingredients. These should be made
up in advance and kept in well-stoppered bottles. They should be
introduced only when the subject of sweets arises and they should be
strictly rationed.
The essential thing is not to allow your child to develop a taste for over-
sweet, highly flavoured, spiced or salted foods or sweets. A little
firmness in the beginning will save you the trouble of having to break the
habit later on.
As soon as possible, the child should be taught how to wash itself and to
clean its teeth. As the child grows and moves about it will accumulate

23
some dirt and grime. It may be necessary to use soap. Use only the best
soap which is McClinton's barilla soap. It is free from harmful caustic
soda. It is made from wood ash and vegetable oils by a secret process.
It is obtainable from good chemist shops.
Teach the child to brush its teeth right after each meal. Use only a soft
toothbrush and water. No dentifices are necessary. They all contain
soap, chemicals and abrasive materials.
Early to bed, early to rise, should be the motto with children. Do not
allow them to stay up late watching television. Children need plenty of
sleep.
Many fathers neglect their duty. They have an equal responsibility for the
rearing of their children too. A child needs a father as well as a mother to
produce a balanced mentality. The rearing of a child is a demanding
occupation and should not be left entirely to the mother. The father can
help considerably by taking his share of the burden of parenthood, thus
lifting part of this burden from his wife's shoulders. Many women have
been reduced to wrecks by continued child-bearing and from lack of
assistance from the husband.
From the point of view of the child a father is a necessity. It is necessary
for character and personality building as well as discipline. The father
should take baby out in a stroller or pram. In this way the baby gets to
know its father and the strain is lifted off the mother for a time. Many
mothers have been taxed beyond endurance by thoughtlessness on the
part of the husband. The father should assist with the housework and
take some of the strain off the young mother in this way too. It takes two
to rear a child.
TEACH YOUR CHILD SELF-CONFIDENCE!
Give your child the opportunity to develop strength through knowledge.
Teach it to trust and understand the natural forces.

Chapter Nine
PROPHYLAXIS

It is more intelligent to prevent disease than to allow it to develop and

then attempt to cure it. The former is prophylaxis. The latter is folly.
What can we do to prevent baby from becoming ill with whooping cough,
measles, poliomyelitis, etc. Nothing! What about vaccination and
immunization? Definitely not! The practice of injecting materials into the
bloodstream of defenceless infants is one which should have been

24
abandoned by intelligent people long ago. It is based on pure
superstition. The fact that this fallacy is still practised is a blot on our
society and is a reflection of the lack of intelligence shown by those who
are supposed to be educated and qualified to advise on such matters.
How the injection into a baby's bloodstream of the filthy pus from a.
diseased animal or human being can do anything but harm is beyond all
comprehension. It is unthinkable. What is the use of trying to prevent
disease by introducing into the body the CAUSE of disease.
Immunization does sometimes prevent a child from getting a certain
disease but a heavy price must be paid. Either the general health suffers
or the child gets a disease which is worse than the one avoided. What is
the use of preventing a child from getting whooping cough if the
preventive measure causes it to get leukaemia? What is the use of
preventing poliomyelitis if the child thereby gets muscular dystrophy?
What is the use of preventing or curing eczema if the child gets asthma?
One disease is as bad as another. Immunization simply deceives the
parents and exchanges one complaint for another.
The only prophylaxis worthy of consideration is to refrain from building
disease. Houses don't build themselves. Neither do diseases. Unless we
do the things that build disease, disease does not occur. It is pointless to
attempt to fight or prevent disease with the very things that cause it.
Only obedience to natural law will guarantee freedom from disease. If
your child is reared naturally and given everything it needs it will remain
healthy.
There is a cause for everything. If you pick up a knife it will never cut you
unless you perform the act of cutting. This is elementary. The same
principle applies to health. Unless you do the things that cause ill-health
you will never have to suffer. This means that we have to use our
intelligence. It means that we must know what is right and what is wrong.
We must know what is beneficial and what is harmful. Is this asking too
much? If we are too indolent to make the necessary effort then we
deserve to be ill.
You have your choice. You can rear your child naturally and see it grow
in health and strength or you can let it drift into customs, which are
harmful, and take the consequences. Since your child cannot make a
decision, the responsibility is yours. You have the information. Make use
of it.
SELF-MASTERY IS THE BEST PROPHYLAXIS!
A sound mind in a sound body, under the control of the owner, is the
best insurance for health. No drugs! No injections!

25
 Chapter Ten
A BRIEF LESSON IN POSITIVE THINKING FOR PARENTS

In rearing a baby it is vitally important to know one basic fact about its
mentality. If we believe this principle, understand it and use it as our
guide-post, we will give our baby the best possible start in life. The
physical health of an adult is largely determined by its nurture during the
first eight years of its life. So it is with the mind or mentality. The mental
climate and environment of the child during its early years determines to
a large degree its whole outlook and attitude to life in later years.
What is this great secret which every parent should know? Here it is.
Read this sentence slowly and carefully. Think about it until you are fully
convinced of its truth. Make use of this principle from the very first day of
baby's life and use it consistently thereafter :

"EVERY NORMAL BABY IS BY NATURE

INHERENTLY GOOD"

Isn't this a revolutionary thought? How different from the orthodox

outlook. The average person believes that all human beings from the
day of birth are inherently bad, sinful, wayward or imperfect. What a poor
perverted opinion of human nature. This monstrous lie has been widely
taught and uncritically accepted. To say the least, it is negative,
destructive and depressing.
What chance has a baby got when its parents allow themselves to be
hypnotized into believing such an error. This erroneous belief allows
parents to neglect their responsibilities and excuse themselves for any
failure in rearing their children.
It is time human parents faced up to their responsibilities honestly and
squarely. Parents will never help their children to achieve and realise
their full potentialities while they brand them psychologically with this
guilt complex.
All normal babies are born with the same basic features. They can see,
hear, taste, smell and feel. They can also think. Every baby is born
inherently good, fearless, inquisitive, kind, helpful, just, compassionate
and loving. Yet, in later years adults may deteriorate until they are bad,
worried, fearful, slothful, mean, unjust and unloving. What went wrong?

26
They and their parents must have deviated from their normal path of
rightness. It is the duty of parents to realise the basic goodness of the
child and to guide it along these paths which enable it to retain and
develop its inherent goodness.
The most destructive attitudes of mind are: FEAR, IGNORANCE,
SELFISHNESS, PESSIMISM, VIOLENCE, IMPATIENCE, LACK OF
WILL-POWER, CREDULITY, SCEPTICISM ONE-SIDEDNESS, AND
NEGATIVENESS.
If the parents are already the victims of their own negative attitudes, they
can still give their children the opportunity to develop positively. They
should try to instil into their children the virtues of self-confidence, pursuit
of knowledge, unselfishness, optimism, gentleness, kindness, patience,
will-power, determination, all-sidedness and love. By doing this they will
also improve themselves and thus gain an added bonus.
Parents should make it clear to their children that there is nothing to fear,
that they can be confident and self-reliant. They should help them to
acquire knowledge. They should instil an optimistic, gentle, kind, patient,
selfless, all-sided and loving attitude towards life and all living things.
These qualities will provide the basic material for the development of a
balanced, happy, healthy and useful citizen.
Perhaps the worst and most common negative attitude is FEAR. This is
the psychological poison which causes more trouble than any other.
Through thousands of years of superstition and indoctrination man has
become saturated with morbid fears of the unknown. Anything which is
not fully understood is thought to be more powerful or more malignant
than the known. Because germs and viruses cannot be seen by the
naked eye they are regarded with fearsome awe.
The natural method for the elimination of fear is simply not to cause it.
The child should have it explained carefully how wrong old superstitions
were. The child should be stimulated to develop confidence and to avoid
needless fear. If the child is given an appreciation of the tremendously
powerful forces of nature as manifest in the sun, air, water, etc. and is
encouraged to trust them he will have a sense of security which will
protect him against the intrusion of fear.
Confidence can only be gained by knowledge and understanding of the
mechanism of the universe and the principles upon which natural living
is based. Help the child to live in harmony with all of nature, with himself,
and with his fellow man.
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE!

27
First adopt yourself, and then help your child to adopt, a positive,
constructive and optimistic attitude of mind. Shun all that is negative,
pessimistic and destructive.

Chapter Eleven
EMERGENCIES

The advice given in previous chapters applies only to those parents who
have commenced correctly. There will be many exceptions. Some
parents will want to do their best for their children even after having
commenced incorrectly.
Accidents will also happen. The parents should be armed with the
necessary information to enable them to cope with most emergencies.
What should a mother do if baby suddenly becomes ill? Should she give
it medicine? Should she seek medical advice? Or should she rely on
nature's resources to see her through her predicament?
Advanced thinkers believe that babies, like their parents and all other
living organisms are subject to natural law. Whatever is right for an adult
is also right for the baby, in principle - with one exception. If a baby is
being breast-fed we should regard it as being one with its mother. If a
baby is ill then we must assume that the mother is also ill. We therefore
do NOT treat the baby separately from the mother. We treat the mother
and NOT the baby. If we correct whatever is wrong with the mother, then
the baby will automatically respond and become well.
If we keep this principle in mind, the treatment of baby's complaint will be
simplified. Baby is one with the mother. If something goes wrong, we
must treat the mother first.
If baby has nothing to eat but his mother's milk and is given normal
hygienic care, digestive troubles should not arise. Any trouble will be
caused by some change for the worse in the composition of its mother's
milk.
Let us assume that the baby vomits or has diarrhoea. These are clear
signs of digestive disorder caused most likely by the mother eating
unsuitable food. The mother should drink pure water for twenty-four
hours and baby should be given water only as well. In most cases this is
sufficient to clear up any digestive troubles. If the trouble persists it is
advisable to seek the advice of a competent Naturopath.

28
If the baby ever becomes feverish and fretful, the same simple remedy is
advisable. When a baby is ill it needs only to be kept warm, clean and
comfortable and to have water only to drink until any disease symptoms
pass. This is called Fasting.
In my booklet HOW TO FAST you will find full and specific instructions
on how to conduct a fast accurately and safely. Ninety-five per cent of
troubles that occur to babies will respond quickly to the simple Fast as
set out in this booklet.
If either the baby or mother has suffered more serious injury it may be
necessary to apply other means of relief, such as hydrotherapy. This is
the use of water applications in various forms such as compresses,
baths, etc.
Here is a piece of advice, which if followed, could save unnecessary
illness in the future life of the child.
NEVER NEGLECT A COMMON COLD
A cold is nature's safety valve. It is the mechanism by which the body
seeks to expel any unwanted or unsuitable material that may have
entered by any means whatever. If we overeat, eat unsuitable foods,
take poisons of some kind into our systems, the natural reaction of the
body is to institute a Healing Crisis. In most cases, this takes the form of
a cold. At least there is always a rise in the body temperature.
No matter how slight the cold might be, it should never be disregarded or
neglected. The rule is that whenever a child shows the first sign of a cold
it should be put to bed, kept warm, comfortable, and given pure water to
drink until all signs of the cold have disappeared. This simple rule will
ensure that no matter what happens to your child it will recover quickly.
The natural treatment that I have outlined above will ensure also that
chronic and degenerative disease will not develop in the future.
If your child is ever in pain and cannot tell you what is wrong you should
play safe and carry out this simple procedure of Fasting. Do not be
afraid that by missing a few meals any harm will come to your baby. If a
baby is ill, any food will only aggravate it. Fasting is a process of rest
which enables the body to cope with emergencies and restore normality.
Fasting is safe, simple and sure. No. matter how young a sick baby
might be, Fasting can only be a benefit to it.
Important: Never use fluoridated water. Use only pure rain water or
distilled water. If this is not procurable you may use bore or well water as
long as it is boiled and then exposed to the sun before using.
DEVELOP POISE

29
In any emergency be calm, poised and self-controlled. The greater the
emergency the greater the need to exercise calmness and control. You
are quite safe until you panic. NEVER give drugs or medicines to a
baby. REST is nature's method of cure.

Chapter Twelve
DIFFICULTIES

No matter how they try, some parents may still experience some
difficulties. This chapter deals with the commonest of the difficulties they
could encounter and suggests possible solutions.
Most of the difficulties experienced by those who raise their children
along orthodox lines will not occur to modern parents and their naturally-
raised baby.
WIND. Some babies will swallow air as they suck milk. Sometimes this is
caused by holding the baby so close to the body that the nostrils are
obstructed. Baby cannot breathe freely through the nose so he takes air
in through the mouth as he sucks at the breast. Mouthfuls of milk are
forced on top of mouthfuls of air. This causes distention and pain. This
can be avoided to a large extent by placing one hand over the breast
and allowing the nipple to protrude between the first and second fingers.
In this way you can manipulate baby so his nostrils are not obstructed.
To overcome the pain caused by wind it is advisable to place baby down
over the shoulder while you gently massage the spine upwards from the
pelvis to the head. This will assist baby to bring up all the air he has
swallowed. If baby opens his mouth widely and has a forced smile on his
face you can be almost certain that this is caused by wind.
CIRCUMCISION. This surgical crime against the child has at times
become a routine fetish at some hospitals. Baby boys often have an
adherent foreskin due to carelessness and lack of hygiene during the
first few days of his life. The smegma collecting under the skin causes
intense irritation and in some cases there is constriction of the urethra,
making urination difficult and painful. The remedy is not to remove the
foreskin but to wash it carefully several times daily with warm water and
to retract it gently until full movement is obtained.
Baby girls are also sometimes subjected to a similar mutilation known as
clitoridectomy. In this case, because the hood of the clitoris has not been
cleaned and retracted there often develops inflammation and irritation.

30
There is no more justification for clitoridectomy than there is for
circumcision and the same remedy should be used. Both are barbarous
and unnecessary.
THE BOWELS. Babies sometimes have intestinal disturbances such as
constipation and diarrhoea and when they do we can look for the causes
in the diet and living habits of the mother. It is pointless trying to force
food or medicines on to a baby with diarrhoea because it is a cleaning
effort and should be allowed to work itself out naturally. Just give the
baby water to drink. The mother should try to determine the cause. It
may be the food she has been having during the previous twenty-four
hours that has upset the baby's digestive system. It also could be
poisoning caused by pesticide sprays used on fruits, vegetables and
grains. The mother should give her digestive system a rest for twenty-
four hours during which time she should drink water only. In severe
cases this fast may have to be extended for another twenty-four hours.
Constipation is usually caused by the over-consumption of very
concentrated foods such as starches and proteins, lack of exercise,
excessive worry or insufficient rest and sleep. The mother should try to
determine the cause of her condition as quickly as possible. Very few
people are aware of the constipating effect of lack of sleep and rest.
TEETHING. The eruption of teeth is a perfectly natural phenomenon
which should cause no more than a slight inconvenience or irritation. If
baby becomes restless, puts his fingers into his mouth and chews on
them, it can be assumed fairly safely that his teeth are working their way
through the gums. To avoid developing the habit of thumb-sucking it is
advisable to provide baby with a bone ring on which he can chew. Do
not give him a crust of bread. If sufficiently irritated, baby may not show
much interest in food. In this case, don't force anything on to him. No
milk or medicines should be given. Give baby water to drink only until
the inflammation or irritation has subsided.
THUMB-SUCKING. Excessive thumb-sucking is not desirable. All
babies put their fingers and thumbs into their mouths at times. It is only
when this becomes a habit and that sucking also takes place that it
assumes importance. Excessive thumb-sucking is usually a sign of
some kind of deprivation. It occurs mostly in children who are deprived
of full satisfaction in breast feeding or in those who have been artificially
fed from birth. If babies are not being nourished properly or if they are
not given sufficient love and attention they will seek solace in thumb-
sucking.
THE DUMMY. The dummy itself is not dirty but it does accumulate a lot
of dirt. An easy solution to many problems is the dummy. It is far better

31
to find the cause of a baby's problems and to correct them than to have
recourse to the dummy. The dummy is only a substitute for the thumb.
SCALDING. Scalding usually occurs in the pelvic area. It is mostly a
sign of dietetic errors or carelessness in hygiene. Many mothers are
obsessed with the value of fruitjuices and give their babies large
quantities of citrus juice particularly, in the hope of forcing added
vitamins on to the baby. A baby only needs fruit juices when it cannot
get its mother's milk and even then it should be given only in small
quantities.
Strict cleanliness is essential to prevent scalding and chafing. Never
allow soiled napkins to stay on baby. Remove them at once and wash
soiled parts with plain warm water.
VOMITING. When a baby vomits it is a clear indication that the stomach
is rejecting the food it is being offered. In most cases it is simply caused
by gross overfeeding or the swallowing of air in sucking. If a baby
vomits, let it. Don't force food on to it. You will only cause more vomiting
and distress. Wait until there is a definite demand for food. In the
meantime give the baby water only to drink and not too much of that. If a
baby vomits regularly and loses weight continuously we can assume that
he is suffering from a severe gastric disturbance. Only a Fast will rectify
this trouble safely.
IRRITABILITY and RESTLESSNESS. If a baby is irritable and restless
it could be caused by overfeeding or by nervous tension and tiredness in
the mother. Ample rest before and during the feeding period is essential.
SLEEPLESSNESS. Sleeplessness in a baby is usually caused by
overfeeding, uncomfortable clothing or bedding, lack of fresh air, or
nervous tension, tiredness or worry in the mother.
CRYING. If a baby cries for no apparent reason it could most likely be
caused by his mother's general health. Nervous tension, worries,
tiredness all affect the milk and cause baby to be fretful and to cry for
long periods. Remove the cause.
HEATSTROKE. Many babies die each summer of heatstroke. There are
several causes. If the mother overeats on starchy, high protein or sugary
foods the baby will become overheated. If the cot is placed in a corner of
a room and with sides draped with sheets of plastic material, there will
be insufficient circulation of air. During the summer baby should be
dressed lightly. All it needs is the napkin. There is no need for other
clothing. See that the cot is in the middle of the room or on a verandah
or porch.

32
If the mother keeps her baby cool and has a properly balanced diet of
natural foods herself, there will be no danger of overheating. If baby is
hot, sponge him down frequently with cool water. If baby is much
overheated he will have flushed cheeks, his breathing will be rapid, his
nostrils will be dilated and his mouth will be open.
On the other hand, if baby is too cold, his skin will be cold, his eyelids or
lips could be blue and he will be restless.
LACTATION. What can we do if mother has insufficient milk or none at
all?
If a mother cannot produce any milk at all or if her supply is deficient or
lacking in quantity or quality there must be something fundamentally and
seriously wrong. The remedy is not to drink large quantities of cow's
milk. This is almost as bad as giving cow's milk directly to the baby. Milk
does not necessarily make milk. Each animal makes its own milk from its
own natural foods. If a human mother cannot make milk for her baby
there must be something wrong with her diet or physical structure.
Those mothers who have lived on foodless foods during pregnancy or
have drunk alcohol or smoked cigarettes have only themselves to blame
if they cannot feed their babies. It is the duty of the mother to search
within herself for the causes of this tragedy. A grossly unbalanced diet,
lack of exercise, tension, worries and insufficient rest are the main
causes of deficient lactation. There could be deviations from normal in
the spinal column. When these are corrected by a chiropractor, milk is
then produced normally.
There is positively no need for a woman to drink milk during pregnancy
or the nursing period. Milk is usually regarded as being essential for the
supply of calcium to the baby, but this is a fallacy. Milk is not a good
source of dietary calcium for human beings. A fully balanced diet of
natural foods such as raw fruit, raw vegetables, nuts and whole grains
will produce the best supply of milk in ample quantity and high quality.
If the mother has been neglecting herself physically and has become
overtired the best remedy is to rest completely for several hours each
day.
BE RESOLUTE!
When in difficulty we need resolution to carry us through. Wavering
indecision and doubt will spoil your efforts to solve difficult problems. Be
firm. Be resolute. NEVER give drugs or medicines to a baby. Give it
rational care only.

33
 Chapter Thirteen
CONTRACEPTION

It is advisable not to conceive a child unless it is wanted by both parents.

Although it is important to know how to conceive a child it is also
necessary to know how NOT to conceive. This is called Contraception or
birth control.
There are many methods using chemicals, hormones and mechanical
devices. All of the chemicals and hormones used are unnatural and
harmful. Some of the mechanical methods such as the female cervical
diaphragm and the male rubber condom are harmless physiologically,
but are frowned upon by some people for ethical reasons. Other
mechanical devices such as the Gold spring pessary, the Grafenburg
ring or Plastic loop are downright dangerous and should never be
resorted to.
The four methods which meet all of the requirements of health are
Abstinence, Karezza, Safe period and Ovulation methods.
Total abstinence has been used successfully by many eminent people
and is of course, infallible.
Karezza is a method which requires strict control by the male partner
and is a technique which has to be studied closely for it to be a success.
The Safe period method using a vaginal thermometer and conception
calendar enables the couple to accurately plan conception or
contraception. There are roughly eleven days in the usual monthly
menstrual cycle of twenty-eight days on which conception can occur.
Intercourse must be avoided on these days. The remaining seventeen
days are available. This method requires intelligence and selfcontrol.
The latest system, and one highly recommended, is the Ovulation
method. It is simple and meets all of the requirements of safety and
efficacy.
SELF CONTROL IS THE BEST FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL

Chapter Fourteen
NATURE CURE FOR BABIES

It is not advisable to allow a baby to become ill and then to open a book
and expect to see the solution to your problem ready-made for your use.

34
It will be necessary for the mother to learn some vital and interesting
facts before a full understanding of the treatment of the sick baby by
natural methods can be had.
There are two basic facts which every mother should know. Firstly, it is
natural and normal for all human beings to be healthy. If something
happens which causes that person to become ill they can also become
well again by employing natural methods. Secondly, babies are simply
small and young human beings and it is normal and natural for them to
be healthy also. If they become ill they can become well again by
employing natural methods.
Here is the first lesson a mother must learn. It is natural for a mother to
be healthy and it is natural for a baby to be healthy. In order to ensure
good health in an adult human being there are certain rules to be
obeyed. These rules govern the life-style and living habits of the
individual person.
An adult human being needs certain essentials in order to maintain good
health. Here briefly are the most important factors needed to achieve
and maintain good health - natural foods, ample direct sunlight, fresh air,
clean unpolluted water, frequent contact with the earth, ample vigorous
exercise, periods of relaxation, restful sleep, a favourable climate and
mental poise.
Let me briefly explain these things to you. By natural foods I mean those
foods which are natural for human beings. Not all foods are suitable for
human consumption. Carnivorous animals eat other animals, birds or
fish. This is their natural food. Kookaburras eat lizards and grubs. These
are their natural foods. It does not follow that because animals eat
certain foods we should also eat these foods. We human beings also
have our own unique natural foods. It is unfortunate that many of us
have strayed from the path of nature and unlike the animals in their
natural state, tend to eat almost anything and everything whether it is
suitable or not.
This habit has caused mankind to deteriorate in health and to become
weakly and prone to sickness. If we want to enjoy the same radiant
health as is enjoyed by the animals living in their natural state we must
be prepared to imitate them and to eat the kinds of foods most suitable
to our needs. Be assured that animals owe their good health to the fact
that they adhere closely to a normal living pattern. You never see goats
or cows eating grubs or lizards and you never see kookaburras eating
grass. They instinctively know that these foods are unsuitable for them.
Human beings should live on raw fruit, raw vegetables, cereals,
potatoes, rice, nuts, and so on. There is not sufficient time or space to

35
get into more detail but that is a rough idea of the kind of food which
human beings should eat. My readers are invited to consult my booklet
NATURAL FOODS for full details of a fully-balanced natural diet of
natural foods.
Now, let us deal with some of the other factors I mentioned as being
essential to good health. It is essential to expose the whole body to
direct sunlight from time to time. The skin should be cleansed by bathing
it regularly with cool water. Excessively hot or excessively cold water are
health-destroying and should be avoided. We need plenty of vigorous
exercise to keep our muscles strong and supple. We need relaxation to
enable us to overcome some of the tension, stresses and strains of
modern living. Restful sleep is essential, especially for nursing mothers.
Our climate should not be too hot or too cold. The air we breathe should
be pure and fresh. There should not be an excessive amount of noise
and vibration. And, lastly we should have mental poise or equanimity.
We should maintain a positive, optimistic and constructive mental
attitude. If you can live by these simple rules you will achieve and
maintain and enjoy radiant health. We have spent enough time
discussing the health of adults. Now, we must consider the baby.
It is natural that human beings should want to perpetuate the species
and to enjoy the company of babies and children. It must be obvious that
the prerequisite for healthy children is to have healthy parents.
Assuming that the parents are living in accordance with natural laws and
are obeying the simple rules that I have just set out, then the next step to
be considered is the creation of a new life. When the mother discovers
that she is pregnant she naturally asks some pertinent questions. What
must I do to ensure a normal pregnancy? What must I do to have a
normal healthy baby? What must I do to have a normal painless
childbirth?
Here are the answers to these questions. An uneventful pregnancy is
automatic to all women who are normally healthy. It is normal for a
healthy woman to give birth painlessly to a healthy baby. Childbirth is
safe and painless to all women who live in accordance with natural law.
There is nothing special about having a baby. The female of every
species on earth is specially constructed to produce offspring. If the
mother-to-be is in good health there is nothing whatever to be feared.
There is also nothing special to be done. The female organism is
designed and constructed to build and give birth to a baby. After the
baby is born the female organism is quite capable of feeding a baby for
three years.

36
The only problem is that many women have not lived in accordance with
natural law. They have often eaten all the wrong foods. They drink
alcohol and soft drinks. They smoke tobacco. They take oral
contraceptives. They take drugs and medicines of all kinds. And by
drugs I am not referring specifically to the addictive drugs such as
heroin, marihuana and L.S.D. I am referring to those drugs which are
commonly called medicines. It is not generally known that the apparently
harmless medicines like castor oil, epsom salts, headache tablets and
cough remedies, are in reality harmful drugs. Yes, these simple
medicines are potentially harmful and if your body has become saturated
with unsuitable foods and medicines it would be unrealistic to expect that
body to function as perfectly as a body that has been treated more
sympathetically. If you have lived naturally for a year or two you have
nothing to fear. But, if you have lived unnaturally and you wish to have a
normal easy pregnancy and if you want to have a healthy baby and to be
able to breast-feed it, then you have exactly nine months in which to
cleanse your organism of its accumulated impurities and to build strong
elastic muscles. All of this has been explained fully in a previous chapter
of this book.
We will assume that the mother-to-be has either lived naturally before or
has adopted a natural life-style immediately after conception has taken
place. The pregnancy should proceed normally and birth will occur
normally and painlessly. In another chapter you will find full instructions
on such important factors as natural foods, exercise, and relaxation.
These things will ensure a normal painless childbirth. No special foods
or medicines are necessary.
When the baby is born it is natural for the mother to feed it exclusively
on breastmilk for up to three years. If for some reason the mother is
unable or unwilling to breast-feed there are alternatives. But it must be
clearly understood that these alternatives are poor substitutes for
mother's milk. There have been many thousands of babies reared
successfully on goat's milk, soya bean milk or nut milk but they are still
poor substitutes for mother's milk. If the mother has been killed or has
suffered an accident or is very ill then it may be necessary to use one of
these alternatives but they are better avoided. There is no food, no
matter how carefully and cleverly compounded which can replace the
milk of a healthy mother. Mother's milk is perfect and you can't get better
than that.
How does the mother ensure a good supply of first quality milk? Exactly
the same factors which I discussed earlier are all that you need.
Mother's milk is made from the food she eats. So, if you are living on
second-rate foods your milk must necessarily be second-rate. If you live

37
on the right foods and if your life-style is otherwise satisfactory your milk
will be of high quality and it will be in good supply.
There is one piece of advice which is often neglected or overlooked but
warrants reiteration, and that is, when breast-feeding a baby it is
essential that the atmosphere be favourable and that the mother be
relaxed. A baby cannot be fed naturally if the infant is clutched in one
hand while the mother prepares a meal with the other hand. The mother
should lie down for half an hour before feeding time, and while the baby
is being fed should be either lying down or sitting comfortably and
quietly.
It is also essential for the modern mother to get her full quota of restful
sleep. There is nothing which tends to destroy the quality of the mother's
milk more than insufficient or fitful sleep.
If the baby is fed correctly on the milk produced by a healthy mother,
theoretically there should never be any sick babies to treat. And, this
should be our objective. But, unfortunately, accidents do occur and
unforeseen incidents modify the normal outcome of events. Let us think
about some of these things.
Probably one of the first things to crop up in discussion will be
circumcision. The young mother has often never given any serious
thought to this subject before. Well-meaning friends, relatives, nurses or
doctors may recommend it. All kinds of terrible consequences are
spoken of unless the baby is circumcised. And not only little boys are
subjected to this barbarity. Little girls are also circumcised occasionally.
Please be assured that such operations are quite useless and
unnecessary. You can set your mind at rest that no harm will come to
your baby if it is not circumcised. There are very odd occasions when
the baby has not been carefully cleansed after birth and adhesions do
occur. But this does not justify an operation. The baby should be taken
to a competent Naturopath or naturopathic nurse who will know what to
do to correct the adhesions. See also Chapter twelve..
One thing which may worry a mother could be Cot Deaths. This can be
called an unidentified-sudden-infant-death-syndrome. All kinds of
theories have been advanced for the sudden and mysterious deaths of
babies in their cots but so far not one has been believable. I am going to
suggest a possible cause of cot deaths and how they may be simply
prevented.
I believe that cot deaths are caused by suffocation. In most cases the
cot is too soft and the mattress has excessive sag in it. The remedy for
this is simple. Don't have any sag in the mattress. The mattress should
be flat and very firm. Soft bedclothes should be discarded. Baby should

38
not have a pillow. Now, having taken these precautions, listen to this
advice. Babies should always be placed on the abdomen with the head
turned to the right or the left.
Why do cot deaths occur? Because of a set of circumstances which
cause catarrh, commonly called "the snuffles". If the baby is being
breast-fed the mother may or may not be healthy. If the mother overeats
on foods containing over-refined starches and sugars she will have mild
catarrh. The baby which is being fed on catarrhal milk will also have
catarrh. But, catarrh is much worse for a baby than it is for an adult. The
adult will blow the nose from time to time or will sniff the excess mucus
back into the throat where it is swallowed. Some people have lived like
this for many years without realising that they have chronic catarrh. The
baby is helpless. If it has catarrh the mucus will lodge in the nose and
throat. If the baby lies on its back the mucus tends to gravitate
backwards and lodges in the throat at the rear of the nose. If the baby is
congested with mucus it could turn and bury its head in the soft folds of
the mattress or pillow and the nose and mouth may become obstructed.
If this happens the baby could suffocate and die a mysterious and
unexplained death. If the bed is such that it is firm, there is very little
likelihood of the nose and mouth becoming obstructed. And if there is no
mucus present there is almost no possibility of suffocation through
mucus congestion.
It is my belief that cot deaths can be prevented. The remedy is simple.
The mother should adopt a normal natural diet of wholesome foods, the
bedclothes should be firm and light, and the mattress should also be
firm. Baby should not have a pillow.
Now what will we say if the baby is NOT being breast-fed? In these
cases the danger of cot deaths is so much greater. Just have a look at
the artificial milks and infant foods being offered today. It is no wonder
that infant mortality is increasing. The milk substitutes largely being
offered for sale today are most unsuitable for babies. They consist
largely of dehydrated milk powders derived from cow's milk, mixed with
refined cane sugar and refined cereals, all designed to make the white
imitation liquid look and taste like genuine mother's milk. They are not
even poor imitations of real milk. They are recipes for disaster. Any
mother worthy of the title should never allow her baby to have such
harmful substances.
If for some reason the mother cannot breast-feed her baby it may be
necessary to find a substitute. Just follow the instructions given in
Chapter six.

39
Sicknesses do arise from time to time so the mother should be ready for
any possible emergency. The rules for the treatment of baby illnesses
are few and simple. If the sickness is of a serious nature then it would be
prudent to consult a competent naturopath. But the mother should try to
memorize the simple rules so she will be prepared in advance should an
emergency arise.
The diseases which afflict babies may be roughly divided into two
distinct categories ... acute and chronic. Disregard all of the latin names
for diseases. Try to remember that no matter what may be the precise
name given to a disease by a medical doctor, the disease is really one of
two kinds.
It is very rarely that a mother will be called upon to treat a baby with a
chronic disease. When the mother notices a chronic disease it is best to
consult a competent naturopath or a naturopathic nurse who is qualified
to handle such a case and can plan the necessary long-term programme
necessary to successfully treat a chronic disease. Most mothers will be
called upon to treat acute diseases only. What is the difference?
The mother will probably be wondering what I am talking about and
wondering what could be the difference between an acute disease and a
chronic one. It is very simple really. Whenever a baby becomes sick it is
only necessary to take its temperature. This is done by holding a clinical
thermometer under the armpit or in the rectum. Hold it there for three
minutes and the reading on the scale will tell you whether the sickness is
acute or chronic. That is all you need to know. The normal temperature
is 37 degrees Celsius on the new thermometers. If you have an old
thermometer using the Fahrenheit scale then the correct reading will be
98.6 degrees. If the temperature is below 37 degrees then the sickness
is a chronic one and should be treated by a naturopath or naturopathic
nurse. If the temperature is higher then the sickness is an acute one. In
the case of acute sicknesses the remedy is very simple. In these cases
the baby will lose all interest in the breast so you should not force it to
suck. Just keep it warm and comfortable and give it water to drink from a
feeding bottle. This is called fasting. The mother should also fast. She
should drink pure water only and should not eat any food while the baby
is sick.
This is the first rule you should remember. When a baby is being breast-
fed it is one with the mother. Whatever is wrong with the baby has its
cause within the mother. In these cases it is essential not to treat the
baby but the mother. When the mother returns to her normal state of
health the baby will respond and become well again. In simple cases of
illness you will not need to fast the baby at all. You just fast the mother.

40
Even if a baby is fed by a healthy mother it is still possible for the mother
to accidentally absorb unsuitable material or poisonous matter from an
external source. When this happens the mother's milk will be adversely
affected and the baby may become ill. When a baby which is being
breast-fed becomes mysteriously ill, always look first within the mother
for a possible cause of the illness.
Babies are not difficult to diagnose and the average intelligent mother
can usually discover what has caused the baby's illness. The two
symptoms which most frequently occur in sick babies are vomiting and
diarrhoea.
Let us discuss vomiting first. What is vomiting? Vomiting is simply the
throwing-up of stomach contents. When a baby vomits it is a clear
indication that the stomach is vigorously rejecting the food which has
been offered. Sometimes, the food is unacceptable, and at other times
the food may be acceptable normally but the stomach is inflamed. If the
food being offered is unsuitable it is natural for the stomach to reject it.
Sometimes the vomiting will be the natural reaction to an excess of food.
Vomiting is often caused by overfeeding. At other times the vomiting
could be caused by the baby having swallowed a great deal of air. One
important rule is that the mother should never try to stop the vomiting. It
will only persist while there is a need for it. In fact, it is wise to assist the
stomach by very gentle means to empty itself and rid itself of the
offending material. Gentle stroking of the spine upwards as I advised
before for colic, is indicated in this case too. Vomiting is always a
protective (and therefore beneficial) process and will never harm the
baby. It is therefore vitally important never to force food on to a baby
which is vomiting, or has vomited recently. By forcing food on to the
baby you could cause even more vigorous and more painful vomiting
and could most likely cause greater and needless distress. If baby
vomits and the cause is not obvious, say air-swallowing or overfeeding,
it is advisable to take the temperature. If baby's temperature is above
normal it is almost certain that the baby has gastritis. The word gastritis
simply means inflammation of the stomach. The appropriate treatment is
to fast the mother and baby at once. One or two days of fasting should
be sufficient to successfully eliminate the trouble. If the baby has
vomited several times and is losing weight you can be sure that it has
gastritis.
Now, we should discuss diarrhoea. Whenever a baby has several more
bowel movements in excess of the normal number and when the
motions are liquid in consistency we call this condition diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea can be caused by swallowing a harmful substance or it can be

41
caused by dysentery which is an inflammation of the lower bowel
accompanied by cramp-like pains.
If the baby kicks its legs, screams, and throws its head backwards with
the spine arched forward you can be pretty certain that the trouble is in
the lower bowel.
The correct procedure in this case is to fast the mother and the baby.
Mother and baby should drink water only in small sips until the
disturbance is past. In simple cases this may take one day only, while in
more serious cases it may need three or four days to allow the
inflammation in the bowel to subside.
Now, let us deal with another complaint which is very similar but more
serious. This is gastro-enteritis. When a baby vomits and also has
diarrhoea at the same time this means that there is gastro-enteritis or
gastritis accompanied by dysentery. When this happens we have a more
serious condition to deal with. In these cases the remedy is identical with
that given for gastritis and dysentery but it may take longer for the
patient to recover.
There are of course, cases in which the baby has a low temperature and
is obviously in great pain. This is a chronic disease. Naturally, the best
course is to consult a competent naturopath but if this is not feasible
then the mother must do her best under the circumstances. If you can
detect hardness in the lower abdominal area and around the navel, it is
quite possible that the baby is badly constipated, and hard lumps of
faeces have become lodged in the bowel. In these cases it is advisable
and permissible to give the baby an enema. Use a gravity douche if
available, or failing that, use a small bulb enema. Have a pint of warm
water ready for use. Be careful to fill the bulb with water and then
squeeze the bulb to remove all air before inserting the nozzle into the
rectum. This simple enema should remove any blockage in the lower
bowel. Do not add any soap, salt or any other substance to the water
used in an enema.
One of the best ways to relieve pain is to put a hot-water bag to the site
of the pain. NEVER give drugs or medicines to a baby. They cannot do
any good but could do a lot of harm.
When you are fasting a baby it is essential to keep it warm, clean and
comfortable. Let the baby sleep as much as possible.
Remember the simple rule that when a baby is ill, and if it is being
breast-fed, we regard the mother and baby as being one, so we treat the
mother as though she is actually ill. We do not treat the baby alone. We
treat the mother and when we correct whatever is wrong with the mother

42
the baby will automatically respond and will become well along with the
mother.
In the case of babies who are being fed on milk substitutes it will be
necessary to vary the procedure. Bottle-fed babies are to be treated
separately from the mother. We do not necessarily treat the mother in
these cases.
If a bottle-fed baby is sick it can also be in either an acute or a chronic
state. If the bottle-fed baby has an acute illness of any kind it also has a
high temperature, as explained previously, so we fast the baby and give
it water only to drink until it is well again.
If a bottle-fed baby is sick and has a low temperature it has a chronic
illness. We do not fast this baby. We should examine the life-style,
particularly the diet of this baby. If you are unable to determine what is
causing the trouble you should call a naturopath. If the diet is at fault
then it must be modified to bring it into line with what is considered to be
natural. If the baby has been living on unsuitable foods then they must
be deleted from the diet and suitable foods supplied in their place.
Let us now discuss convulsions. It is just as well to know something
about convulsions so you will be prepared to assist if it is ever
necessary. It goes without saying that it is best to prevent the
occurrence of convulsions. A baby which has been reared naturally and
has been breast-fed on the milk of a healthy mother would be most
unlikely to ever have a convulsion. A convulsion is simply a violent
uncontrolled muscle spasm or more properly, a series of spasms
repeated at frequent intervals. The first sign of an impending convulsion
is that the baby usually becomes unnaturally quiet and unhappy. It may
try to vomit and will jerk the arms, legs and head. Usually the face is
drawn and distorted and the breathing is noisy and heavy. Most
onlookers become fearful and panic at the sight of a convulsion.
Actually, it is quite simple to manage a convulsion. Allow the head to lie
over on one side so the tongue will not fall back into the throat. Hold the
baby firmly until the jerking movements subside. Cover the body with a
blanket to keep it warm. As soon as the spasms are over the baby
should be given an enema of warm water. It is then fasted for one or two
days, making sure that it is kept warm and is allowed to sleep as much
as possible. Now that the emergency is over it is time to look for the
cause. The immediate cause is usually constipation and distension of
the bowel. Only the most unsuitable diet over a long period could lead to
convulsions. The logical approach is to correct the dietary habits of the
baby as quickly as possible to prevent a repetition of the convulsion.
Babies who have convulsions are invariably those who have been

43
reared on cows milk, milk powders or breakfast cereals. The adoption of
the correct babies diet will enable a permanent restoration of health to
be had.
We have now concluded this brief discussion of babies and how they
may be treated by natural methods. If my reader has carefully studied
the simple rules I have set out there need be no worries about how a
sick baby should be managed. Understand the simple rules and apply
them confidently. If you do this you will be able to employ Nature Cure
for babies when or if that should ever become necessary.
Full instructions for coping with most emergencies will be found in my
companion book entitled NATUROPATHIC FIRST AID.

Chapter Fifteen
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

This chapter will be devoted to Child Psychology from the viewpoint of a

naturopath. This subject is such a vast one that I could not hope to cover
it all in the limitations imposed by a book of this nature. Even if I knew it
all I could not hope to cover the whole subject adequately. It goes
without saying that I do not claim to know everything about child
psychology. All I can do is to tell my readers what I believe to be some of
the more important things that I have learned about the mentality of
babies and children and to set out rough guide-lines for others to follow.
I hope that my observations will prove helpful to parents and
practitioners alike. This discussion will be divided roughly into two
sections. One section will deal with the theory of child psychology seen
from the viewpoint of a naturopath while the other section will deal with
the more practical aspects of child psychology. I will discuss how to treat
babies and children suffering from mental aberrations, using wholly
natural methods.
Parents and practitioners alike are often baffled by the inexplicable
behaviour of some children. A young child will suddenly become nervy,
afraid of the dark, rebellious, having fits of rage or jealousy. Parents
become worried because they are often ill-equipped or unprepared for
such unexpected unsocial behaviour and often fail to realise that there
must be a perfectly scientific and logical reason for baby's tantrums. The
fact is that the problems that worry them are really quite simply rectified
in most cases, if approached in a rational way.

44
During the past fifty years ideas about the care of the child and the
psychology of the child have undergone a dramatic change which could
almost be called a revolution. Children are no longer "to be seen and not
heard". The slipper and the strap are no longer thought to be legitimate
instruments for guiding the development of the child. It has even been
grudgingly admitted that babies and children have some "rights".
Parents are slowly coming to the realization that babies and children
should be fed correctly. Opinions differ widely as to the exact nature of
the foods which provide optimal nutrition. But, at least, it is admitted that
foods do matter and there is such a thing as a balanced diet.
Babies are given more exposure to sunlight although they are still not
getting enough. Babies are no longer wrapped in swaddling clothes and
their limbs are given more freedom of movement. Fresh air is also
provided much more freely than it was fifty years ago. Some parents do
see that their babies are able to enjoy regular and ample sleep.
However, there is still room for more improvement. The custom of
feeding babies on artificial substitutes instead of breast milk is still far too
common.
As well as this progress in the rational physical care of infants there has
been a remarkable interest in the mental development of the young
child. There have arisen many matters, all clamouring for consideration
and acceptance. Parents are offered dozens of systems and they all
differ in their fundamental approach. The differences cover every
conceivable approach varying all the way from strict discipline to allout
permissiveness.
Most parents believe that their child behaves in a manner quite different
from all others - their child is unique.
Some parents believe in inculcating self-reliance very early in life, while
others believe in protecting their children from the external pressures of
society until the very last moment before they make their debut as fully-
developed people.
At one time, children were deliberately frightened into believing in the
dangers supposedly lurking in the dark. This fear of the unknown was
used as a form of correction and many children were locked in dark
rooms as a punishment for naughtiness.
Other children were allegedly protected by allowing them to have a light
burning all night in the bedroom. Some years ago special candles and
bedside lights were made especially for use by young children, who
became so conditioned that they could not sleep without their reassuring
glimmer of light in the darkness.

45
Fifty years ago the rebellious or troublesome child was unmercifully
beaten into submission with the kindly observation "You know, this hurts
me more than it hurts you". I wonder how many children actually
believed that fable. Now we have the science of child psychology and
things are a little different.
Without wishing to criticize any of the theories put forward by such
people as Rudolf Steiner, Maria Montesorri, Mary McCarthy, A. S. Neill
and others, I would like to present a naturopathic viewpoint on the
psychology of the baby and the young child. We take the view that it is
the responsibility of the parents to see to the welfare of the child until it is
able to take care of itself and to take responsibility for its own actions.
All kinds of approaches have been used in the past. These have ranged
from stern discipline, dictatorship, nurture, coddling, excessive protection
against external pressures, right down to a completely permissive
attitude. Some authorities take the view that the child should be ordered
about and forced to obey without questioning while others allow the child
to do what it wants without hindrance.
There is a belief that all human beings are tainted with what is called
"original sin", which belief infers that babies are born sinful or naughty.
The objective is to expunge the taint and thus make the child moral and
good.
I belong to the opposite school which believes that all human beings are
basically good and that they all possess the possibility of achieving a
state of excellence. It is this belief in the basic excellence of human
nature which distinguishes the naturopathic approach to the psychology
of the child from the orthodox view. The orthodox view is that children
can be naughty because they have a naughty nature from birth.
I disagree because I believe that all normal healthy children are good. I
believe that it is natural for a child to be good just as it is natural for a
child to be healthy. I believe that a naughty child is a sick child.
I believe that the quality of the blood circulating through a child's brain
largely determines the mental activity of that child. If a child has a pure
unpolluted bloodstream the brain nourished by that bloodstream should
be healthy, and logically a healthy brain should produce healthy
thoughts.
In Naturopathy we seek for causes. When a baby or child is naughty,
has irrational fears or suffers any other psychological abnormality we
should look for the causes of the naughtiness.
It is natural to be healthy and it is equally as natural for a healthy child to
be a happy, well-adjusted child. It is only in recent years that a few

46
advanced thinkers have come to the realization that a faulty diet can
produce hyperactivity and exaggerated mental behaviour in young
children. A few medical doctors are now prescribing special diets which
are said to be low in harmful factors such as artificial colourings,
flavourings and preservative agents. We in the naturopathic profession
have been well in advance of this movement, in fact for over 100 years
we have warned of the dangers of these potentially harmful substances.
As well as advising against the consumption of these deleterious agents
we have also advised against the consumption of all processed, refined,
denatured and chemicalized foods. We have always urged the adoption
of a balanced diet consisting largely of uncooked fruits and vegetables.
We know the dramatic results which are possible because we have
witnessed the significant changes for the better when sick people have
discarded harmful foods and have replaced them with living
unprocessed foods. Chronic sickness has given away to radiant health,
sometimes in a matter of weeks.
What does a baby or young child need? Obviously it needs shelter,
clothing, hygienic care, correct feeding and a favourable environment.
These are the essential biological requirements. But a baby or young
child needs much more than these if it is to grow and develop normally.
Some would say that babies need love. This may well be the case, but
what is love? Can we define love in such a way as to be intelligible to all
people? I doubt that very much. Love has always defied definition. It is
an abstraction which means different things to different people. Love for
a baby must mean something more than kissing and hugging, fondling
or endless small-talk. Love must be a quality, not a thing. One can be
kind, considerate, compassionate and generous without expressing
words of love. If all these things are not enough, what does a baby need
above all else? A baby needs security. A baby is helpless and senses
that it is wholly dependent on another. So, the person who promises
security and safety is the one to whom the baby will cling for support.
Many young children have become jealous because they felt neglected
and insecure upon the arrival of a new baby. The newcomer needs so
much individual attention and when the parents spend too much time
with the new baby a young child can feel displaced and rejected. In this
way, jealousy is the logical consequence in many cases. If the parents
are intelligent this jealousy will not develop. They will make sure that the
older child participates in the care of the new baby and will be given
duties and responsibilities which will enable it to experience a feeling of
relationship and importance rather than enmity.

47
Providing security for the baby should not be left to the mother alone as
is often the case. The father too has an obligation to share the duties of
nursing, entertaining and carrying the baby. If the father shares these
duties the baby is not so likely to develop selfish habits and
possessiveness towards the mother.
Most of the psychological faults found in babies and young children can
be traced to a toxic bloodstream. These blood toxins can cause severe
irritation and excessive stimulation which cause the baby to voice
disapproval in the only way it knows-by crying. Many a so-called naughty
or bad-tempered baby is simply a normal child voicing its disapproval of
a pain caused by careless or thoughtless feeding. It can never be
reiterated often enough that no food, no matter how well-designed or
compounded, can replace the breast milk of a mother. Any formula is
only a poor imitation of the real thing.
Many restless and bad-tempered babies are the direct result of over-
feeding and feeding too frequently. When a baby is given six to ten
feeds a day it must be expected that this unfortunate baby will become
restless, unhappy and mentally disturbed. Many over-zealous mothers
also persist in giving thier breast-fed babies fruit and vegetable juices
and purees as supplements. These supplements produce severe
irritation and psychological disturbances. Babies and young children
have a much better chance in life if they are fed correctly.
I remind my readers again that babies and young children should never
be given drugs, medicines, vitamins or food supplements of any kind.
They are, without exception, useless and potentially harmful.
Babies who are reared intelligently must develop into healthy well-
adjusted adults. A worthy objective.
Babies should not be forced beyond their reasonable capabilities.
Walking or talking at an early age are not signs of high intelligence or
better health. They are simply the product of over-stimulation. Babies
should ideally be allowed to develop slowly and evenly. Prodigies are
not to be welcomed. It is far better to have a child which has passed
through all of the childhood phases of fantasy, adventure and play than
to have a premature adult to deal with.
One quality in a parent which a child appreciates more than anything
else is the willingness to take an interest in what the child is doing. Many
parents destroy the child's confidence and trust by refusing to realize
that the child needs to be accepted as a person. A parent who neglects
his or her duty and refuses to take an interest in the things which interest
their child have only themselves to blame if they alienate the affection of
the child. This child can become lonely, feel unwanted, and eventually,

48
may seek less congenial company and could gravitate into criminal
activities.
Let us keep reminding ourselves that all normal healthy babies and
children are inherently good, well-behaved and moral. If children are
naughty, bad-tempered, wilful, destructive, afraid of the dark, or if they
suffer from irrational thoughts or fears, we must remember that we have
made them like that. These psychological or mental sicknesses are not
normal. They are the product of a poisoned bloodstream and
unfavourable mental conditioning.
My reader may find it difficult to believe that all normal babies are sinless
and inherently good but that is the plain truth. Unsocial behaviour,
tantrums and other psychological disturbances are caused by adults
who do not know how to rear children. I believe in the basic excellence
of human nature. Could my reader seriously imagine a normal healthy
human being putting a gun to his shoulder, pulling the trigger and killing
a beautiful bird or a defenceless koala bear? It seems incredible but
there are a few people in every community whose brains have become
so poisoned and conditioned that they can commit such a crime without
a pang of conscience or remorse. Such a person just does not realize
the enormity of the crime they are committing. They are mentally ill.
Let us take the example another step further. Can my reader envisage
any decent person being so debased as to raise a gun, to take sight, pull
the trigger and to deliberately kill another human being, say his mother
or father, sister or brother? No, we can't imagine such fiendish
behaviour. Yet, we also know that some people have allowed
themselves to become a party to such unsocial and immoral conduct,
the result of a poisoned brain which has been conditioned by
propaganda to such an extent that he will kill another person who has
never done him an injury. And, to add insult to injury this man will
cheerfully accept a medal and a certificate congratulating him on his
expertise and patriotism in committing such a crime.
Man is basically good and has an excellent nature. Only a degradation
of his brain caused by a posioned bloodstream, coupled with
indoctrination, could cause him to act in an unsocial way.
Yes, man possesses an excellent nature and the only explanation for the
kind of unsocial phenomena that we have been discussing is that he is
sick. The logical remedy is to cleanse the brain and other tissues and
with careful and sympathetic management the offender may be restored
to normal.
It will be seen that parents have an awesome responsibility laid upon
them to see that a baby possessing a high degree of moral and

49
intellectual excellence is not allowed to sink into depravity by careless
acts of their parents during childhood.
A subject which crops up regularly is the irrational fear of the dark,
developing sometimes into night terrors. It must be admitted by anyone
claiming to possess normal intelligence that harshness in the parents,
the beating and scolding of children will not correct this psychological
fault. Only a rational approach based on the fundamental needs of a
child can hope to solve this problem. Unless the parents show
intelligence and understanding these childhood fears can persist through
adolescence and into adulthood, thus causing life-long misery.
It is not easy to be a wise parent but with patience and determination
anyone may learn.
One of the easiest ways to condition your children favourably is to raise
them in a happy environment, a congenial atmosphere and pleasant
surroundings. Contented parents also make a happy family situation in
which the best in the child may be brought out. Cranky, unsociable, or
fearful children will not be produced in a happy home.
We all possess the learning equipment and ability. How and what we are
taught is very much the responsibility of our parents. A child may be
fostered or ruined in the first years of his or her life. The crabby ill-
tempered old man was once a nice little boy who was taught and
conditioned to fear and hate his parents by their repressive and
dictatorial conduct. His whole nature was changed by frustration and
ridicule.
At a tender age the young child is most suggestible. The child will tend
to believe what the parents say. The child will respond to stimuli of many
kinds, forming habits which may persist for a whole lifetime. The child
will learn from his parents what will turn out to be either a good life-style
or a bad one. It is vitally important that a good life-style be presented to
the child at an early age otherwise bad habits may prove too hard to
break later on.
Although at times, a parent must punish a child for its own good, this
punishment should always “fit the crime". This punishment should not be
excessive. Excessive punishment is counter-productive because if the
child’s mind is curbed and humbled too much the spirit will be broken
and the child becomes cowed. If the child is broken by the exercise of
too strict a hand it will lose its natural exuberance and vigour. Parents
must never break a child's spirit with unjust or excessive punishment, or
dejection and tameness will replace exuberance.

50
Children should be praised and commended when they have done
something worthy of your attention. Children feed on praise.
Again, returning to the subject of fear. It cannot be said too often that
those who engender fear in infants are creating a monster which may
devour them in later years. The old custom of trying to coerce children
by threatening them with the terrors of the darkness should be discarded
and replaced by reasoning and advice.
Modern parents should inculcate the ideals of useful work and social
behaviour in their children. Children should be taught and encouraged to
clean their teeth after each meal, to dress themselves and to wash
themselves when they are about three years of age. They should be
instructed in the performance of simple household tasks as early as
possible in life. Children should be encouraged to occupy their leisure
time with useful occupations. They must be encouraged to be
participators not spectators.
Neurotic adolescents and adults are the products of spoilt, frightened,
bullied, lonely and unloved children in their formative years. We must
never attempt to train a child by using the weapon of fear. Fear is a
destructive mental attitude which paralyzes the nervous system and
devastates the personality. In order to deal with what we consider to be
faults and bad habits we should seriously consider using judicious
encouragement and never naked fear.
Parents are often unnecessarily alarmed at certain habits which some
babies and infants acquire. Some babies suck their fingers. Others suck
their lips, sheets or mosquito nets, nod their heads, and rub their thighs
or genitals.
Parents must realize that babies do not understand what they are doing.
What might be reprehensible conduct in an adult is not a crime in a
baby. Babies explore their little world and there is nothing wrong in doing
so. They are simply learning.
We should try to intelligently discover the cause of any behaviour which
may not seem right to us. In themselves, these habits are not
necessarily harmful to the child because the child is hardly able to
understand what is being done.
Thumb-sucking is usually an indication of deprivation of some kind.
Many babies who have been weaned too early find comfort in thumb-
sucking. If the parents unduly punish or embarrass this child it may
cease sucking the thumb and suck the mosquito net or take to biting the
fingernails instead. If the habit expresses some unfulfilled need then the
sensible course is to try to remedy this defect by diversionary means

51
rather than punitive action. You cannot stamp out a habit by countering it
with violence.
It is most unwise to draw attention to the child's habit in public in such a
way as to cause embarrassment. Such a practice is to be condemned
because it is counterproductive and simply drives the habit underground
where it can be carried on in secret.
Enuresis or bed-wetting cannot be cured or prevented by scolding the
child or by drawing attention to it in public. Control of the bladder cannot
be achieved by scolding or embarrassment. Only by ascertaining the
cause and removing it will this habit be overcome.
When your baby has a habit the intelligent approach is to look for the
cause. If the baby sucks its thumb this could indicate that the milk, or
other food, is unsatisfactory. If breast-fed, the mother should look to her
diet and life-style in an effort to uncover the cause. If the baby is being
bottle-fed then the milk should be suspected. Perhaps the goat is drying
up and the quality of the milk is below par. Sometimes thumb-sucking
can be caused by sheer boredom. The child may not be "mothered"
enough or the child may not have enough interests to keep it happy and
fully occupied.
Whatever the habit may be, try to find its cause. Analyze the life-style for
faults. Do not take direct notice of it. Do not draw attention to it. Do not
comment on it and never talk about the habit in the child's presence.
Remember that many habits which irritate us so much don't loom very
large in the child's mind. We should not make mountains out of molehills.
The main objective should be to find the cause. Don't regard the child as
sinful or naughty. Remain unworried in the presence of the child.
It is not advisable to allow a baby to sleep in the same room as its
parents. The older children could be encouraged into developing
jealously through wrongly feeling that they do not share the affection of
the parents to the extent that they should.
Even normal children go through various phases of a minor nature such
as slight aggressiveness, jealousy, cruelty and so on. It is not advisable
to make too much of a minor temporary lapse, otherwise it may well
become a fixed complex.
What a child needs more than anything else is security. The child must
have the reassurance that he or she can put implicit confidence and trust
in the parents. Only if the child has complete trust and confidence in the
parents can the home environment be a stable and secure one for the
child.

52
Let me re-iterate my belief in the basic excellence of human nature. Let
me impress upon my readers that babies and young children will
respond favourably to intelligent treatment. Let me urge my readers to
alway seek for the cause of infantile mental disorders and having found
them, let us remove them to the best of our ability. Finally, we should
strive to provide all of the baby's normal biological requirements. Having
done this we can confidently step aside and allow Nature to take its
course knowing that whatever Nature does is for the best.
Having discussed some of the theoretical aspects of child psychology let
us now think about some of the more practical aspects. I will now deal
with a specific complaint which has come very much to the fore in recent
years. This problem has always been with us but it has received more
urgent attention due to the sudden increase in the incidence of
hyperactivity in children. If you can handle a case of hyperactivity in
infants or children you should have no difficulty in applying the
naturopathic theory and principles to other psychological problems of
childhood. So, let us take hyperactivity as a typical example.
Naughty, disobedient, excitable and uncontrollable children have
appeared on the scene regularly as far back as anyone can recollect.
But, the problem of what to do with these children in the past has been
easily solved. These children were punished severely as though they
were potential criminals. They were locked up in dark rooms. They were
forced to go without meals. They were soundly beaten, often put to bed
early, and denied the customary privileges of childhood. They were
humiliated and embarrassed by distraught parents who shouted and
yelled at them in an effort to bring them under control. In extreme cases
these children were placed under Governmental care in reformatories
which were often little more than gaols. Now we are more civilized. Such
behaviour on the part of parents would call down protests by friends,
relatives and neighbours. In the past, doctors prescribed such nostrums
as soothing syrups which contained opium. Recalcitrant babies and
children were soothed or drugged into stupidity and usually went to
sleep, thus giving parents a brief respite from the troublesome child.
Right from the cradle drug addicts were being educated and formed.
Without knowing it, parents were breeding drug-addicts. Drug-
dependence would be reflected in later years in many ways which
remained a complete mystery.
Then a few advanced thinkers in the medical profession discovered that
hyperactivity could be reduced and controlled to a large extent by means
of a restricted diet. These doctors advised parents to eliminate from the
child's diet certain food additives such as artificial flavourings, colourings
and preservatives which they felt were causing the hyperactivity. This

53
was a step in the right direction but it still failed to get down to the total
basic cause of hyperactivity. It did little to solve the overall problems
associated with mental diseases of children.
We in the naturopathic profession have an entirely different and more
radical approach. While we appreciate and applaud the work of some
doctors who are genuinely wrestling with the problems of hyperactivity,
we feel that a more thorough approach is desirable.
Let me tell you how a naturopath would approach, and deal with, a
typical case of infantile hyperactivity.
If a child is overactive, excitable, irritable, disobedeient, wilful,
destructive and generally uncontrollable we feel that there must be an
underlying cause. All babies and children are inherently good, act
normally, are not easily excited, are not unduly irritable, are obedient,
have a pleasant agreeable personality, are amenable to suggestions
and discipline. Why is this sample child so different from a normal child?
The naturopathic approach is simple, logical and factual. The child may
have been born of parents whose bloodstreams were toxic and acidic.
These poisoned bloodstreams caused irritation and excessive
stimulation to all organs in the body but more especially the brain and
nervous system. The causes are not far away. They may be found in the
life-style of the parents, or failing that in the individual lifestyle of the
child. The causes are chemical, mechanical or mental, but mainly
chemical in origin. There could of course be mechanical or mental
causes but these would be of minor importance. At present I would like
to discuss the chemical causes of hyperactivity. We will discuss the
other causes later.
During pregnancy women are urged by their medical advisers to take
iron and calcium tablets and vitamin tablets. These are all toxic materials
which tend to poison the bloodstream of the mother-to-be. If the
pregnant woman is an average woman she may experience nausea and
insomnia. In this case her medical adviser may prescribe drugs to
relieve these symptoms. The drugs used pollute still further an already
polluted bloodstream. During childbirth various drugs and anaesthetics
may be employed. These add still further to the toxic load already
carried by the mother's bloodstream. Any baby born of such a mother
runs the risk of having a toxic bloodstream too. So far I have not
mentioned the subject of diet. But, we must not assume that the
pregnant woman is having an adequate diet. Such an assumption would
be misplaced because the diet of the average woman is not an adequate
one by any means. From a naturopathic viewpoint it is most inadequate.
The diet of the average Australian is an unbalanced one consisting of

54
meat, fish, poultry and foods made mainly from refined flour and refined
sugar with the addition of a little fruit and over-cooked vegetables. Such
a diet is not only not uncommon but is a traditionally common one in our
society. Most women drink tea, coffee, cocoa, soft drinks and alcoholic
drinks. A high percentage of women smoke tobacco. Add to this list all of
those foods and non-foods which have been chemicalized, artificially
flavoured, coloured and preserved, frozen and irradiated and you have a
picture of the dietetic life-style of the average Australian woman.
These foods and non-foods that I have enumerated, coupled with
medicinal drugs, vitamins and food supplements commonly sold in
health food shops all add up to a sum total of deleterious material which
bears little resemblance to genuine food and has the effect of poisoning
and over-stimulating the delicately balanced organs, brain and nervous
system of human beings. The effect of this chemical onslaught has been
to progressively poison the bloodstream and to cause a high proportion
of the diseases of humanity. In the case we are now discussing these
causes could well have produced the mental hyperactivity which is so
commonly found in babies and young children today.
Now that we know the cause we are given the means to eradicate this
complaint. Whether my reader is a parent or a naturopath, the approach
is identical - remove the cause and provide the child with the normal
requirements of that child.
We will assume that the parent or naturopath is faced with an actual
case of hyperactivity. What is to be done? If my reader is a competent
naturopath it will not be necessary to tell her or him what a normal
natural diet consists of. If my reader is a parent then the first step is to
ascertain the constituents of a natural diet. We must first learn the age of
the baby. Let us assume that the baby is two years of age. We must
learn the feeding programme of this baby. Is the baby being breast-fed?
Has it already been weaned? If so, what foods is it eating? Does it take
any medicines, vitamins or food supplements? All of this information is of
vital importance. Let me tell you why. According to naturopathic
philosophy a baby should be born of healthy parents. At the moment of
conception the parents should be living naturally, and of course, eating
the right foods. The mother should not take drugs, vitamins or food
supplements during the course of the pregnancy. During childbirth no
drugs should be used. The baby should be fed exclusively on its
mother's milk for up to three years. At three years of age (or sooner if the
mother's health is not good enough), the baby is weaned and is given a
diet of wholly natural foods. If the weaning has been done prematurely,
then the baby should be fed on a milk substitute such as goat's milk, nut
milk or soya bean milk with a supplement of fruit juices, until it is three

55
years of age. This is the normal programme which should be followed by
a normal healthy mother who wishes to have a healthy baby. But, of
course, such a mother would not produce a hyperactive baby. What has
gone wrong? When the mother has not accepted a natural life-style or
has abandoned it and lapsed into an orthodox life-style then we can
expect trouble to develop. It is possible for a mother who has negelcted
herself to give birth to a baby which is somewhat less than perfect in
some respects.
This baby could be hyperactive. The parents or naturopath are now
faced with a hyperactive child. What can be done? How can we correct
this condition?
The first step in the treatment of the hyperactive child is to ascertain the
age of the child and the diet it is having. If the baby is being totally
breast-fed then we must examine the life-style of the mother. In this case
the cause of the hyperactivity lies in the life-style of the mother. If we
correct the life-style, and bring it into conformity with natural law we will
automatically eliminate the hyperactivity.
Assuming that the baby is two years of age and has been weaned we
must examine the life-style of the baby. It may be eating breakfast
cereals, porridge, meat, fruit, vegetables, cow's milk and so on. If this is
so then the next step is to advise the parents to modify the diet to bring it
into line with what we call a natural diet. If it is not possible to breast-
feed the baby for a year the baby should be given a milk substitute as
recommended in the chapter devoted to this subject. The baby should
adhere to this diet until it is three years of age when it should be weaned
and given a fully-balanced adult diet of natural foods. Full instructions for
preparing and compounding goat's milk, nut milks and soya bean milks
will be found in Chapter six, along with advice on how to regulate the
strength of the milk to suit the individual baby.
Having modified the diet of the baby you should also withdraw all
medication. This covers all drugs, vitamins, food supplements, herbal
remedies, homeopathic remedies, tissue salts, and folk medicines such
as ginseng, charcoal, lecithin, kelp, royal jelly, cider vinegar, pollen,
wheat-germ and similar substances which may have been administered
in the past, even if they have been prescribed by a practitioner. They are
all potentially harmful to the baby and should be withdrawn.
In order that there will be no misunderstanding I will give my reader a full
list of those foods which should never be given to a hyperactive child or
baby: - Meat, fish, poultry, cow's milk, salt, pepper, vinegar, sauces,
treacle, molasses, golden syrup, mustard, curry, wheat germ, kelp, white
sugar, white flour, icing sugar, alcoholic drinks, mineral water, soft

56
drinks, lecithin, margarine, yoghourt, dried milk powder, soya bean
compound, cordials, condensed milk, caramel, sauerkraut, smoked
foods, cream of tartar, yeast, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid,
monosodium glutamate, sodium cyclamate, cyclamatic acid, self-raising
flour of any kind, toast, mate tea, yeast extracts, marmite, vegemite,
bonox. Cabbage must never be cooked, although it can be eaten raw if
the baby has been weaned. This covers most of the foods which are
harmful for a baby who is hyperactive.
Now I will re-iterate what I have told you. For a child which has already
been weaned at any time up to three years of age the first step is to
modify the diet by giving the child an acceptable substitute for breast
milk. The second step is to withdraw all medication. If this is done the
chemical requirements of the child will have been met. Now we will
direct our attention to other important matters.
If a child is also physically ill this must be attended to by employing the
appropriate naturopathic methods. If a child has an elevated
temperature which indicates that a fever is present the child should be
fasted at once. The temperature should be taken after ten o'clock in the
morning. If the reading is above 37 degrees Celsius this indicates that a
fast is needed. General advice on fasting is given in another chapter.
Full instructions on fasting will be found in my book entitled HOW TO
FAST.
We now consider in what way the child could have mechanical faults
which favour hyperactivity. The parents should take the child to a
competent osteopath or chiropractor for an examination of the spine for
possible subluxations of the spine or joint lesions. If there is a structural
fault of this kind it should be adjusted.
Now, assuming that all chemical and mechanical faults have been
corrected and that the fast, if indicated, has been successfully
negotiated, we turn our attention to the purely psychological aspects of
the treatment.
I discussed various aspects of child psychology at the beginning of this
chapter so I will leave it to my reader to consider the advice given
therein and suggest that as far as possible the home environment and
psychological climate be modified so as to bring them into line with what
we regard as desirable, natural and normal.
It will be seen that our approach to the problem of hyperactivity is a total
one. We take into account all chemical, mechanical and mental factors
which favour hyperactivity.

57
Sometimes during childbirth techniques are used which could injure a
baby's spine. Violent traction can cause subluxations of the spine in a
baby. These faults can produce severe congestion and favour
hyperactivity. In these cases the osteopath or chiropractor will find and
correct these faults.
If all of the factors I have discussed have been attended to, the
hyperactivity will subside and the child will develop progressively into a
normal, healthy, happy and well-adjusted child, then into an adolescent
who can cope with this change, and finally into an adult who can look
forward to a healthy, happy and long life free from aches and pains.
I have deliberately chosen hyperactivity because it has formerly been
such a baffling complaint. However, the procedure I have outlined is not
to be limited to hyperactivity. This system may be adapted to suit the
needs of any case of mental complaint in childhood.
If the baby is still being breast-fed then the instructions I have given
must be adapted to suit the mother specifically. The life-style of the
mother should be modified and any chemical, mechanical or mental
faults should be rectified. Remember that when a baby is being breast-
fed it is regarded as being one with the mother. We examine the diet of
the mother, her structure, and her mental attitudes. If the mother has
developed negative mental attitudes then the art of positive thinking will
assist to eradicate negative thoughts and replace them with positive,
optimistic and constructive ones. My book entitled HEALTH AND
HAPPINESS THROUGH POSITIVE THINKING contains full instructions
on how to apply this important modality.
If the advice given in this book is followed, the parents or practitioner
should be able to detect and correct any errors in psychological attitudes
which may be contributing to abnormal mental health in the mother and
which may lead to mental illness in the child being breast-fed.
In retrospect we can see that most of the psychological problems
associated with young children can be traced to toxaemia, a condition of
poisoned blood and tissues. The remainder can be traced to mechanical
faults in the bony structure or faulty mental conditioning due to an
unfavourable home environment. If the foetus is fed correctly from the
moment of conception by a mother's bloodstream which is pure and
unpolluted, then if from the moment of birth until the day of weaning the
baby is fed on the breast milk of a healthy mother, most of the physical
and exclusively mental diseases of childhood could be avoided. The few
mental aberrations caused by faulty conditioning could also be avoided
by the adoption of a positive, optimistic and constructive mental attitude
by the mother. If these factors are attended to, the child will grow

58
normally, happily and well-adjusted to its environment. If through
ignorance, mental disturbances such as fears, tempers, disobedience,
rages and violence have developed, we must seek first to remove the
immediate causes and then to provide the climate of security and
reassurance for the disturbed child. if the child is to become well again it
will do so under these conditions. Just as all physical diseases can be
alleviated by intelligent management so will mental diseases respond to
a similar, but modified, rational approach.
In Chapter ten I made a statement which may have sounded radical and
indeed revolutionary. I said that in my opinion all babies are born
inherently good and that man possessed a natural tendency towards
goodness. I said that I believed in the essential goodness and
excellence of human nature. I also said that I did not believe in the
essential badness of human beings. I want to correct a wrong
impression that I may have created. I hope that my readers did not get
the impression that the belief in the essential goodness and basic
excellence of human beings was an original conception of mine and that
it was exclusive to me. This is not so. Many others much greater than I
have also expressed this belief even if they did not use exactly the same
words as I have used.
Since I have expressed this belief it might be appropriate if I gave my
reasons for doing so. I would like to enlarge on what I said and to offer
some evidence in support of this stance. I would like to examine some of
the natural instincts of mankind which seem to me to offer substantial
evidence of the basic excellence and goodness of human nature.
Here are a few natural instincts possessed by man which seem to me to
qualify him as a possessor of moral excellence. I will select a few natural
instincts and briefly discuss each one. I would like to tell my readers
about the natural instincts which seem to me to be most significant and
to offer the best evidence of the validity of the claim I have made for the
innate goodness of man.
I propose to briefly discuss the instincts of self-preservation, love of
beauty, sense of justice, the creative instinct, the acquisitive instinct,
generosity, the moral instinct, the competitive instinct, the faculty of
imitation, curiosity, suggestion, habit-forming, friendship, happiness,
admiration and dislike, self-respect, emotions, the narrative instinct,
building instinct, adolescence, and mating. Many others could be cited
with equal validity but these will suffice to demonstrate our point.
Man naturally possesses the instinct of self-preservation. This is
necessary for survival and maintenance of the status quo. It is evident in
the tiniest baby which seeks security as well as the food essential for its

59
sustenance. There is a natural inborn tendency in every human being to
protect itself and defend itself and man will struggle vigorously if called
upon to do so. We all have the natural tendency to seek food, suitable
shelter, favourable climate and air. All of these essentials man will strive
to achieve and maintain. These are all good things essential for man's
existence. This natural instinct is a quality of excellence exhibited by
man. It demonstrates man's essential goodness. The instinct of self-
preservation ensures man's survival and must be regarded as evidence
of goodness. When a person is ill this tendency may be perverted and
he may lapse into a tendency for self-destruction which may lead on to
his ruin. Neglect, which is a negative attitude of mind, leads on to
indolence, laxness, carelessness and slovenly acts. The instinct of self-
preservation is a sign of responsibility and reliability. Those possessing
this instinct are eminently stable people and can be trusted.
Man possesses an instinctive love of beauty. Man naturally appreciates
beautiful things. Beautiful music intrigues and charms the intellect.
Beautiful paintings, sculpture and other works of art produce
impressions of goodness and satisfaction on the mind. Man derives
great satisfaction from simply looking at beautiful things. Some people
also like to possess beautiful things but the main instinct is to be able to
see them. Man never tires of the beauties of Nature, especially the
unspoiled beauty of the sea, the sky, the earth, rocks, trees, flowers and
animals in their natural state. The love of beauty is an instinct which
again demonstrates the inherent goodness of mankind. Only mentally ill
and depressed people commit acts of vandalism and descration of
beautiful things. Man's love of beauty is a positive example of his
essential goodness. Only those suffering from illness of some kind can
accept ugliness as being normal. Acceptance of ugliness is a negative
mental attitude. It betrays a deficiency in the personality caused by a
poor state of health. All healthy people have an innate love of beauty.
All normal human beings possess a natural sense of justice. They resent
unfairness and protest against injustice. When a normal person sees an
unjust or unfair act being perpetrated the natural tendency is to protest
and to make a move to right the wrong. This sense of justice can also be
described as a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood. It is a quality of
excellence which demonstrates another facet of man's essential
goodness. Only those who have a toxic bloodstream and perverted brain
can see injustice and unfairness without making a protest. Those who
prefer injustice and unfairness are mentally ill. They are biassed and
dishonest. The conscience tells everyone what is right and what is
wrong. When the conscience is not functioning it can only mean a
deficiency in brain-power caused by a low standard of health. The

60
mental attitude which demands fairplay and equality for all is the normal
natural one.
Man has naturally within his make-up the instinct to construct or create
things. "To fashion something big or little, to feel its shape grow under
his hands, to be able to say at the finish - I MADE THIS - is to live". Man
derives great satisfaction from his instinct to make things. The creative
instinct is the mainspring of all arts. Man expresses his feelings when he
creates things with his hands and his mind. Here is another example of
the inherent goodness of man. Man is a natural originator and loves to
make or grow things. It is only the ill person who destroys things or
vandalizes his surroundings and environment. The will to destroy is a
negative mental attitude which can only be produced by a low standard
of health.
Man likes to acquire things. Man is a natural-born collector. He likes to
preserve things by gathering them when they might otherwise be lost.
The acquisitive instinct is a motivational one and prompts man to greater
efforts in order to be able to acquire costly or valuable objects. If kept
under normal control the acquisitive instinct is a good one and is further
evidence of the inherent goodness of man's nature. If allowed to get out
of control by the influence of a poisoned bloodstream or perverted brain
tissues man can lose his heritage and miss some of the best things
provided by Nature. If the normal acquisitive instinct is perverted it can
change into greed with its partners over-competitiveness and violence.
Man has a moral instinct. Man is normally and naturally ethical, virtuous
and upright in his behaviour. Only those who are ill are immoral, loose
and lacking in virtue. The moral person is one who has worth, goodness
and strength of character. The immoral and defective person is a
pervert. The normal healthy person is not tainted with vice or wrong-
doing. The moral person shuns wrong-doing or depravity. Virtuous
behaviour and right conduct are the normal natural instincts of a person
possessing a pure bloodstream and clean brain tissues. Morality needs
no bribery, coercion or threat of punishment.
Man has a natural competitive instinct. This is the normal desire to
succeed by very good, fair and moral means. Competitiveness spurs
one on to better efforts, to achieve the highest standard of which we are
capable. The normal healthy, well-balanced person seeks to compete
only to achieve reasonable success which is comparable with our latent
capabilities. When this excellent instinct is perverted it leads to over-
competitiveness with all of its greed and harmful side-effects. The
normal instinct to compete is one which again demonstrates one of the
excellent qualities possessed by man.

61
Let us now discuss the instinct of curiosity or inquisitiveness. Curiosity is
an instinct which is displayed very early in the life of an infant. It is the
beginning of the learning process whereby man progressively and
continually acquires knowledge. Babies are naturally curious and even
inquisitive. Babies seek for oddities and novelties. They are interested in
everything new and different which they see or feel or touch or smell.
When we lose this innate curiosity we become indifferent and ordinary
people. It is man's curiosity which sets him apart from most other
animals and makes him exuberant and interesting. Normal healthy
people are innately curious while unhealthy people are dull and ordinary.
Curiosity is certainly an example of goodness in man's mental make-up.
Man has an imitative instinct. Babies are natural imitators. They copy
their parents and follow their actions and customs. Even those who have
never attended a school can speak the language of their parents and
they can perform complicated tasks. The baby is a born mimic and soon
learns to say simple words, the meaning of which would be quite
unknown or unintelligible to them. They will ape their friends by making
sounds with facial expressions and movements of the hands. The
imitative instinct is another very strong and good quality in a young child.
It is a good test of intelligence. The young child who is unable to imitate
sounds and actions made by others is certainly mentally backward and
is in urgent need of help.
The instinct of suggestibility is one which allows us to receive
suggestions and either accept or reject them. The intelligent person
makes a full enquiry into anything suggested to him and weighs up the
evidence for and against. Suggestibility must always be tempered by a
critical faculty. Those who lack a high enough standard of intelligence
may be gullible. Gullibility is caused by an uncritical attitude towards
what has been suggested. Under the right conditions suggestibility is a
powerful aid in decision-making and is therefore a good quality. Those
who are inordinately credulous about everything are unable to avoid the
traps laid by devious people. They are just as gullible as overly
credulous people. Normal people are astute, critical and sharp of
intellect.
Man is a creature of habit. Without the habit-forming instinct he would
not be able to acquire customs. Habits teach us to do things which are
customary in our society. Man learns best by doing. Practice precedes
theory. Man discovers things by doing them first. Then he looks for
reasons to bolster his experience and to explain why it happened.
Babies learn to form habits very early in life and by imitation and
repetition they implant these ideas so firmly in the mind that lessons
learned in childhood remain fixed in the mind until death supervenes.

62
The habit-forming instinct is yet another example of the inherent
goodness in man. It is a basic quality.
Man wants and needs friendship and companionship. It is an expression
of our need for affection, familiarity and intimate relationship. It is a
special quality which drives or urges us to make a special choice of our
acquaintances. It is part of our search for happiness. The natural, normal
and healthy person wants and strives for happiness. Happiness is our
criterion. If we all strove to achieve this most desirable quality it is
obvious that there would be no wars. Friends cannot go to war against
each other. It is contrary to their pact of friendship. The innate instinct for
friendship is an indicator of the essential goodness of human nature.
Enmity can only grow and blossom in an atmosphere of unfriendliness.
Hatred cannot exist if the atmosphere is friendly.
As well as the need for friendship man has a need for happiness. This is
very basic because happiness should be our criterion. We should seek
those things which bring pleasure and enjoyment. The natural sense of
happiness feeds on the normal gratification of our aims and desires.
Those things which delight us and bring satisfaction produce a state of
euphoria, comfort, relaxation and health. In order to be truly healthy one
must be happy. The unhappy or ungratified person cannot experience
and enjoy total health. Happiness is the most important reason for living
so it is a most excellent quality which should be cultivated and
preserved. The unhappy person is missing the most fundamental reason
for our existence. Life is not worth living unless it is enjoyable.
We have twin instincts of admiration and dislike. When we admire
someone or something we demonstrate that we have estimated those
qualities and characteristics which appeal to us. We wonder at the high
standard exhibited by some people. We look up to them as a source of
inspiration. It is most gratifying when we are admired by someone and
this admiration has a profound effect on us mentally and physically.
There is also the opposite quality of dislike or aversion. When we see in
others qualities which we dislike and disapprove of we can't help
showing our feelings by our innate hostility, hatred or dislike for such
qualities. By maintaining a proper balance between our likes and dislikes
we achieve a stable condition which is only productive of goodness and
virtue.
The protective instinct is best expressed by the natural desire to be a
parent and to foster a child. The maternal and parental instincts are
basic and innate in all animals and without it all living organisms would
have died out long ago. The parental instinct is a clear demonstration of
the qualities of protection and tenderness inherent in all animals. Even

63
the lowliest animal will strive to protect, save fron harm, and guard their
young ones. They invariably carry out this duty until the young one has
arrived at a state of maturity and is able to fend for itself. The protective
instinct is a good example of the innate goodness of human nature. Only
a person who is sick in mind and body could abandon a child or
acquiesce in its destruction by lack of care and attention.
We all have a desire for self-respect. This instinct is one based on love
of ourselves. It is quite natural for people to form an attachment for their
physical body and for their mental accomplishments. The desire for self-
respect is the desire to honour ourselves and to have an esteem or
reverence for our better qualities. Only when we can respect ourselves
can we also respect others. Only then can we love our neighbours as we
love ourselves. If we cannot have respect for ourselves how can we
expect others to pay deference to us and respect us? If we wish others
to respect us and honour us we must first honour ourselves and our
better qualities.
A well known quality is the emotional instinct. A most basic need for
human beings is to be able to transmit our emotions. There is a need for
us to tell others and to show them how we feel emotionally. When we
think about our emotions we naturally think about the feeling of love.
There are also thoughts of ardour, sympathy, tenderness, pride,
kindness, but love transcends all. Emotions can also express the
negative conditions like hatred, coolness, hardness and cruelty. The
instinct to transmit our emotions enables us to show our feelings of
pleasure, displeasure, comfort or discomfort, love or hatred. It is
important for us to indicate our reaction to anything said or done, so this
instinct is a vital one which again demonstrates one of the excellent
qualities innate in human nature.
Man has a narrative instinct. This instinct is the normal and natural one
which drives all human beings to tell a story, to write a book, to sing a
song, to make music or produce a work of art. When a person has
something to say to another person they use some means to express
those thoughts. Right from early days the infant likes to hear stories and
this love of the story remains with us until the last. The narrative instinct
is a form of communication which links one human being to another
culturally. It is a pressing need to hear or see the recounting of a story,
whether it is true or fictional. Man enjoys phantasy just as much as he
enjoys fact. The narrative instinct is another example of the excellence
of human nature. Some of the greatest pieces of literature have been
written purely for enjoyment and it would appear that satisfaction of this
need is a basic requirement for human beings.

64
Let us now discuss the building instinct. Apart from the basic creative
instinct there is another allied instinct which drives us on. It is evident
very early in life when a tiny child will build sand castles on the beach.
These ephemeral structures, while having no permanence, give great
satisfaction and a sense of achievement to the young child. When man
is mature in stature and mind he derives great satisfaction from building
something bigger and better or grander. Whether it is a monument, a
factory, a skyscraper or a hydro-electric dam, the achievement is a
reward in itself. The building instinct prevents man from stagnating.
While he has this instinct to build he will remain active, busy, alert and
dynamic. The building instinct is a good example of human nature at its
best. It is a supremely good quality.
What about adolescence? Is adolescence an instinct? It certainly is.
Adolescence is a time of its own. It is unique. It has its own distinctive
characteristics of youthfulness, growing-up, of developing from
immaturity to maturity. Adolescence is young, fruitful, exuberant, hopeful
and forward-looking. It is a time of transmutation from the phantasy of
childhood to the period of adventure. Adolescence can also be a time of
confusion, puzzlement and problems of identity. The virgin maiden and
callow youth must pass through this testing and developmental period
during which they change from girls and boys into young women and
men. It is a good and necessary phase of our existence.
What shall we say about generosity? What can we say about it?
Generosity is our most prized quality. It is without doubt the greatest
quality that we are endowed with.
The next and final instinct that we will discuss will be the procreative
instinct. This is technically known as the phyloprogenitive instinct. It is
the innate urge to perpetuate the species. It can also be called the
mating urge in which the opposite sexes cohabit or live together for
mutual comfort, enjoyment, protection and the begetting and rearing of
children. The partners are motivated by mutual desire, by physical
stimulation and by the need to satisfy and fulfil the urge to reproduce
ourselves. These desires culminate in an act which ensures the
fertilization of an ovum, which in turn becomes a foetus, and ultimately a
baby. This mating instinct is activated by the sexual drive which is one of
the most powerful forces in Nature. It must have been a most insistent
instinct otherwise mankind, beset as it is by wars, floods, storms,
droughts, famines and other natural disasters, could never have
survived. It goes without saying that this instinct is a most desirable and
excellent one.

65
One could go on indefinitely quoting the many innate qualities of
goodness in mankind's make-up but mere repetition would become
tedious, dreary and unproductive. My object has been simply to analyze
briefly some of the more significant features of human nature which
prove that man is not basically bad or sinful, but to show to the contrary
that man in his pristine state, enjoying normal good health, can and does
achieve a state of excellence and goodness.
(Where I have referred to the male sex I would like it to be understood
that I also include the female sex).
I hope that I have indicated that when men, women and children deviate
from their natural life-style and by so doing, pollute their bloodstreams
and tissues, the inevitable result is some deterioration in mental faculties
which could be reflected in abnormal behaviour.
To sum up, let me say that in my opinion there is no such thing as a bad
or naughty child. There is only a sick and perverted child. In order to
correct the abnormality we have only to employ the simple naturopathic
methods which I have outlined elsewhere in this book. We should strive
to produce the most favourable conditions and environment which will
facilitate the restoration to normal of the sick child. When the child is
normally healthy it will revert to its original state of goodness and
excellence which were its original birthright.
All normal healthy human beings, including babies, are inherently good.
Those babies who are bad are sick babies.
Let me now re-iterate what I said earlier. For the successful treatment of
any disease, whether it is physical or mental, three essentials must be
kept in mind. Firstly, we must, to the best of our ability, seek for,
discover, and remove the causes of the complaint. Secondly, we must
provide all of the normal requirements such as sunlight, fresh air, pure
water, suitable foods, ample vigorous exercise, restful sleep, relaxation
and a positive, optimistic and constructive mental attitude, and a
favourable environment. Thirdly, when we have found and removed the
cause, and when we have provided for all of the needs of the sick
person, we should then thirdly, provide rest in order to allow the
organism the maximum of opportunity to carry out any repairs or
changes necessary. To do this we need physical rest, mental rest and
psychological rest.
Physical rest means just what it says. We should put the patient to bed
and ensure warmth. Use the muscles as little as possible. Conserve
energy. Mental rest simply means to provide a state of relaxation,
calmness, equanimity. Physiological rest means the total provision of
rest to the digestive system. We completely suspend the digestive

66
process. We take no food whatever. We take only water, fresh air and
sunlight.
When we combine these three kinds of rest we call the process Fasting.
If it is possible to successfully reverse the disease process and restore
the patient to health it will be done under these conditions.
I would now like to mention the subject of Invalidation. This is a word
which is not in common use today but I use it in the context of child
psychology because I believe that it is especially appropriate.
Having considered some of the excellent qualities inherent in human
nature it would be appropriate at this stage to explain just why I went to
such lengths. Is it so important to enumerate and consider the various
facets of human nature, and if so what has it to do with the psychology
of the young child or baby? It all hinges on the meaning of the word
Invalidation. Let us first discuss the meaning of this word. If we do this
we will be in a position to decide whether it is a bad thing or not.
The root of the word Invalidation is the little word Valid. Valid means
factual, correctly based, correct and right. But valid means more than
just a state of rightness. Validity implies that a thing is absolutely right.
there is no doubt. When a thing is valid it is correct in every way. We can
rely on it. Conversely, when a thing is invalid it is absolutely wrong and
inappropriate in every way. Validation is therefore the establishment of
the rightness of a thing. Invalidation is just the opposite. It establishes
that a thing is completely wrong and inappropriate. Applied to human
beings it is the act of always putting the other person in the wrong,
rendering that person ineffective, lowering his dignity. Now we can apply
this word to the young child.
When we invalidate a young child we put it definitely in the wrong.
Invalidating a child can consist of excessive fault-finding and down-
grading. When we invalidate a child we unduly criticize its behaviour,
blame it unjustly, rob it of integrity, and destroy its dignity. According to
our philosophy this is not the way to treat children. By treating a child as
though it is inherently bad or naughty we are robbing it of any dignity or
self-esteem it might have. The child feels frustrated and confused. It is
humiliating enough to be exposed when we are guilty of a
misdemeanour, but it is much worse to be accused when we are
innocent. Adults find false accusations difficult enough to cope with but a
young child has no defence and finds it much more difficult. The child,
being unable to defend itself adequately, smarts under the injustice of
the charge against it. That is precisely why invalidation of a young child
can be so damaging to its dignity and self-esteem. A young child which

67
is told that it is inherently bad, wicked or sinful, cannot understand the
basis of this accusation.
I have tried to show that a baby cannot have sinned when it is
unconscious of wrong-doing. To be told that it is naughty when it is
patently not naughty comes as a shock to a young child and can do
great harm to the personality. To charge a young child with naughtiness
is a common form of invalidation and a most pernicious one.
To chastise a child when it is innocent of wrong-doing is a crime which
may do irreparable harm and and may even warp the personality in later
years. We can see that this principle of invalidation is one which should
be strictly avoided.
Any child which has never been praised for good conduct or good works
or has been punished unjustly for uncommitted crimes must be
adversely affected. In many cases the scars of injustice and childhood
invalidation are evident in the warped personalities of fully-developed
adults. Some experiences are unforgettable.
Young children need to be validated by those they love. Young children
need to be praised when they deserve praise or when they have
genuinely tried to do right. It is very damaging to the mind of the young
child to find its efforts down-graded or ignored. But the mind is nourished
and uplifted by genuine and appropriate praise.
We can lay down a rule which runs something like this…Never
knowingly invalidate any action or conduct of a young child. Always seek
to validate all good actions or efforts.
Parents should try to acknowledge and recognize any worthwhile or
praiseworthy activity on the part of the young child. The child must
always be recognized so it develops a sense of self-respect and dignity.
The child which grows to adulthood with this sense fully developed is
most unlikely to deviate mentally and will become a happy well-adjusted
and mentally stable personality. To me this seems a most desirable
objective.
In conclusion, I hope that my readers will derive some instruction and
pleasure from this chat on child psychology. If you have studied this
chapter carefully you must surely have acquired some knowledge of
some hitherto obscure facets of child psychology.

68
 Chapter Sixteen
THE LAST WORD
This booklet is brief. Much more could have been said to expand it to
many times its present size without gaining anything thereby. It is
intended as a stimulus to thought and action.
It deals solely with the rearing of baby along natural lines. If a baby has
an illness caused by orthodox management in the past and it does not
respond satisfactorily to the simple treatments suggested herein, the
mother is advised to seek the advice of a competent Naturopath.
We wish to impress on parents-to-be that vital principles are involved. A
child is a living organism which is subject to natural law. If we choose to
disregard this natural law we run the risk of straining the organism
beyond its capacity. This is the custom which has been bequeathed to
us by our forefathers. It is time it was changed. The natural way of life
supplies the child with ALL of its normal biological requirements.
If the child is provided with natural foods, fresh air, sunlight, outdoor
activity, cleanliness, tender loving care in a happy, healthy home
environment, then the requirements for a normal life will be met.
Probably the greatest enemies of the child today are refined sugar,
refined flour and salt. No matter what compromises you may be forced
to make in the diet of your child, you owe it to him to see that these three
commodities and any food containing them, are rigidly excluded from the
diet.
The late Mr. L. O. Bailey reared the 85 Hopewood children from infancy.
They were given a diet of natural foods coupled with a healthy life-style.
They became the healthiest children in the world with teeth which were
25 times better than those of comparable children anywhere else. Mr.
Bailey often said "Be true to your teeth and they will not be false unto
you".
Remember - Most of the ills found in children are caused by wrong-
feeding and over-feeding.
The rearing of a child is a continuing educational program in which the
parents are learning every day. If you make every effort to learn from
your child, who knows, but that some day you may be inspired to set
down your thoughts based on the experiences gained in the fascinating
occupation of
REARING YOUR BABY NATURALLY

69
 LEARN TO STAND ON YOUR OWN FEET!

When ignorant but well-meaning friends try to influence you, stand firmly
on your own feet. Accept advice gratefully and gracefully but still do what
you feel and know to be right and, in accordance with natural law. You
can't go wrong.

Other Books in this Series:

l. HOW TO FAST
2. NATURAL FOODS
3. LIVING NATURALLY
4. WHAT IS NATURE CURE?
6. NATUROPATHIC FIRST AID
7. HEALTH AND HAPPINESS THROUGH POSITIVE THINKING
8. THE COMMON COLD
9. THE CAUSE OF DISEASE
10. FEVER - NATURE'S OWN HEALING PROCESS
11. LESSONS ON HEALTH
12. HOW NATURE "CURES"
13. RADIANT HEALTH FOR BEGINNERS
14. TELL ME SIMPLY
15. DIALEC77CS AND HEALTH
16. OVERCOMING MENTAL DEPRESSION

70