glow, a feeling of increased strength, and a keen appetite, it will do no good, and ought at once to be abandoned for the warm or tepid bath. The opinion that warm baths generally relax and weaken, is erroneous; for in this case, as in all cases when properly employed, they would give tone and vigour to the whole system : in fact, the tepid bath is to this child what the cold bath is to the more robust.

In conclusion: if the bath in any shape cannot from circumstances be obtained, then cold saltwater sponging must be used daily, and all the year round, so long as the proper reaction or glow follows its use; but when this is not the case, and this will generally occur, if the child is delicate and the weather cold, -tepid vinegar and water, or tepid salt water, must be substituted.

SECT. IV. CLOTHING.

IN INFANCY. -Infants are very susceptible of the impressions of cold; a proper regard, therefore, to a suitable clothing of the body is essential to their enjoyment of health. Unfortunately

an opinion is prevalent, that the tender child has naturally a great power of generating heat and resisting cold; and from this popular error has arisen the most fatal results. This opinion has

been much strengthened by the insidious manner in which cold operates on the frame, the injurious effects not being always manifest during or immediately after its application, so that but too frequently the fatal result is traced to a wrong source, or the infant sinks under the action of an unknown cause. It cannot be too generally known that the power of generating heat in warm-blooded animals is at its minimum at birth, and increases successively to adult age-that young animals therefore, instead of being warmer than adults, are generally a degree or two colder, and moreover part with their heat more readily. These facts show how absurd must be the folly of that system of "hardening" the constitution, which induces some parents to plunge the tender and delicate child into a cold bath at all seasons of the year, and freely expose it to the cold cutting currents of an easterly wind, in the lightest clothing; —cruel as absurd.

The principles which ought to guide a parent in clothing her infant are as follows:

The material and quantity of the clothes should be such as to preserve a sufficient proportion of warmth to the body—regulated, therefore, by the season of the year, and the delicacy or strength of the infant's constitution. In effecting this the parent must avoid the too common, but frequently fatal, practice of leaving bare, at all seasons of the

year, the neck and upper part of the chest and arms of her little one; such exposure in damp and cold weather being a fruitful source of croup, inflammation of the lungs, and other serious complaints. At the same time a prevalent error in the opposite extreme must be guarded againstthat of enveloping the child in innumerable folds of warm clothing, and keeping it constantly confined to very hot and close rooms; since nothing tends so much to enfeeble the constitution, to induce disease, and render the skin highly susceptible of the impressions of cold, and thus produce those very ailments which it is the chief intention to prevent. The infant's clothing should possess lightness as well as warmth, and therefore flannel and calico are the best materials to use. The skin however in the early months is so delicate, that a shirt of fine linen must at first be worn under the flannel; but as the child grows older the flannel is desirable next the skin, giving by its roughness a gentle stimulus to it, and thus promoting health.

They should be so made as to put no restrictions to the free movements of all parts of the child's body-so loose and easy as to permit the insensible perspiration to have a free exit, instead of being confined and absorbed by the clothes, and held in contact with the skin till it gives rise to irritation. Full room too should be allowed for

growth, which is continually and rapidly going on, and particularly should this be the case round the throat, armholes, chest and wrists, so that they may be easily let out. The construction of the dress should be so simple as to admit of being quickly put off and on, since dressing is irksome to an infant, causing it to cry, and exciting as much mental irritation as it is capable of feeling. Pins should be wholly dispensed with, their use being hazardous through the carelessness of nurses, and even through the ordinary movements of the infant itself. This leads me to make one general remark applicable not only to the clothing but also to other circumstances in the economy of an infant the babe can itself give no explanation of the inconveniences it suffers. "Bearing this in mind, and remembering how continually adults are annoyed by trifles which they have the perception to discover and the ability to remove, it will readily be acknowledged that nothing is too insignificant for the constant and regular attention of a mother." For example, "articles of dress contract, or otherwise lose their shape; a ruck forms, a hook bends, or a button turns and presses upon the flesh: any one of these accidents occasions pain, and frets the temper of an infant.”

The clothing should be changed daily; this is eminently conducive to health. There should always too be an immediate change of wet and

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soiled linen, for that which is fresh and dry. Unless these directions are attended to, washing will, in a great measure, fail in its object, especially in insuring freedom from skin diseases. The wardrobe, therefore, must be sufficiently large to admit of this; and where pecuniary means are not abundant, the mother, in making her baby linen, should remember that quantity is more important than quality.

With regard to caps, they should be made of thin material, with no under cap. The head is to be kept cool, not warm. As soon as the hair begins to grow, provided it is not very cold weather, caps may with advantage be left off altogether, night as well as day.

In reference to the clothing of the legs and feet, during the first seven or eight months, the child's clothes extend considerably beyond them; and up to this period, therefore, they are completely protected from cold and the variations of temperature. From this time, however, when short-coating, as it is styled, is commenced, cotton or fine flannel socks should be put on in warm weather, and fine angola stockings during cold weather. Shoes also must now be worn, made of light and pliable materials, and large enough to prevent all constraint to the feet; neither too roomy, nor too tight. Some persons object to the use of shoes, believing that they interfere with the child's learning to walk: if, however,