cotton batting, and drawn together by a tight bandage eight inches wide placed about the body, and held well up by straps of cotton cloth over each shoulder attached to the upper edge of the bandage before and behind. A piece of absorbent cotton should be laid between the two breasts, and some starch dusted in the crease to prevent chafing and soreness. The pressure of the bandage prevents the breast from filling up. An opening should be made over each nipple in the bandage so that the baby may nurse. Night and morning the breasts should be rubbed with the oiled hand, if there are any lumps in them, beginning gently and stroking the breast from the outside toward the nipple, when the milk will begin to flow, and, after a time, the tenderness and lumps will disappear altogether. This should not be done, however, if the breasts are actually inflamed, that is, if the skin of the breast is reddened, or if there are fever, pain on moving the arm nearest the affected breast, or deep throbbing pain. In such a case, stoppage of nursing, the application of an ice bag to the inflamed breast, and a surgeon's services are essentials.

To prevent "broken breast" or abscess, besides the use of the breast bandage and massage, it is well that the patient take an ounce of Epsom salts, if the milk is very abundant, on the third or fourth day after labor. Then to avoid future abscess, which may occur any time during the nursing period, it is desirable that the child's mouth and the mother's breasts be washed with

boric-acid solution, before and after each nursing, and that vaseline be kept on the nipples in the intervals. If this treatment be faithfully followed, and the breasts be kept absolutely clean, it is unlikely that cracked nipples will occur, and these are the cause of most late abscesses of the breast. Massage and bandaging of the breasts may be stopped as soon as they cease to be troublesome. If the baby does not at first take the breast well, the nipples may be gently drawn out, and a little milk and sugar placed on them will entice the baby to begin nursing. The patient may usually be allowed to sit up in bed about the tenth day, and can, at the beginning of the second week, remain out of bed on a lounge or in a chair, and get about the house at the beginning of the third week.

The great danger of "childbed fever" may be absolutely avoided by perfect cleanliness in regard to the patient, as just described, and this applies just as fully to the attendant, who should always wash her hands thoroughly before touching the patient; and all clothing and articles coming in contact with the patient must be scrupulously clean. The occurrence of fever, during the first week after labor, is the first sign suggestive of blood poisoning (from entrance of germs into the womb), and demands the immediate skill of a surgeon. The temperature should, therefore, always be taken twice daily, for at least ten days after labor, and 100° F. is the danger signal.

CHAPTER IV

The Care of Infants

Bathing the Little One-Its Clothing-Taking the Air-Weighing as a Guide to Growth-The First Teeth-Nursing and Weaning-Special Diets.

CARE OF THE BABY.—Immediately following the tying of the navel cord, the baby's face and eyes should be washed. It is best to let boric-acid solution flow directly into the eyes from a cup (using as much boric acid as the water will dissolve), so that they are thoroughly cleansed. The stump of the navel cord is dressed by wrapping it in absorbent cotton wet with alcohol, or with the dry cotton if alcohol is not at hand. The baby is then anointed all over with warm sweet oil or vaseline, wrapped in a flannel, and put in a warm place, but not bathed for some hours. From time to time the baby must be watched to see that the navel cord does not bleed, and if it does, another piece of narrow tape or cotton string, previously boiled, must be tied tightly about the stump.

The cheesy matter may be washed off the body in a few hours with warm water and Castile soap, but the baby should not be put in the bath tub for about ten days. Until that time, daily sponging may be done

with warm water, or, if the baby is feeble, it must be rubbed with warm oil instead. The dressing over the navel is kept in place by a loose, flannel binder. The cord should drop off about the fifth day, and any raw spot remaining should be cleaned by pouring on water which has been boiled, and then dusting on dry boric acid and applying absorbent cotton.

Bathing. After the tenth day the baby should be bathed daily in a tub. First wash the head and face and dry them; then soap the body with Castile soap and place him in water at the temperature of 100° F., while supporting his head and back, and wash off the soap. Avoid chilling in every way. A soft, boiled wash rag is more suitable than a sponge. A cloth should be kept separate for use about the buttocks. The eyes should be bathed daily with boricacid solution (one-quarter teaspoonful to pint of water). Any soreness or discharge from the eyes should demand the immediate attention of a physician (consult also p. 32). Chafing is avoided by scrupulous cleanliness, and changing of diapers as soon as soiled or wet; also by dusting in the folds of skin a powder consisting of a mixture of starch, three parts, boric acid, one part. If the skin is very delicate, the bran bath may be used to advantage. This is made by tying one pint of bran in a bag of cheese cloth and placing it in the baby's bath for five minutes, and then squeezing it out thoroughly into the bath. The bag should then be dried and may be used again.

Drying should be done with a soft towel without rubbing the skin. If there is a rash on the body, it is wiser to omit the bath altogether until it is gone. After six months the bath may be reduced to 95° F.; after the end of the first year to 90° F., which is continued during the second year.

Clothing. A bellyband, four inches wide and long enough to encircle the body and overlap four inches, should be worn the first six months. After this a knitted band may be used for two years. Most babies are dressed too warmly in the house, and the rooms are overheated. The thinnest gauze shirts are most suitable for summer, the next to the heaviest flannels in winter. Thick coats and leggings in winter, worn only when the infant goes outdoors, are better than heavy flannels worn all the time.

The writer is indebted for many valuable suggestions as to the hygiene and feeding of babies to Dr. L. Emmet Holt's most practical book entitled "The Care and Feeding of Children," than which there is no better guide of its kind for mothers.

Temperature. The nursery should be kept at a temperature of 68° F. during the day; never above 70° F. at any time, and not below 65° F. at night, for the first three months. After the first year it may be as low as 45° to 50° F. at night. The windows may be open at night after the first three months, except in very cold weather. If the child is born in hot weather, of course the windows may be open at any