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Feeding the Infant

The mother should be sure that her own milk is not made unwholesome to the child by worry or over-work, and that the milk of the cow or goat, if used, is perfectly healthful. When an animal is found that is known to be healthy, continue feeding the child on the milk of that animal. This selection is not difficult in the country. In the city it is only possible in certain cases, but every mother can and should keep her own temper equable.

III. Nursery Bathing.

THE child should be regularly bathed in water fully as warm as the body. A bath-tub, or other vessel-a wash-tub will answer-in which the child can sit, when old enough, should be provided. The child will soon come to like its baths, and look forward to them with pleasure. The infants may be washed with tepid water, in a room where there are no drafts, and dried gently with the softest of towels. They will like it. Let them play and kick about in the bath pretty much as they like. A good large square of oil-cloth will prevent wetting the carpet. It is taken for granted, of course, that the child is in good health. If it is ailing, from any cause, consult your physician, but be sure your physician looks into causes carefully. The physician who does not carefully study a case, has mistaken his calling If the child is delicate, the bath should always be warm. If in ordinary health, the water should be tepid. The cold bath should not be employed for children, except under the advice of a physician. When the child is old enough to take care of itself, and proper friction is employed immediately after, followed by a brisk run, cold bathing is not always objectionable. Salt bathing may be artificially had by using a little sea salt in the water. It is excellent.

IV. Duration of and Proper Time for Bathing.

ALL baths, even by those in health, should be taken in a warm room, unless the regular swimming-bath is indulged in. Here the temperature of the air is pleasant to the naked skin, for nobody with moderately good sense will go in swimming in cold weather. In the following table, after Dr. Wooton, it should be understood that winter baths, both warm and cold, should be taken in a warmed apartment.