, in a manner not to disturb the
closed lid. A separate piece of cotton is used for each eye and the
swabbing is done from the nose outward. The physician or nurse drops
into each opened eye two drops of twenty per cent argyrol, the surplus
medicine being carefully wiped off with a separate piece of cotton for
each eye. The baby should now be placed in a darkened corner of the
room, protected from the cold.

The eyes are washed daily by dropping saturated solution of boracic
acid into each eye with a medicine dropper. Separate pieces of gauze
or cotton are used for each eye.

THE FIRST OIL BATH

As soon as the cord and the eyes have received the proper attention
and the mother has been made comfortable, the baby is given its
initial bath of oil. This oil may be lard, olive oil, sweet oil, or
liquid vaseline. The oil should be warmed and the baby should be well
covered with a warm blanket and placed on a table which is covered
with a thick pad or pillow. The temperature of the room should be at
least eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Quickly, thoroughly, and carefully
the entire body is swabbed with the warmed oil--the head, neck, behind
the ears, under the arms, the groin, the folds of the elbow and
knee--no part of the body is left untouched, save the cord with its
dressing. This oil is then all gently rubbed off with an old soft
linen towel.

THE FIRST CLOTHING

After the oil bath, the silk and wool shirt (size No. 2), the diaper
and stockings are quickly put on to avoid the least danger of
chilling. The band having been applied at the time of the dressing of
the cord, our baby is now ready for the flannel skirt. This should
hang from the shoulders by a yoke of material adapted to the season,
cotton yoke without sleeves if a summer baby, and a woolen yoke with
woolen sleeves if a winter baby. The outing-flannel night dress
completes the outfit and should be the only style of dress worn for
the first two weeks. Loosely wrapped in a warm shawl, the baby is
about ready for its first nap, save for a drink of cooled, boiled
water.

This cooled, boiled, unsweetened water should be given in increasing
amounts every two hours until the child is two or three years of age.
It is usually given the child in a nursing bottle. In this way it is
taken comfortably, slowly, can be kept clean and warm, and should the
babe be robbed of its natural food and transferred to the bottle as a
substitute for mother's milk, it will alread