e neck, arm-pits and joints and
those between the buttocks and the thighs, and it is well to notice if all
the natural openings are perfect; finally the baby is put down into the
tub of warm water at about 96 degrees F., and washed off, with the head
and back firmly supported with the left arm and hand during the bath. The
baby is lifted out in a minute of two, held face downward for a moment and
rinsed off with clean warm water. It is then wrapped in a warm towel and
flannel and dried by patting, not rubbing. It is best to do all this on a
table, instead of on the lap, and it should be large enough to hold a bath
tub, every thing necessary for the bath and a pillow upon which to place
the baby. Everything then can be done without stooping and with greater
comfort to the child. Powder should not be used except where there are
signs of chafing, when stearate of zinc is the best to use.

The navel is then dressed. A hole is cut in the center of a square of
sterilized lint or linen which is slipped over the cord and folded about
it; the cord is then laid toward the left side, and over it is put a small
sterilized cotton pad which is held in place by the flannel bandage and
just tight enough to hold. The binder may be kept on by sewing it smoothly
with half a dozen large stitches, thus doing away with any danger of being
injured from the pins. A binder should only be tight enough to hold the
dressing for the navel. After the cord drops off the looser knitted band
should be used. The infant is not bathed in the tub again until after the
cord has been dried up and ready to drop off, which usually occurs on the
fifth or sixth day, although it may not drop off for nine days. The cord
should not be redressed in the meantime. (See Baby Department for further
directions).

THE MOTHER.

The first duty of the physician, following the third stage of labor, is to
see that the womb is well contracted and control of this organ should be
continued for at least one hour after delivery. This generally prevents
excessive loss of blood. If necessary to promote womb contraction one
teaspoonful of ergot can be given. After the womb has been kept in a state
of contraction, the room should be rid of all evidences of labor and the
woman made comfortable. The buttocks and thighs which have been soiled
during the labor should be bathed with warm water and soap and the
external genitals sprayed with an antiseptic solution, then dried with
ster