bath, the baby girl's genitals are carefully swabbed
between all the folds with boracic acid solution. The foreskin of the
boy baby should be pushed well back and washed gently with water. If
the foreskin of the male child be long, tight, or adherent,
circumcision is advised. See our chapter, "Teaching Truth."

The genitals of both the boy and girl should be kept scrupulously
clean every day, with as little handling as possible, and, upon the
appearance of the least swelling, discharge, or even redness, the
physician's attention should be at once called to it. In a later
chapter, the subject of irregularities of sex habits will be taken up.

CARE OF THE BUTTOCKS

Often, because of irritating bowel movements, the buttocks become
reddened, chafed, and sometimes raw in places. Some poor little babies
are sometimes roughly rubbed--scoured on the buttocks--much like the
kitchen sink, many times a day, and it is not surprising that they
become reddened, chafed, and very much inflamed.

The buttocks require a gentle swabbing and thoroughgoing "patting dry"
after each soiling or wetting of the diaper, but no soap is required
in this region but once a day, and even then it should be used
sparingly.

When the buttocks are inflamed, after a good cleansing with water and
a thorough drying, vaseline or zinc ointment should be applied on a
piece of sterile cotton, and this application should be repeated after
each changing of the diaper. Wet diapers should be removed at once,
for the acidity of the urine causes more chafing. A dusting powder
composed of starch two parts, and boracic acid one part, may be dusted
on after a cleansing with oil.

Great care should be exercised in the thorough daily rinsing of the
diapers as well as in the tri-weekly boil in the laundry. White soap
only should be used in their cleansings; no washing sodas or other
powders should be used.

OTHER SPECIAL CARE

Under the arms and in the creases of the neck the skin sometimes
becomes irritated because of neglect. To prevent such chafing the
following program should be carefully carried out:

1. Not too much soap--and no strong soap.
2. Careful rinsing of the skin area.
3. Avoid harsh rubbing, but thoroughly dry.
4. The use of talcum powder in all folds of the skin.

With a fine camel's hair brush the hair should receive its brushing
after the cleansing of the scalp. Combs are for just one purpose and
that is to part the hair. Th