mamma. His
little friend was approaching the stairs of the play room, when the
thoughtless mother carelessly and impatiently remarked: "Oh, are you
going to bring Ned upstairs? you'll make so much noise." The little
host met his friend at the top with the words: "They don't want boys
in the house, we'd better go outdoors." The mother "woke up" and
arranged a little "party" upstairs for the two husky, healthy--and
noisy--boys.

During the creeping days remember that the floor is the coolest part
of the room, and in the absence of the creeping pen, which is "built
up" two feet above the floor, extra clothing should be put upon the
child while on the floor. During the damp days of early spring and the
cool days of late fall, as well as on the bleak days of winter, baby
is better off if he is kept off the floor. It is a fine plan to put a
number of table boards on top of the springs of the baby's bed; in
this way a sort of pen is produced which is high above the cold floor
and the baby is content to spend much of his time in this little pen,
happy with his playthings.

KISSING THE BABY

We most strongly protest against the haphazard, promiscuous kissing of
babies. Many forms of disease, such as tuberculosis, syphilis,
diphtheria, influenza, common colds, etc., may be carried to the child
in this way.

The baby, notwithstanding his attractiveness, his beauty, and his
grace, should not be overfondled. Kissing the hand is not much better
than the mouth, for the hand quickly finds its way to the mouth. If it
be necessary to kiss a baby, then let the kissing be done on the back
of the neck or on top of his head, but never on the face or hand.

SUCKLING HABITS

There came into the office one day a woman forty or more years of age,
whose mouth was markedly disfigured, and on my inquiring as to the
probable cause she said: "Doctor, it is the result of sucking my thumb
when I was a mere child, too young to know better, and every time I
look into the glass, which I assure you is only when I am compelled
to, I curse my parents for not breaking me of that habit." The
indulgent parents were hated and despised for neglecting their duty,
because of the disfigurement which resulted from this unrestrained
habit of early childhood.

Thumb sucking, finger sucking, or pacifier sucking, are all filthy
habits, and should be early discouraged. To aid in overcoming the
habit of sucking the thumb or biting the fingernails, the ends o