receive any
friction with a towel after such baths, but should be rolled up in a
clean linen towel and simply patted dry.

CHAFING

Great care should be exercised in the choice of baby's soaps. Among a
number of soaps that might be mentioned castile soap is, perhaps, as
good as any. Frequent sponging is required to wash off the irritating
perspiration; cool clothing, plenty of talcum powder, a dose of
calcined magnesia, and a regulated diet are necessary to clear up the
trouble.

Chafed skin, particularly between the buttocks or in other folds and
creases, should be kept free from soap. Either the starch or bran bath
may be tried, while olive oil should be frequently and lightly rubbed
over the chafed part. A bit of sterile cotton placed between the folds
to prevent friction is often all that is necessary to correct the
difficulty.

Dandruff or milk crust which is often seen on young babies' scalps
has been described in detail elsewhere. It should early receive the
vaseline rub at night which will often loosen up the hardened crusts.
It may be gently removed in the morning with soap and water unless the
case has gone on to great severity. In such neglected cases the mother
should not undertake to correct the difficulty alone. Taken early,
when the scalp is covered with tiny flakes known as milk crust, it can
be quickly relieved.

VULVOVAGINITIS

Vulvovaginitis is a very contagious disease, and before the days of
hospital asepsis, which is so perfectly maintained today in our large
institutions, this disease used to go right through a children's ward
because of carelessness in the handling of soiled diapers, etc. The
sign of this disease is a yellow-white vaginal discharge, while the
surrounding skin covering the inside of the thighs and buttocks may be
very much reddened. The baby should be taken at once to the physician
at the first appearance of these symptoms. Only rigid isolation can
possibly prevent other children from getting it--essentials are
separate towels, wash towels, soap (in the case of the older
children), and, in the case of the baby, separate diapers and rigid
scrubbing of the attendant's hands--in this way only can this
infection be held in check. The infected child should sleep by
herself, and utmost care must be exercised in preventing her fingers
from first touching the itching vulva and then placing them to the
eyes or to the mother's eyes. A vulva pad must be worn as long as the
dis