The Young Mother

onable fears. Whims. Views of Dr. Dewees. Hardening. Rules for the cold bath. Securing a glow. Coming out of the bath. Local baths

odern times, have been accustomed to plunge their new-born infants into col

uite low, perhaps scarcely 40°, must and does have a powerful effect on the nervous system even of an adult; but how much more on that of a tender infant? We may form some id

however, in this respect, we should remember that the lungs of the infant do not get into full and vigorous action until some time after birth; and that, on this account, the hold they have on life

.[Footnote: Nothing is intended to be said here, which shall encourage unthinking nurses or mothers in setting themselves against measures which have been prescribed by higher authority,-I mean the physician. There are cases of this kind, where it requires all the resolution which a father, uninterrupted, can summon to his aid, to administe

her instances the results have been still more distressing. Dr. Dewees is persuaded that he has "known death itself to follow the use of cold water," in this way-I believe he means immediate death-and adds, with great confidence, that he has "repeated

besides being a close and just observer of human nature, Dr. D. has had the direction

nfants, whose constitutions are naturally very strong, are invigorated by the practice in question, others

on both internally and externally, are greatly diminished by the addition of a little spirit; but it is not so. Does the addition of such a small quantity of spirit as is generall

titutions. It is its indiscriminate application to all new-born children, without regard to strength of constitution, or any other circumstances, t

oints, the neck, the arm pits, &c. For rubbing the body, in order to disengage anything which might obstruct the pores, or irritate or fret the skin, nothing can be preferable to a piece of soft sponge or flanne

e exposed to currents of cold air. If the weather is severe, or if currents of air in the room cannot otherwise be avoided, the dressing, undres

gestions of our chapter on that subject are attended to, it will greatly facilitate the process of

ence to the bathing. How long the child should stay in the bath, must be left to experience. If he is quiet, fifteen minutes can never be too long; and I should not o

hy, except a little soap, as already mentioned. Some are fond

may, is at first a little exhausting. As the child grows older, however, and not only becomes stronger, but appears to be actually refreshed and invigorated by the bath,

more than hinted, is indispensable in every nursery. Our own sensations are often at best a very unsafe guide. There is one rule which should always be observed-never to have the te

hat of the water must not be so low as if it had been otherwise. On the contrary, if the room have been, for a considerable time, rather cool, the bath may be made several degrees cooler than in othe

t children are delighted to play and scramble about in the water. I know, indeed, that the contrary sometimes happens; but when it does, it is usually-I do not say always-because

d, that there is a strong prejudice against warm bathing, in many parts of the country. In endeavoring to trace the cause, I have usually found that it arose from having seen or heard of some child who died soon after its application. I have had many a parent remonstrate with me on the danger of the warm b

fix his grasp on the sufferer, that it would be very strange if many persons did not die, just after bathing. But that the bathing itself ever produced this result, in one case in a thousand, there is not the slightest reason for believing. [Footnote: Let me not be un

ot destroy, the good effects of the operation. Others still, shocking to relate, will even put it to bed in its wet clothes; this, too, from principle. Not unlike this, is the belief, very common among adults, that if we get our

, even with medical men; a large proportion of whom seem to believe that the practice may be useful. But I am not wholly al

e sure to be permanently weakened by it, rather than invigorated. 3. To those in whom there is the tendency of a large quantity of blood to the head, lungs, liver, &c., it is injurious. 4. In some, the shock produces a species of syncope, or catalepsy. 5. The reaction, as shown by the heat which follows the cold b

progress of his remarks on this subject, in which I do not concur. He says-"The object of all bathing is to remove impurities ari

true that cleanliness is the only object. If he means, even, that cleanliness is

eve its effects are almost anything but salutary, I do not deny that if its use were cautiously and gradually begun, and judiciously conducted, it might be the means of making children who are a

and unaccountably most fathers and mothers are-I cannot help regarding as a highly dangerous weapon; and

more vigorous children, and without the advice or direction of their family physician, I

is is a leading and important principle. The contrary, that is, the injurious effects of cold bathing-its immediate bad effects, I mean-are shown by the skin remain

temperature as to produce only a slight sensation of cold, and to take special care that the skin be immediately wiped very dry, and the temperature

of cold bathing-even in the case of the most robust

d at which we shall be most likely to secure a reaction. At first, twice or three times a week are as often as it wi

unge. Afterward, when he becomes older, and more inure

ncreased degree of attention to other circumstances-the temperature of the room, the avoiding currents of air, &c. He should next

ary in the administration of the cold bath. Some writers even recommend, that during the whole process of undressing, bathing, exercising, a

e feeble at first, from their not having been, like the heart, accustomed to previous action, yet when they get fairly into motio

it desirable to go to the contrary extreme, and bathe when the stomach has been long empty

d, I must be suffered to repeat, in this place, that, uninformed as people generally are in regard to physiology, I cannot advise even its mod

e, the temples, and indeed the whole upper part of the head, may be very properly wet with moderately cold water-taking ca

uth; and the process may be aided by wiping it out with a piece of soft linen rag. If a part or all of the water should be

ath. The shower bath-for which purpose the water is commonly used cold-is but poorly adapted to the wants of infants. The shock is muc

atus is somewhat greater, however, as a mere bathing tub costs but little, and can be made by every father who possesses common ingenuity. But whatever m

ut I am not now treating of infants who are s

more stimulating to the skin; but except when the perspiration is checked, or the skin peculiarly

a wet cloth or sponge, applied rapidly to the whole surface of the body. When this is done, the

s than a continuous immersion. I repeat it-no family ought to be without conveniences for bathing in warm water daily. I speak now of every member of the family, youn

ing daily, and care to see that it is performed-can never be afforded by the laboring portion of the community. But I s

hich they now expend their time and money. There is, and always has been-except, perhaps, among the Jews, in the earliest periods of the history of that wonderful nation-a strange dispo

of fitting up and keeping in repair accommodations for bathing at once 18,000 people? For adults; and for adults alone. I do not say that children were not admitted, in any case; but I

his curiosity; but his children-they may be overlooked! Or, if he has an eye to the future happiness of his child, he conceives that he is promoting it in the best possible degree, by endeavoring to lay

young vegetable. No parent, let him be ever so poor, is found in the habit of neglecting either of these in proportion to its infancy, and of exerting himself only in proportion as it grows older. Common sense tells him that the contrary is the true course; that however poor he may be, he will be still poorer, if he do not take special pains with the young animal, to rear it and with the young vegetable, to give it the right direction, by keeping down the weeds, and pruning and waterin