DRESSING OF THE CHILD. 569 



twelve days. All the ointments and waters recommended by the 

 good women to force it to close sooner are of no use, and might 

 even produce an opposite effect. It is sufficient to cover it with a 

 piece of fine dry linen, or to sprinkle it over with a little flour or 

 powder of lycopodium. 



1220. Previously to wrapping up the navel string, it was formerly 

 the custom to begin to dress the child and cover the head, arms and 

 breast. Thanks to the elegant pen of Rousseau, it is rarely neces- 

 sary for us at the present day to combat the employment of those 

 absurd swaddling bands, which render a new born infant an im- 

 movable mass, a sort of doll which could be taken hold of by the 

 feet and lifted up stiff. The reform upon this subject is carried so 

 far in England, that instead of the barra-coat they make use of a long 

 frock, a sort of sac of fine wool stuff, which serves for the dress of 

 the child. In France, they also put a shirt, or small woollen jacket, 

 provided with a soft chemisette, which is fastened behind with pins; 

 it is then wrapped in a linen barra and another made of wool or 

 cotton. These barras come up as high as the axillae, and go once 

 and a half round the body, and cross in front all the way down; the 

 end is then folded up so as to reach quite to the upper part of the 

 breast, and the corners are carried round behind, to the back, where 

 they are also fastened with pins. 



However, all these matters belong rather to the women, and par- 

 ticularly the nurses, than to the physician. Provided that the child 

 is comfortable, free in its motions, the dress soft and warm, it is of 

 small consequence what shall be its form, nature, or arrangement; 

 every thing over and above these points should be left to the taste or 

 caprice of the family or assistants. 



SECTION 3. 



Of the Foetus in a State of Disease. 



The foetus may be born weak, or even in a state of apparent death; 

 the treatment it shall receive under these circumstances should vary 

 according to the danger and the nature of the accident which com- 

 promils its life. 



§. I. Of Asphyxia. 



If the child is only weak without being actually sick, it should be 

 treated in the way that has already been directed; only we should 

 sooner attend to putting the finger in the mouth so as to cleanse it 

 from any mucus contained in it; great care is to be taken to avoid 



