37S O F I N F A N C Y. 



The fluid contained in the amnios leaves up- 

 on the infant's body a vifcid whitifh matter, 

 which is fometimes (o adhefive, that it requires 

 to be diluted with lome mild liquid before it 

 can be removed. In this country, we always 

 wafh the infant with warm liquors ; but there 

 are whole nations, who inhabit climates much 

 colder than ours, where the infants are plunged 

 into cold water as foon as they are born, with- 

 out receiving the fmalleft injury. The Laplan- 

 ders are even faid to leave their new-born in- 

 fants in the fnow till their refpiration is almoft 

 Hopped with cold, and then throw them into a 

 warm bath. This rough treatment is continued 

 three times every day for the firft year : And, 

 after that period, the children are bathed thrice 

 a week in cold water. The inhabitants of the 

 northern regions are firmly perfuaded that cold 

 bathing makes men more healthy and robuft ; 

 and, therefore, they inure their children to this 

 habit from their very birth. We are, indeed, 

 totally ignorant how far our bodies may be 

 rendered capable of fuffering, of acquiring, or 

 of lofing, by the pov/er of habit. The favages 

 in the ifthmus of America, when covered with 

 fweet, plunge themfelves into cold water with 

 impunity : The women throw their drunk huf- 

 bands into the rivers, in order the more fpeedily 

 to remove the effeds of intoxication : The mo- 

 thers bathe in coid water along with their in- 

 fants the moment after they are delivered ; and 



yet 



