2C0 THEPHILOSOPHY 



Savages are remarkably attentive to the cleanlinefs of their chil- 

 dren. Though they cannot afford to change their furs fo frequently 

 as v?e do our linen, this defed they fupply by other fubftances of no 

 value. The favages of North America put wood-duft, obtained from 

 decayed trees, into the bottom of the cradle, and renew it as often 

 as it is neceffary. Upon this powder the children are laid, and co- 

 vered with fkins. This powder Is very foft, and quickly abforbs 

 moiflure of every kind. The children in Virginia are placed naked 

 upon a board covered with cotton, and furnifhed with a proper hole 

 for tranfmitting the excrement. This pradice is likewife almoft ge- 

 neral in the eaftern parts of Europe, and particularly in Turkey. It 

 has another advantage : It prevents the difmal effeds which too of- 

 ten proceed from the negligence of nurfes. 



Many northern nations plunge their infants, immediately after 

 birth, into cold water, without receiving any injury. The Laplan- 

 ders expofe their new-born infants on the fnow till they are almoft 

 dead with cold, and then throw them into a warm bath. During 

 the firft year, this feemingly harfli treatment is repeated three times 

 every day. After that period, the children are bathed in cold wa- 

 ter thrice every week. It is a general opinion in northern regions, 

 that cold bathing renders men more healthy and robuft; and hence 

 they inure their children, from their very birth, to this habit. In 

 the ifthmus of America, the inhabitants, even when covered with 

 fweat, plunge themfelves with impunity into cold water. The mo- 

 thers bathe in cold water, along with their infants, the moment af- 

 ter delivery ; yet much fewer of them die of child-bearing, than in- 

 nations where a pradice of this kind would be confidered as ex- 

 tremely hazardous. 



With regard to the food of infants, it fhould confift, for the firft 

 tiwo months,, of the mother's milk alone. A child may be injured 



