A few months having passed by, the temperature of the water may be gradually lowered until cold is employed, with which it may be either sponged or even plunged into it, every morning during summer.  If plunged into cold water, however, it must be kept in but a minute; for at this period, especially, the impression of cold continued for any considerable time depresses the vital energies, and prevents that healthy glow on the surface which usually follows the momentary and brief action of cold, and upon which its usefulness depends.  With some children, indeed, there is such extreme delicacy and deficient reaction as to render the cold bath hazardous; no warm glow over the surface takes place when its use inevitably does harm:  its effects, therefore, must be carefully watched.

Drying the skin.—­The surface of the skin should always be carefully and thoroughly rubbed dry with flannel,—­indeed, more than dry, for the skin should be warmed and stimulated by the assiduous gentle friction made use of.  For this process of washing and drying must not be done languidly, but briskly and expeditiously; and will then be found to be one of the most effectual means of strengthening the infant.  It is especially necessary carefully to dry the arm-pits, groins, and nates; and if the child is very fat, it will be well to dust over these parts with hair-powder or starch:  this prevents excoriations and sores, which are frequently very troublesome.  Soap is only required to those parts of the body which are exposed to the reception of dirt.

Napkins.—­The frequency of the discharges from the bowels and bladder requires a frequent change of napkins.  A nurse cannot be too careful of this duty from the first, so that she may be enabled to discover the periods when those discharges are about to take place, that she may not only anticipate them, but teach the child, at a very early age, to give intelligent warning of its necessities.  Thus a habit of regularity with regard to those functions will be established, which will continue through life, and tend greatly to the promotion of health.  As the child grows older, the system of cleanliness must in no particular be relaxed, and it will be found the best preservative against those eruptive disorders which are so frequent and troublesome during the period of infancy.

During childhood.—­When this period arrives, or shortly after, bathing is but too frequently left off; the hands and face of the child are kept clean, and with this the nurse is satisfied; the daily ablution of the whole body, however, is still necessary, not only for the preservation of cleanliness, but because it promotes in a high degree the health of the child.