Period of remaining in the bath.—­This must depend upon circumstances.  As a measure of hygeiene, it must be varied according to the age of the child.  For the first four or five weeks, the infant should not be kept in beyond three or four minutes; and the duration must afterwards be gradually prolonged as the child advances in age, until it extends to a quarter of an hour, a period which may be allowed after it has attained the age of four years.

When the bath is employed as a remedial agent, the time of immersion must be prolonged; this will be determined by the medical adviser.  Speaking generally, a quarter of an hour may be said to be the shortest period, an hour the longest, and half an hour the medium.

When in the bath, care must be taken that the child’s body is immersed up to the shoulders or neck, otherwise that part of the body which is out of the bath (the shoulders, arms, and chest), being exposed to the cooler temperature of the air, will be chilled.

When the infant or child is taken out of the bath, the general surface, especially the feet, must be carefully rubbed dry with towels previously warmed; and when one of the objects of the bath is to excite much perspiration, the child should be immediately wrapped in flannel and put to bed.  When, however, the object is not to excite perspiration, the child may be dressed in his ordinary clothing, but should not be allowed to expose himself to the open air for at least an hour.

Time of using the bath.—­When resorted to for sudden illness, the bath must of course be employed at any time needed.  When used for any complaint of long standing, or a measure of hygeiene, as a general rule, it should be taken between breakfast and dinner, about two hours after the former, or an hour and a half before the latter.  This implies that the infant should never be put into the bath after having been freely nourished at the breast.  Neither should it ever be used when the child is in a state of free perspiration from exercise, or on awaking from sleep.

Chap.  III.

Of teething, and hints on the permanent or adult teeth.

The infant at birth has no teeth visible:  the mouth is toothless.  It possesses, however, hidden in the jaw, the rudiments of two sets.  The first of these which makes its appearance, are called the Temporary or Milk Teeth; the second, the Permanent or Adult Teeth, and these come up as the former fall out, and so gradually replace them.

Sect.  I.—­On teething.