CHAPTER IV.  THE CHILD’S DRESS.

General principles—­1.  To cover us; 2.  To defend us from cold; 3. from injury.

Sec. 1. Swathing the Body.

Buffon’s remarks.  Transforming children into mummies.  Use of a belly-band.  Evils produced by having it too tight.  Cripples sometimes made.  Absurdity of confining the arms.  Infants should be made happy.

Sec. 2. Form of the Dress.

Curious suggestion of a London writer.  Advantages of his plan.  Killing with kindness.  Dr. Buchan’s opinion.  Conformity to fashion.  Tight-lacing the chest.  Its effects—­dangerous.  Physiology of the chest.  Its motions.  An attempt to make the subject intelligible.  Serious mistakes of some writers.  Appeal to facts.  Color of females.  Their breathing.  Their diseases.  Customs of Tunis.  Our own customs little less ridiculous.

Sec. 3. Material.

Flannel in cold weather.  Its use—­1.  As a kind of flesh brush; 2.  As a protection against taking cold; 3.  As means of equalizing the temperature.  Clothing should be kept clean—­often changed—­color—­lightness—­softness.  Cotton apt to take fire.  Silk expensive.  Linen not warm enough.  Flannel under-clothes.

Sec. 4. Quantity.

The power of habit, in this respect.  Opinion that no clothing is necessary.  Anecdote of Alexander and the Scythian.  Argument from analogy.  Begin right, in early life.  We generally use too much clothing.  Should clothing be often varied?—­objections to it.  Avoid dampness.

Sec. 5. Caps.

How caps produce disease.  Nature’s head-dress.  Miserable apology for caps.  What diseases are avoided by going with the head bare.  Judicious remarks of a foreign writer.  Covering the “open of the head.”  Wetting the head with spirits.

Sec. 6. Hats and Bonnets.

Hats usually too warm.  No covering needed in the house; and but little in the sun or rain.  Is it dangerous to go with the head always bare?

Sec. 7. Covering for the Feet.

The feet should be well covered.  Why.  Rule of medical men.  No garters.  Objections to covering the feet considered.  Shoes useful.  Not too thick.  Thick soles.  Mr. Locke’s opinion.

Sec. 8. Pins.

These ought not to be used.  Why.  Substitutes.  Practice of Dr. Dewees. 
Needles—­their danger.  Shocking anecdote.

Sec. 9. Remaining Wet.

Changing wet clothing.  Monstrous error—­its evils.  Clean as well as dry. 
A lame excuse for negligence.  No excuse sufficient but poverty.

Sec. 10. Remarks on the Dress of Boys.

Every restraint of body or limb injurious.  Tight jackets.  Stiff stocks and thick cravats.  Boots.  Evils of having them too tight.  A painful sight.