Nor will spirits added to the water make any material difference.  I am aware that there is a very general notion abroad, that the injurious effects of cold water, in its application both internally and externally, are greatly diminished by the addition of a little spirit; but it is not so.  Does the addition of such a small quantity of spirit as is generally used in these cases, materially alter the temperature?  Is it not the application of a cold liquid to a heated surface, still?  Can we make anything else of it, either more or less?

I do not undertake to say, that the cold bath may not be so managed in the progress of infancy, as to make it beneficial, especially to strong constitutions.  It is its indiscriminate application to all new-born children, without regard to strength of constitution, or any other circumstances, that I most strenuously oppose.  Of its occasional use, under the eye of a physician, and by parents who will discriminate, I shall say more presently.

Our first duty on receiving a new inhabitant of the world is, to see that it is gently but thoroughly washed, in moderately warm soft water, with fine soap.  Special attention should be paid to the folds of the joints, the neck, the arm pits, &c.  For rubbing the body, in order to disengage anything which might obstruct the pores, or irritate or fret the skin, nothing can be preferable to a piece of soft sponge or flannel.  Though the operation should be thorough, and also as rapid as the nature of circumstances will permit, all harshness should be avoided.  When finished, the child should be wiped perfectly dry with soft flannel.

While the washing is performed, the temperature of the room should be but a few degrees lower than that of the water; and the child should not be exposed to currents of cold air.  If the weather is severe, or if currents of air in the room cannot otherwise be avoided, the dressing, undressing, washing, &c., may be done near the fire.  And I repeat the rule, it should always be done with as much rapidity as is compatible with safety.

Here will be seen one great advantage of simplicity in the form of dress.  If the more rational suggestions of our chapter on that subject are attended to, it will greatly facilitate the process of washing, and the subsequent daily process of bathing, which I am about to recommend to my readers.

This washing process is also an introduction to bathing.  For it should be repeated every day; but with less and less attention to the washing, and more and more reference to the bathing.  How long the child should stay in the bath, must be left to experience.  If he is quiet, fifteen minutes can never be too long; and I should not object to twenty.  If otherwise, and you are obliged to remove him in five minutes, or even in three, still the bathing will be of too much service to be dispensed with.

Nothing should be mixed with the water, if the infant is healthy, except a little soap, as already mentioned.  Some are fond of using salt; but it is by no means necessary, and may do harm.