Should redness and pus appear in the eye or eyes a few days after birth, what should be done?  Use a piece of soft linen or absorbent cotton and wet it in a solution of boric acid or salt (one-half teaspoonful to one pint of water, warm) and wash out the eye or eyes, and if pus appears, use a stronger solution of boric acid (ten grains to eight teaspoonfuls of water.) If the lids stick together grease them with vaselin from a tube and rub in at night.  If the sore eyes are severe send for a physician as it may be the beginning of ophthalmia neonatorum.

[550 Mothers’ remedies]

Mothers’ remedies.—­1.  Sore Eyes, Mothers’ Milk for.—­“There is nothing as good as mother’s milk.”  This is very soothing and healing and seems to work better than medicines in small babies.

2.  Sore Eyes.  A Nurse from New York sends the following remedy for.—­“Take a cup of water that has been boiled and cooled and dissolve in it one teaspoonful boracic acid powder.  Bathe the eyes thoroughly and often.”  A nurse in New York state, gives this recipe, and says she has been a nurse for several years and has never had a case of sore eyes which did not heal with this treatment.

How is washing out the baby’s mouth done?  Use a swab made by twisting some absorbent cotton upon a toothpick.  The folds between the gums and lips and cheeks may be gently and carefully cleaned twice a day unless the mouth is sore.

If a baby cries while nursing, what is the cause?  It may have a sore mouth.  What is thrush or sprue?  Patches looking like little white threads or flakes appear inside the cheeks.

What is the cause of sore mouth?  It is usually due to uncleanness and carelessness.  It may come in delicate babies without any special reason.  Babies who suck a “pacifier” or a rag with sugar in it are very apt to have the disease.  Bottle-fed babies get it because of uncleanness of the nipple and bottle.

Should the baby continue to nurse?  Yes, but the mother should thoroughly cleanse her nipple with a solution of boric acid after each nursing.

What should be done for it?  It should be washed before and after every feeding with a solution of baking soda or boric acid of the strength of one even teaspoonful to twenty-four teaspoonfuls of water, or listerine, one teaspoonful to twenty-four teaspoonfuls of warm water, can be used.  (This will be treated more fully later under diseases).  A solution of borax (twenty grains to eight teaspoonfuls of water) can be applied every two hours with a camel’s hair brush.  Borax, sage and honey are good old remedies.

Should the scalp have special care at birth?  It should then and afterward be kept clean to keep scurf from accumulating.  It should be wet before the body is immersed in the bath.  The hair should always be dried carefully; brush first with a soft towel and then with a fine, smooth hair-brush.  Never use a comb on an infant’s head.