The toughening of the nipples should be begun eight weeks before the baby is expected. There are two general methods which seem to give about equally satisfactory results; one is to harden the skin with astringents and the other is to soften it with ointments. In either case, the nipples should first be scrubbed gently with a soft brush or cloth, warm water and soap, for about five minutes night and morning. They may then be rubbed with lanoline, cocoa-butter or vaseline and covered with a piece of clean soft cloth or gauze, to protect the clothing; or they may be bathed with a wash consisting of equal parts of a saturated solution of boracic acid and 95% grain alcohol. Tannin, benzoin and a great variety of astringents are also used, and with satisfactory results. But the essential is to decide upon some method of preparation, of proved value, and then persuade the patient to employ it with faithful regularity. CARE OF THE TEETH. It is important that the pregnant woman give her teeth excellent care, for in addition to the conditions with which we all have to cope, she must combat the effect of her tendency to have an acid stomach. And her teeth are prone to decay and crumble, since the fetus extracts lime salts from her bones and teeth, unless she is careful to take in through her food a supply which is adequate to meet the fetal needs. It is therefore advisable for her to place herself under the care of a dentist, as soon as she knows of her pregnancy, and have any necessary work done at that time, as delay may be serious. Some physicians think it advisable to have an X-ray examination of the teeth made as a routine, in order to discover any existing pockets of pus at the apices of devitalized teeth. They feel, that because of the somewhat unstable condition of the pregnant organism, these localized infections are more of a menace to the expectant mother than to the ordinary individual, and that in some cases they should be drained. As to daily care of the teeth, the patient should use dental floss and brush her teeth after each meal, and use an alkaline mouth wash several times daily, particularly after vomiting and before retiring. Much damage may be done by the acid secretions in the mouth if they are allowed to bathe the teeth through the long night stretches. Common cooking-soda, lime-water or milk of magnesia make excellent mouth washes.