The baby may now be washed and dressed. Before beginning, everything that is wanted should be close at hand, namely a basin of warm water, a large quantity of lard or some other unctuous material, soap, fine sponge, and a basket containing the binder, shirt, and other articles of clothing. First rub the child's body thoroughly with lard. The covering can only be removed in this way; the use of soap alone will have no effect unless the friction be so great as to take off also the skin. The nurse should take a handful of lard and rub it in with the palm of the hand, particularly in the flexures of the joints. In anointing one part, the others should be covered, to prevent the child from taking cold. If the child is thus made perfectly clean, do not use any soap and water, because the skin is left in a more healthful condition by the lard, and there is risk of the child's taking cold from the evaporation of the water. But the face may be washed with soap and water, great care being taken not to let the soap get into the child's eyes, which is one of the most frequent causes of sore eyes in infants. The navel-string is now to be dressed. This is done by wrapping it up in a circular piece of soft muslin, well oiled, with a hole in its centre. The bandage is next to be applied. The object of its use is to protect the child's abdomen against cold, and to keep the dressing of the cord in its position. The nature, shape, and size of the binder have been described. It should be pinned in front, three pins being generally sufficient. The rest of the clothing before enumerated is then put on. The child is now to be _applied to the breast at once_. This is to be done, for three reasons. First, it very often prevents flooding, which is apt otherwise to occur. Secondly, it tends to prevent milk fever, by averting the violent rush of the milk on the third day, and the consequent engorgement of the breast and constitutional disturbance. The third reason is, that there is always a secretion in the breast from the first, which it is desirable for the child to have; for it acts as a cathartic, stimulating the liver, and cleansing the bowels from the secretions which fill them at the time of birth. There is generally sufficient nourishment in the breasts for the child for the first few days. The mother may lie on the one side or the other, and receive the child upon the arm of that upon which she is lying. If the nipple be not perfectly drawn out so that the child can grasp it in its mouth, the difficulty may be overcome by filling a porter-bottle with hot water, emptying it, and then placing the mouth of the bottle immediately over the nipple. This will cause, as the bottle cools, a sufficient amount of suction to elevate the sunken nipple. The bottle should then be removed and the child substituted,--a little sugar and water or sweetened milk being applied, if necessary, to tempt the child to take the breast. FURTHER ATTENTION TO THE MOTHER.