A very sensible plan, in my judgment, is to prepare what will be wanted during the first two months; subsequently, articles may be made or bought as they are needed. Accordingly, the quantity of wearing apparel and the nursery supplies I have suggested pertain only to the early weeks of infant life. Although no essential has been omitted, the outline is plain and economical. At present, outfitters supply a variety of ready-made, garments for the infant and conveniences for the nursery; in many of them notable ingenuity is displayed which aims at the child's comfort or the saving of labor to the mother. Catalogs of these articles, which are often expensive, are furnished by dealers. In preparing clothing for the new-born, several principles must be kept in mind. The first is that the garments must be warm without being unduly heavy; and another that they should be roomy, permitting perfect freedom of motion. A third no less important principle is simplicity. Adornment of the clothing gratifies the mother, but does not serve a single useful purpose. The lists which follow include all that is necessary for the young infant; they will also serve as a basis for elaboration if a more lavish outfit is desired. _Necessary Clothing_. 4 Abdominal Flannel Bands. 3 Undershirts. 4 flannel Skirts. 4 Night Gowns. 12 White Slips. 3 Knit Bands. 4 Dozen Diapers. Cloak and Cap. _Nursery Equipment_. An old Blanket. Assorted Safety Pins. Soft Damask Towels. Wash Cloths. Hot-Water Bag with Canton Flannel Covers. Talcum Powder. Olive Oil. Bassinet. _Additional Articles; Convenient but Not Essential_. Rubber Bathtub. Rubber Bath-Apron. Flannel Apron. Bath Thermometer. Bath Hamper. Quilted Mattress Covering. Baby Scales. Screen. Low Chair without Arms. Drying Frames. STERILIZATION.--Now and again, those who follow very rigid rules to avoid infection during childbirth are criticized for their pains. The general public has not yet grasped the true relation of bacteria to this condition; a relation which, indeed, first became clear to medical men within comparatively recent years. The development of our knowledge of the nature of infection forms one of the most entertaining chapters in obstetrics, and provides a simple way of showing the genuine need of preventive measures. Several observant physicians had previously suspected the character of "child-bed fever" (as infection of the mother was once called), but convincing proof of its contagious nature was not forthcoming until the middle of the nineteenth century, when signal facts were pointed out by three men, each working independently, though all came to similar conclusions. The evidence they gathered should have left no one doubtful that the disease is contagious, and largely preventable. On the contrary, bitter opposition was encountered for the time, and only within the last two decades has their teaching found wide practical application.