Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Page 3

produce either inflammation or smarting of those organs.
If the skin be delicate, or if there be any excoriation or "breaking-out" on the skin, then
glycerine soap, instead of the Castile soap, ought to be used.
4. _At what age do you recommend a mother to commence washing her infant either in
the tub, or in the nursery basin_?
As soon as the navel string comes away [Footnote: Sir Charles Locock strongly
recommends that an infant should be washed in a tub from the very commencement. He
says,--"All those that I superintend begin with a tub."--Letter to the Author.] Do not be
afraid of water,--and that in plenty,--as it is one of the best strengtheners to a child's
constitution. How many infants suffer, for the want of water from excoriation!
5. _Which do you prefer--flannel or sponge--to wash a child with_?
A piece of flannel is, for the first part of the washing very useful--that is to say, to use
with the soap, and to loosen the dirt and the perspiration; but for the finishing-up process,
a sponge--a large sponge--is superior to flannel, to wash all away, and to complete the
bathing. A sponge cleanses and gets into all the nooks, corners, and crevices of the skin.
Besides, sponge, to finish up with, is softer and more agreeable to the tender skin of a
babe than flannel. Moreover, a sponge holds more water than flannel, and thus enables
you to stream the water more effectually over him. A large sponge will act Like a
miniature shower bath, and will thus brace and strengthen him.
6. _To prevent a new-born babe from catching cold, is it necessary to wash his head with
brandy_?
It is not necessary. The idea that it will prevent cold is erroneous, as the rapid evaporation
of heat which the brandy causes is more likely to give than to prevent cold.
7. _Ought that tenacious, paste like substance, adhering to the skin of a new-born babe, to
be washed off at the first dressing_?
It should, provided it be done with a soft sponge and with care. If there be any difficulty
in removing the substance, gently rub it, by means of a flannel, [Footnote: Mrs Baines
(who has written so much and so well on the Management of Children), in a Letter to the
Author, recommends flannel to be used in the first washing of an infant, which flannel
ought afterwards to be burned; and that the sponge should be only used to complete the
process, to clear off what the flannel had already loosened. She also recommends that
every child should have his own sponge, each of which should have a particular

distinguishing mark upon it, as she considers the promiscuous use of the same sponge to
be a frequent cause of ophthalmia (inflammation of the eyes). The sponges cannot be
kept too clean.] either with a little lard, or fresh butter, or sweet-oil. After the parts have
been well smeared and gently rubbed with the lard, or oil, or butter, let all be washed off
together, and be thoroughly cleansed away, by means of a sponge and soap and warm
water, and then, to complete the process, gently put him in for a minute or two in his tub.
If this paste like substance be allowed to remain on the skin, it might produce either an
excoriation, or a "breaking-out" Besides, it is impossible, if that tenacious substance be
allowed to remain on it, for the skin to perform its proper functions.
8. _Have you any general observations to make on the washing of a new-born infant_?
A babe ought, every morning of his life, to be thoroughly washed from head to foot, and
this can only be properly done by putting him bodily either into a tub or into a bath, or
into a large nursery basin, half filled with water. The head, before placing him in the bath,
should be first wetted (but not dried), then immediately put him into the water, and, with
a piece of flannel well soaked, cleanse his whole body, particularly his arm pits, between
his thighs, his groins, and his hams, then take a large sponge in hand, and allow the water
from it, well filled, to stream all over the body, particularly over his back and loins. Let
this advice be well observed, and you will find the plan most strengthening to your child.
The skin must, after every bath, be thoroughly but quickly dried with warm, dry, soft
towels, first enveloping the child in one, and then gently absorbing the moisture with the
towel, not roughly scrubbing and rubbing his tender skin as though a horse were being
rubbed down.
The ears must, after each ablution, be carefully and well dried with a soft dry napkin,