regulated by the constitution and previous habits of the individual. Sponging, upon first rising in the morning, with cold water in summer and autumn, and with tepid water in winter, in both cases strongly impregnated with sea-salt, is perhaps more generally applicable than any other form of ablution, and may be continued with great safety and advantage throughout the whole period. It may be commenced, too, if not employed before, even during the pregnant state, provided tepid water is used at first, gradually reducing the temperature until it is quite cold. For this to be done expeditiously and thoroughly, a shallow bath should be used, in which the patient must sit; the water should be then briskly sluiced over the individual, with a sponge, for two or three minutes, and on coming out of the bath the body rapidly dried by means of the sheet. The fear of taking cold by this or any other mode of bathing, so frequently entertained, is altogether groundless; for, if it is effected quickly, it is unquestionably the best preventive, and diminishes the susceptibility to the impressions of cold.

The shower-bath, if it has been previously employed, may be continued, but never taken for the first time during pregnancy; the shock to the nervous system would be too great, and miscarriage might follow.

In reference to the use of the shower bath, it is important to observe that, when first employed, it should consist of temperate salt water from 75° to 85°. It may be used for a week or ten days, and then the temperature be gradually reduced till the shock of the cold water can be borne. A foot-pan of warm water must be placed in the bath; this will lessen the shock, and promote reaction. From disregard to these pre

cautions, this important aid is often pronounced injurious, and laid aside.

If of a vigorous and healthy constitution, and living on the coast and accustomed to sea-bathing, this may be continued for the early months, but must never be commenced either at the onset of pregnancy or during its progress, for fear of abortion. The best time in the day for bathing is two or three hours after breakfast, exercise being taken previously, but not to an extent to cause fatigue or perspiration. The patient ought to plunge in or be dipped suddenly, one or two dips at first; and after a time the stay may be prolonged from five to ten minutes. The body must be speedily dried. The use of the sitz or hip-bath will be found of great value by many. The sitz-bath is the ordinary hipbath. It should contain from three to four inches of water, in which the patient sits, the water rising to about the navel. While in the bath the feet must be well clothed, and the person and bath enveloped in a blanket, which should be folded closely round the neck. Attention to the latter direction is especially essential; and, after the patient comes out of the bath, friction with rough flannels or towels must be resorted to. It is a means of health invaluable at this time, and especially to those who have been previously liable to any derangement of the uterine organs, maintaining their tone and vigour. Many of the transient but distressing sensations, such as bearing down, falling through, and such like, which so frequently accompany the early months of pregnancy, may be prevented when threatened, or removed when present by its employment; and while it gives temporary relief, its persevering use will be found to mitigate the suffering and to facilitate the act of labour. It should be taken,

in addition to the morning bath, every day at noon. It should be commenced at a temperature of 65°, and gradually reduced to 55°, the patient remaining in for five minutes. If the symptoms alluded to should increase, the bath may be repeated at five o'clock in the evening.

Much comfort will accrue in the warm summer months, and at all times in tropical climates, from the use of tepid affusion before the dinner hour. Let the individual sit in a shallow bath, and her servant either sponge her with water at 85°, or, what is still better, pour over her a couple of pails of water of the same tempeterature. This will be found not only to invigorate, but also to keep the body cool for the rest of the day. After any bodily fatigue or excitement, much refreshment may be obtained, and perhaps a more peaceful night's rest, by resorting to a sitz-bath at 85° for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes before going to rest.

Sect. 7.-The Breasts and Nipples.

As observed in a previous section, all compression of the breasts and nipples, by the corset during pregnancy, more particularly during its latter period, must be carefully guarded against. The glandular structure of the breast is often, by this continual pressure, permanently injured, and the nipples so forced inwards, and buried in the substance of the breast, that suckling is greatly interfered with, and sometimes rendered altogether impracticable.

The nipples, especially in a first pregnancy, ought, during the six weeks prior to confinement, to be prepared for nursing. The skin covering them is gene

rally so thin and sensitive, that the child's lips and tongue in the act of sucking soon make them tender and excoriated; and if this sensibility be not diminished, and the delicate skin rendered thicker and more callous before labour comes on, nursing will in many cases be necessarily given up very soon after.

The plan to be adopted is simple enough. Flannels, or any thick covering that is ordinarily worn immediately over the nipples, must be laid aside. Daily, upon rising and going to rest, each nipple must be washed, either with green tea, or the infusion of oak or pomegranate bark, and, having been carefully dried, must be exposed to the air for eight or ten minutes, and rubbed gently during this time with a piece of soft flannel.

If the skin of the nipples is very delicate and sensitive, and the above applications do not effect the object, the following lotion may be substituted: thirty grains of sulphate of zinc to eight ounces of rose water ; mix.

These means must be regularly and perseveringly employed up to the day of confinement, and will generally accomplish the object desired-the prevention of sore nipples.

If the nipples are very small, short, and consequently sunken in, besides the means pointed out for hardening the delicate and sensitive skin covering them, they should be drawn out. A glass instrument,' made somewhat in the shape of a tobacco-pipe, invented and ordinarily used for drawing the milk from an over-distended breast, may be employed for this purpose; it is placed over the nipple and held firmly

1 Vide fig. 6, p. 206.

FIG. 2.

in place, traction with the mouth is then made through the tube, and the nipple will be seen and felt to be 'sucked into the glass shield. Or Maw's nipple protector and developer may be tried. This useful little appliance is made of ivory, as figured opposite. It protects a sore nipple and keeps it cool : and is also of great service in developing one which is naturally small, or which may have been pressed in by too tightlyThis instrument may be worn, for a

fitting dress. month previous to the confinement, beneath the ordinary clothing. Or a breast-pump may be used. Whatever mode, however, is adopted, it must be commenced early, and must be repeated daily until the nipples are considered sufficiently prominent to allow an infant's mouth easily to grasp them.

Sect, 8.-Mental Influence.

Many women suppose that the condition of the mind of the mother has no influence upon the physical or mental constitution of the unborn child, and that violent passion, long-continued anxiety, sudden fear, and the like, are in no way productive of serious consequences. Others, running into an opposite extreme, firmly believe that the imagination of the parent is capable, not merely of affecting the general constitution of the child, but of exercising a direct and extraordinary influence upon its structure and symmetry. I think it may prove useful to say a few words upon both of these errors, as I have known much mischief to arise out of them.

1. The injurious Influence of Mental Disturbance. -Tranquillity and cheerfulness of mind are at all times