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CHAP. V.]
Rational Baby Clothing.
67

however, may be made to fasten down the back, preferably rather to one side.

Mr. Day's infant's clothing is made only by Mr. Addley Bourne, of 174, Sloane Street, S.W., with whom I have arranged also to provide all the articles of children's clothing and ladies' underclothing, the use of which I recommend in the following pages. They will be made under my instructions.

The great object to attain is to have an equal warmth over every part of the body, and to obtain the necessary warmth with the least possible weight. We must, therefore, do away with the ordinary cotton or linen shirt, which only covers the middle part of the body, and substitute for it a garment with long sleeves, fitting closely round the throat and reaching to the feet, or a little below them. This should be made of fine flannel or merino, like that used for gentlemen's vests; calico, silk, and linen are all bad, as they are heavy, without being warm, and check perspiration, leaving the skin wet, instead of keeping it dry by absorbing the skin exhalations, as woollen materials do.

The great length and fulness of ordinary baby clothes is very injurious; as the child lies in the nurse's arms, the whole weight of this comes on the legs and feet, cramping their movements, and even deforming the feet by dragging on them. The clothes, therefore, should be made short from the very first, and the legs kept warm by knitted woollen stockings, made to fit loosely about the feet and legs, and long enough to fasten on the