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62
The Science of Dress.
[CHAP. V.

largest next, and so on to the smallest; the whole should then be put on with the smallest piece nearest to the navel, so as just to fit into it. A long strip of rag should then be rolled twice round the body to keep these little pieces from slipping off."

To avoid the evils so graphically described by Prof. Humphry, besides giving up the linen roller, the flannel one should be greatly reduced. Cut a strip of flannel long enough to go twice round the infant. Make one end of this narrower than the other, so that it can pass through a slit in the breadth of the other side. It will then sit quite smoothly round the baby, and should be tied to one side in front with ribbons. The edges of the flannel should be left raw, as, if they are bound, the skin of the little one may be chafed. The flannel should be broad enough to cover the abdomen, and long enough for the ribbon sewn on to the narrow end to tie quite close to the other ribbon, which must be sewn on behind the slit, for if the flannel does not meet in this way, the strings may cut the soft little body. A good plan is to crochet or knit a band of fine, soft, white wool, which can be made like woollen cuffs, and slipped up over the feet. It must be big enough to fit closely to the child, and different sizes should be kept to wear as the baby grows.

The best binder I have seen is that shown in Fig. 2. It is made of flannel, neatly bound with a soft ribbon, and has the front made of silk elastic, shaped to the abdomen, so that there is just