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CHAP. V.]
The Faults of the Layette.
65

spread prejudice against post-mortem examinations, the true cause of the death is generally never discovered. As this prejudice raises unnecessary hindrances to the progress of the healing art, I take this opportunity to protest against it.

Babies' clothes as a rule are made according to a bad old fashion, and have four great faults, (1) They are not made high enough in the neck to keep the chest and shoulders warm; (2) they press on the arms, and so prevent them from being moved freely; (3) they are made so that they cannot be put on without the child's being turned over and over—some even having to be passed over its head; (4) they are too long, full, and heavy. The clothes ought, however, to be made: (1) to cover every part of the body alike; (2) to rest upon the collarbones so that the arms may be quite free; (3) they should be made so that they can be put on without turning the baby once; (4) they should be short and light, so that it can move its legs quite freely. Two or three kinds of infants' clothes have been invented to fulfil these conditions. Those invented by Mr. Day, assistant-surgeon to the Royal Hospital for Women and Children, consist of three articles. First a fine flannel vest reaching to about four inches below the feet, which should be protected by woollen socks, wrapped round the infant and tied in front with tapes; next a calico shirt with sleeves nearly to the wrist, to reach four inches below the vest; and, lastly, a robe made in the same way, that is, to fasten down the front. The robe and shirt may be fastened with small