HYGIENE OF THE SKIN Hygiene of the newborn must of course be adapted to the above conditions. As this subject has been considered in another place, it will suffice at this juncture to state the most important hygienic meas ures for the first period of the child's life.
It goes without saying that the principal care of the skin consists in keeping it free from secretions and excretions, and to cleanse the skin from dust, sweat and fat. This is best accomplished by leashing the chikl with warm or lukewarm water and mild, nearly neutral, nonirri tating soap. Unna's "neutral soap" ean be recommended as the best children's soap in all cases. Next to washing the child in point of im portance is the bath. The average temperature of the full bath for the newborn shoulcl be 35° C. (05° F.) and the length of time fi Ve to ten minutes every day until the second year; at the end of the third year the temperature may be gradually reduced to 32-33° C. (89.3°-91.2° F.); from the third year the child need only be bathed three or four times a week, later twice a week. Certain substances may be added to the full bath, the mildest of which is wheat bran. One-half to three pounds placed in a linen bag are boiled for half an hour in about five litres (5 quarts) of water, the decoction being poured into the bath. This is rightly considered as having the mildest and most soothing effect upon the skin of the newborn. The next best baths are the astringent ones, prepared by the addition of wild thyme or chamomile, a handful of which is likewise boiled in five litres (5 quarts) of water which are added to t,he bath.
Cold full baths or cold douches are not advisable in t,he period of infancy. Cold sponging after warm baths only comes into question at a more advanced period. According to whether the skin is dry or fatty, hygienic measures should be taken to render it either more or less fatty. Thus, after each bath and also during the intervals the skin should be either powdered or anointed. For severe seborrhoea of the head frequent washing with lukewarm water (to which chamomile or wild thyme, has been added) and soap, or with soda 3 to .5 Gm. (45-75 grains) soda to 500 c.c. (16 oz.) of water is to be recommended. To loosen the scaly masses the best and most convenient oil is weak salicylic oil on account of its keratolytic properties (salicyl 2-5 Gin. (30-75 grains) castor oil 40 Cm. (1 oz.) olive oil ad 100 Gm. (31 oz.) to be applied after having been warmed in a water bath). With this oil it is possible to loosen all these deposits in a short time.
In conclusion I will briefly repeat what has already been stated at another place when treating of general therapy, that hygienic treatment also requires a sensible, sufficient and not overabundant nourishment, as both extremes in this regard can easily cause skin affections, as stated above.