CARELESS HABITS OF BATHING.
THERE is something almost startling in the way in which mothers often leave weak points unguarded in the care of their children. A certain boy of eight was constantly suffering from slight attacks of illness. First, he had a hard cold, which kept him out of school for several days; then he had the jaundice; then he had the earache. His mother one day questioned, in regard to the cause of the difficulty, a friend who had brought up a large family and who had a reputation for "faculty." The wise woman inquired closely concerning the child's diet, which seemed to have been, in the main, satisfactory. He was allowed plenty of sleep. He was properly clothed and was not overworking in school. The matters of exercise and fresh air were not neglected. "How do you bathe him?" asked at last the friendly mentor. "Oh," responded the mother, with little interest, as though a bath were of small importance compared with the other details which they had been discussing, "I really don't pay much attention to his baths since he has grown old enough to bathe himself. He takes two baths a week just before going to bed." "I really don't know. Pretty warm, I fancy. Most children like it so." "And how long does he stay in his tub?" "Oh, perhaps a half or three-quarters of an hour!" This mother was startled to be told by her friend that her son's baths were probably killing him. When their temperature was reduced nearer to blood heat, and he was allowed to stay in them not more than ten minutes, he rapidly grew strong, and his illnesses became slight and rare.—The Congregationalist.