As a measure of hygeiene, it must be varied according to the age of the
child. For the first four or five weeks, the infant should not be kept
in beyond three or four minutes; and the duration must afterwards be
gradually prolonged as the child advances in age, until it extends to a
quarter of an hour, a period which may be allowed after it has attained
the age of four years.
When the bath is employed as a remedial agent, the time of immersion
must be prolonged; this will be determined by the medical adviser.
Speaking generally, a quarter of an hour may be said to be the shortest
period, an hour the longest, and half an hour the medium.
When in the bath, care must be taken that the child's body is immersed
up to the shoulders or neck, otherwise that part of the body which is
out of the bath (the shoulders, arms, and chest), being exposed to the
cooler temperature of the air, will be chilled.
When the infant or child is taken out of the bath, the general
surface, especially the feet, must be carefully rubbed dry with towels
previously warmed; and when one of the objects of the bath is to excite
much perspiration, the child should be immediately wrapped in flannel
and put to bed. When, however, the object is not to excite
perspiration, the child may be dressed in his ordinary clothing, but
should not be allowed to expose himself to the open air for at least an
hour.
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