All these are of copper, and should be tinned
regularly. She generally has one good meal about tw'elve
o clock and in the evening and morning a basin of milk and
tea with half a loaf of bread or clmpntties. If she smokes let
her continue to do so ; it would be hard on any one to take
away what has become second nature.
'PI n^other should bathe her infant herself the first year,
the tub should have a stand made to fit it, for the fatio-ue of
stooimig IS unnecessary. The present writer bathes her own
infants when fifteen days old, the tub being placed on her
bed and the clothes all laid ready. It is stooping that makes
an exertion and it does not take ten minutes when all is
placed in readiness, and the articles of clothing in the order
164
The Complete Indian
they are to be put on. By this means a mother knows that
her babe is well and thriving. For any chafing or excoria-
tions a little salad oil is preferable to violet powder, which
often irritates, especially if too plentifully applied. If any
white specks appear on the mouth and lips, this is called
thrush. Great cleanliness is necessary, besides smearing with
borax and honey. A disgusting Indian habit, which should
be put down by all mothers, is for the (ujah to keep the baby’s
soiled napkins in the bathroom for at least twenty-four hours,
after which she has a grand wash, wasting no end of soap,
and throwing out the water in the bathroom. Each napkin
when taken off should be placed in a vessel provided for the
purpose, which should be at once filled up with water and
removed by the sweeper. T.lie latter, in a suitable place
outside, should have a little tub and a line hung up. He
should at once do the necessary washing, and then hang the
napkin out to dry ; not, as is the case, in the room, and so
cause an unhealthy smell. After which the dhobi should iron
them, and the ayah bring back every evening all that have
been used during the day. An extra rupee may be gnven to
the man for his amiability in setting aside dusioor, which will
be well spent both for sanitary reasons and in order to keep
the ayah to other duties.
As to infants’ clothing. In India most mothers put too
much clothing on their children, which is a fruitful source of
colds, croup, &c. So is also the ayalis habit of sitting into
the fire in the cold weather whilst holding the child. All
that is necessary is a knitted belt and vest— preferable to
flannel, which gets hard and tight— a flannel petticoat, and in
the cold weather a knitted well-fitting jacket, fastening at
the back and with long sleeves, under the usual cotton monthly
^own. Woollen frocks for infonts are objectionable, for the
reason that they cannot be changed as frequently as the cotton
ones can The Indian fashion of opening all garments down
the back is an abominable one, the poor child being conse-
ouentlv often exiiosed to cold in its most delicate parts. Hie
author has taken young infonts of a month or six weeks old
into camp in December and January, clothed as she has
described— only adding a warm pelisse on first issuing from
the night tent and during the march, but which was discarded
during the day— and they never got cold. But they slept
Housekeeper and Cook 165
Page 113
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
All these are of copper, and should be tinned regularly. She generally has one good meal about twelve o'clock and in the evening and morning a basin of milk and tea with half a loaf of bread or chupattis. If she smokes let her continue to do so ; it would be hard on any one to take away what has become second nature.
A mother should bathe her infant herself the first year, the tub should have a stand made to fit it, for the fatigue of stooping IS unnecessary. The present writer bathes her own infants when fifteen days old, the tub being placed on her bed and the clothes all laid ready. It is stooping that makes an exertion and it does not take ten minutes when all is placed in readiness, and the articles of clothing in the order
The Complete Indian
they are to be put on. By this means a mother knows that her babe is well and thriving. For any chafing or excoriations a little salad oil is preferable to violet powder, which often irritates, especially if too plentifully applied. If any white specks appear on the mouth and lips, this is called thrush. Great cleanliness is necessary, besides smearing with borax and honey. A disgusting Indian habit, which should be put down by all mothers, is for the (ujah to keep the baby’s soiled napkins in the bathroom for at least twenty-four hours, after which she has a grand wash, wasting no end of soap, and throwing out the water in the bathroom. Each napkin when taken off should be placed in a vessel provided for the purpose, which should be at once filled up with water and removed by the sweeper. The latter, in a suitable place outside, should have a little tub and a line hung up. He should at once do the necessary washing, and then hang the napkin out to dry ; not, as is the case, in the room, and so cause an unhealthy smell. After which the dhobi should iron them, and the ayah bring back every evening all that have been used during the day. An extra rupee may be gnven to the man for his amiability in setting aside dusioor, which will be well spent both for sanitary reasons and in order to keep the ayah to other duties.
As to infants’ clothing. In India most mothers put too much clothing on their children, which is a fruitful source of colds, croup, &c. So is also the ayah's habit of sitting into the fire in the cold weather whilst holding the child. All that is necessary is a knitted belt and vest— preferable to flannel, which gets hard and tight— a flannel petticoat, and in the cold weather a knitted well-fitting jacket, fastening at the back and with long sleeves, under the usual cotton monthly gown. Woollen frocks for infants are objectionable, for the reason that they cannot be changed as frequently as the cotton ones can The Indian fashion of opening all garments down the back is an abominable one, the poor child being consequently often exposed to cold in its most delicate parts. Hie author has taken young infants of a month or six weeks old into camp in December and January, clothed as she has described— only adding a warm pelisse on first issuing from the night tent and during the march, but which was discarded during the day— and they never got cold. But they slept
Housekeeper and Cook 165