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CHAP. VI.] white cashmere or llama. Of whatever colour the outside may be, the lining should always be white for reasons I am going to explain later on.

In putting on the hood care should be taken that the ears lie in their natural position, flat, underneath it. If the hood is carelessly put on, the ears may easily be doubled forward by it, and become permanently deformed by a continuance of this practice. Here I may also observe that children's ears are frequently disfigured by hats which are pressed down too low upon the head, or by the elastic or strings of the hat, which, being carelessly fastened under the chin, push the ears forwards and outwards. It is wonderful how careless mothers and nurses are in this respect, considering what a great disadvantage it is in after-life to have ugly ears. Infants should not be allowed to lie asleep with their ears doubled forward by the position of the head.

Warm woollen overdresses should be worn by infants instead of the long heavy cloaks with capes generally adopted; and, indeed, very pretty and cheap outdoor garments for children of any age up till five or six may be made of some thick white woollen stuff, or knitted or crocheted out of wool. For infants these should reach two or three inches below the robes; after the child can walk, it may be made to the ankles. Both this and the summer cloak should have sleeves, so as not to impede the movements of the arms, as capes do, and should fasten down to the bottom.

Capes are very undesirable, as their weight is