INFANTS, among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, were swaddled as soon as they were born, in a manner similar to that practised by the moderns. The Jews circumcised and named their infant children on the 8th day from the birth. Upon the birth of a son, the Grecians crowned their doors with olives—of a daughter, with wool. The infant was washed in warm water, and anointed with oil—by the Spartans with wine; it was then dressed, and laid in a basket, or on a shield if the father was a warrior, particularly amongst the Spartans. At five days old they ran with it round the fire, and the mother's relations sent presents. The Greeks named their children on the tenth day, the Romans on the ninth: Their naming was attended with sacrifices and other demonstrations of joy. The maternal office of suckling their own children was never declined, when circumstances would permit. How much different is this from the unnatural delicacy observed by modern mothers, a delicacy which to the child is cruelty! The 40th day was a day of solemnity for the mother. The names of children were registered both by the Greeks and Romans. See REGISTER.
For an account of the custom of exposing infants, see EXPOSING.
Infants were kept from crying in the streets by means of a sponge soaked in honey. Nurses had also their bugbears and terrible names to frighten the children into peace:—The figure with which they were principally intimidated was ΜΕΡΜΑΛΟΝ, a sort of raw-head and bloody bones.