The history of the following case is reported as the text for a few remarks upon sepsis in the newborn, not only because of its rarity, but because of the interest attached to the case in connection with its etiology.
Baby T. was born on February 1, 1896, of a healthy primiparous mother after a normal though rather tedious labor which had to be terminated by forceps. The child was a male weighing about seven pounds, cried well and was quite vigorous.
The mother had no vaginal discharge before labor, but a vaginal douche of 1-2,000 bichlorid of mercury was given her upon the advent of the first pain, none were given afterward. Her puerperium was perfectly normal and afebrile.
As soon as the head was born the eyes were wiped and the face was washed, the first bath being given some hours later. The cord was tied with a