For reasons too complicated and off topic to go into here, a friend of 
mine asked me a question today about ancient birth practices. It all 
started in Ezekiel 16:4 which reads as follows:
"As for your birth, when were were born your navel cord was not cut, 
and you were not bathed in water to smooth you; you were not rubbed 
with salt, nor were you swaddled."
This is clearly a description of ideal post birth care which this 
person did not get.
The question is about the rubbing in salt. Is anyone familiar with such 
a custom immediately after birth. The thought that I had was that it 
might be related to drying the cord or some antiseptic way of cleaning 
off the baby after birth, but I don't know for sure.
Any info or references would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
  Naomi Bar-Yam
--------------------------------
Naomi Bar-Yam Ph.D.
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Researcher, Writer, Educator
in Maternal and Child Health
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