George Leo Haydock, on Ezek 16:4

“And when thou wast born, in the day of thy nativity thy navel wits not cut, neither wast thou washed with water for thy health, nor salted with salt, nor swaddled with clouts.”

“Cut. By this the infant received nourishment in the womb. Now it seems to be exposed by its parents. (Calmet) — The Jews in Egypt were abandoned to idolatry and distress. (Theodoret, in Canticle of Canticles) — Health. Many plunged the infant in cold water to brace its nerves, (Calmet) or to wash it. Salt was also used to dry up the humidity and stop the pores, (St. Jerome) or it was mixed with water to harden the skin and navel. (Avicen. Gall. San. i. 7.) — Clouts, to keep the body straight. The negroes who neglect this are stronger and better proportioned, (Calmet) and too much restraint is known to be detrimental to the tender limbs. (Haydock)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.