, 1877-04-14
NneuA.


THE lSPANTRr.
~ sAs Editor at TAs Tribune :.
CHICAGO, April 12.--It was Incidentally re-
marked In an earlier paper that tho mothers milk
was, M general rule, the most suitable food for
the infant. This eecsus 20 reasonable, and 10 30
universally admitted. that Nh elaborate argument in
favor OF tic proposition would be supernuous.
Tho mothers milk IL best for the baby simply be-
cause II contains precisely the substances essential
to the development Of the growing tissues in a
auttablo form for ensy assimilation. 1t 10 n pro.
yislon nf Nature. and, theoretically, requires and
to1cratcs nc amendment or Interference.
BIT, unfortunately, tho wise designs Of Natnso
often fail far short OF accomplishing their pur.
pose. Some mattsn influence intcrposcs 10 sct
them Al nought, and new conditions established
which utu.t bc properly mot. Instead Of the
mothers milk supplying tho beat possible nonr'sh
mcnt for hcrluiansF 1t may be hacking in important
constituents for want Of which tho baby snfIess;
or the milk may be 10 impaired IN quality as To bo
actually de1ecrious; OF, for physIcal REASONS, thu
mother naJ be Unable 10 nurse her child. ur she
may be AFFLICTED with some constitutional
disease, which makes the milk un1t for
nutrition; or, the infant muy be ainieted
with samo congcnltal defosmity OF debility which
incapacltates him from tho act OF hurting; or the
milk, willis unlmpalrcd IN quality, uaJ be 10 de-
scient tn quantity that the child suffers from In.
Anlt!on.
We hnvo now 10 consider how The various In
n5eQuacfes In Natures arrangements arc to bo
met and supplied, and 6rst, let 1t be stated, ~
general fnle, that whenever from any cause Il Il
impsscttcablc for tho tnothcr 10 nurse the child
good wot.aurse should be procured Parents
should not grudrc the extra expense and
trouble nseded 10 secure this chance OF
saving the1r child. Even when the qucs.
ton Of expense Is vital one, vet
nurse would. In most cases. be tho best eeonomy
In the cnd, giving the child good digestion in.>
Il kaAs .,.-tr StSA
amount Of nnzacty and caro- and Favlng Bills for
medical attendance and nursing. The OWL OF Inn In
paired digestion docs not end With infancy, but a
a!ckly childhood, feeble youth, and a aemi.tn.
valid condition for whole ltfeilmo may be On.
talcd npou child by parental caroesaneas or pa
nuriousness.
II tho child should have haro-lip or 10 tongue.
tied, mechanical obstacle Is offered to
tho net Of nursing. II must BE- hFtl.
hclally nnustshod. or, In some cases, when
The tleformity is such that an lnsigni1cant
operation would remedy It, tho baby may 10 fed
on brcast milk for short time until this operation
ean be performed.
In eatcs Of profound debility, artificial feeding
~ tho only Resource. but repeated and persistent
effort should be made very early after birth to ln-
duce tho baby to tai;o tho breust. Children will
sometimes satisfactorily at hsst, but present.
~ fall III, and ntterwar refuse 10 even nfor
recovery, which, however. ID much less likely 10
occur II artificial food be giycu. Let tho baby bs
fed Upon breast uiIk durin. The Illness and ~ long
~ recovery IL possible. Even week or two u o
gain. Tho longer tho unavoidable resort to nttI.
nral diet Il postpoued, tho batter Is tho baby'a
chance.
II tlero bo fault In the gland which renders
the prchcns!on Ut tho nipple impossible 10 the
child, eiIoFt should bu tnado to overcome tt; but
this condition shouli have been recognized month.
before md rcmcdtcd in season, A. 1t most always
can be.
Sometimes the mother IL unable 10 uoustsh her
child from al1eer debility, much oftcncr, am
afraid. from an imaginary weakness, from vanity,
from unwillnGnety to submit 10 tho necessary cou.
Ancmeut. and othet Inaltquata reasons which IN
easy .guing doctor accepts, but whteh active and
urgent aenso OF duty 0l thu part OF tho mother
would speedily get aslIe.
Apart from tho welfare Of the child there ars
urgent reasons why tho mother should nurse her
offspring. The exercise OF lint function favors
complete performance il essential u iu.uro health
ana ,gys TG m9lhts @ w9 toss n9t nas sf
sae wul;Id not Otherwise Incur,
Where .hu mother has actual disease. ua eonsump.
en %Tf hs az 'enx
nut sussst VI mothers !aiik. Many womsn,"
bl1ltel, .tac.tical children. until ii la.t one i.
I'll: ss. fes essy H. s:ea1 s s 'n Tho fa"y
well. proaouuesti scl0inlous dfathcsts should,
think. conlss;ndieats natural nursln1, especially
tn tas syAtcin OF the yllanant!c patient there Il
rrobshiy m ezccss VI lRetlc ncd, indicated by
u ~ T. .sa s H. R ps ysa ns
| 4 causv Of sieket.. The pyil may ha modified by
:hs !tlnk!ng q alkaline wats5. v ~ mother bdt
Tnsts ! larre class Of women who haye no act.
| lLk, uAt who yet iucQMpeteUt To The hLtuuulo