Smyrna times., 1880-07-07
Concerning Babies.
AN INTERESTING MEDICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT
THEIR FOOD.

\ number OF physicians, particularly in
terested in the diseases of infants and chill
dren met, pursuant to the call of the Chi.
cago Psychological Society, at the Grand
Pacific Hotel last week.
Professor Owens of Cincinnati was called
to the chair, and the proceedings were
opened with paper by DR.. Il. G. Duncan
of Chicago, upon the objects OF the asso-
citation. lie defined them as being in the
direction of fuller and more specific in
formation upon the diseases Of children
and their remedies. Less attention was
bestowed upon the subject Of children's
complaints than it deserved. They needed
an association that should proceed syste-
matically, obtain statistical and general re-
ports from institutions containing large
numbers of children from hospitals, schools
and private practice. The food and hygenic
conditions of babes were matters OF the
greatest importance, and they exercised
the greatest possible influence upon the
child's life and health.
The subject of food for children was
opened by DR.. Tooksr. lie did not regard
artificial food as either good or safe with all
children, and considered fresh cows milk
as much superior to condensed milk. The
same foods would not do for all infants
but in many cases the mothers milk was
not adequate, and artificial foods were the
best resort. He was strongly in favor oi
artificial foods, considering many mothers
| except in the lower walks Of life, not fit tC
nurse their babies.
DR.. Foote would not admit that any ar
tificial milk, however good, could equal il
efficiency the mothers milk. For ont
| whole spring he had watched a large mum
Der of babies, about four hundred of them
who were being kept upon artificial food
but all save one died, thus adding cOnclu
sive testimony to the inedequacy of all arti
fetal diet. lie believed cows milk wa
the best substitute for mothers milk, bu
the top should be skinned before it wa
used for the baby's food.
DR.. Mitchell held similar views to thos
of the preceding speaker. He was in
clined to believe that many American
women nursing was almost lost art. Tn
doctor did not approve Of any Of the artit
cial foods commonly used, and was in favo
of cows milk from one cow CAREFUL
tended, when the mother had no milk.
DR.. Duncan thought that the condemnG
ton of American mothers as inadequat
nurses was far too sweeping. Thin, mel
vous women were not good nurses fc
babies, as their milk lacked fatty and sa,
charine properties. The nervousness {
the women resulted in too much lact
acid in their milk, which affected til
children badly. To improve their milk
gave them sweet food and liquids, whic
acted in improving the milk very satisfa
torily. Mothers who were over fat gay
milk which was much too rich, and
always placed them on plain and stead
h diet. The milk of such was hard to diges
and gave the children collie.
Often barley and oatmeal could be use
with excellent effect. The thing to get r
of in both was the silicious coating.
should be thoroughly soaked over mig
and cooked for fully an hour, which wou
break down the stGrcEy particles. A chi
f could be kept too long on one sort of foo
Cream which would help a very your
child might interfere with its health al
development a little later on in life.
DIR. Z. Cranch of Erie, Pa, said that Il
temperature at which artificial food W
given was an important matter which W
: too little considered by mothers. T.
mother should provide herself with the
mometer such as is used in the hospita
and she should never give the food excl
sively, as any change i'll the animals di
e or other disturbance reacted untavorat
upon the child. His custom was to m
the condensed milk with water in the p
portion of one to twenty-five parts
young babies, and one to twenty in t
case of older children.-ChicagO Times.