The Wilmingtonian., 1885-08-15
HEALTH HINTS.
ON DIETETIC ERRORS IN FEEDING IN.
FANTS.

Speoi"i PAogress naue Oh late IN physiology
of digestion, and lastly, the great attention
which is being paid to the preparation of
suitable artificial substitutes for the natural
food of the infant, the great death-rate of
infants is a matter of surprise. One of the
most important affections of childhood, and
one which is clearly due to some nutritive
defect rachitis, has increased absolutely
and relatively the last decade.
Hence 1t tseems that the artificially pre-
pared articles of diet either do not possess
the value claimed fol them, and that the
tine substitute for mothers milk is yet to
befound, or that the mode of their exhibit
tion is at fault. Dr. Huffman, of Halle,
inclnes to the latter theory, and presents
his views on the subject in a very interesting
paper.
Reviewing the formerly used dietetic
articles of children, Huffman incidentally
mentions that Lebig, recognizing the
defects of the plan of feeding in vogue at
that time in grandchild of his, was led
to compound his famous souhpowder.
Although this preparation soon afterward
lost its rapidly established reputation, the
idea that an artificial substitute for mothers
milk could be constructed led to the pre-
paration of the numerous so-ealed children's
foods Still, the fact that neither cows
milk, however altered or improved, or any
other food-stuils, gave as satisfactory results
as mothers milk, could at all times be re-
| cognized.
Animal milk was regarded as natural
food for children, on the supposition that
human and animal milk differed only guam
titauively, not qualitatively, until Biedert
proved the chemical difference between the
caseine of human and animal milk.
1t is a universal law throughout, establish
ed for all mammaia, that the only perfect
food for an offspring is the milk of mother
of the same class, and that milk from anoth-
an article of diet. Hence, mothers milk
being the only perfect food for an infant,
and cows milk simply an article of diet, it
follows that an infant during the first four
to six weeks of its lie ought to receive no
| other food save mothers milk.
| Farinaceous matters would be objection
able, as the infant does not secrete suf-
ficieney of saliva to change the starch to
sugar, and as the pancreas docs not secrete
the diastatic ferment until after the first
month
Regarding cows milk, the prin cipal sub
stitute of mothers milk, authorities agree
that it is given in far too large quantities.
Another error consists in allowing the child
to drink milk in long continued draughts,
like water. 1t is impossible for the stomach
to digest large quantities of caseine, unless
frequent intervals are allowed for recupera-
tion. Next to the excess of the absolute
quantity and the faulty manner of ingestion
the error of feeding the child too frequently
must be mentioned The child ought, during
the first two OF three months of life, get
its feeding-bottle every two or three hours
When asleep, the child ought on no account
to be awakened to feed, nor get the bottle
when and because it cries. The crying in
FAINT has very rarely hunger, but usually
some other unpleasant sensation, which by
feeding is not only not removed but often
aggravated. 1t is true that the bottle
soothes the child, but if the fluid be luke
warm and slightly sweetened water, the'
child could be as quickly and more perna-
nently quieted. The child often wants to
drink only, and not always to eat and to
drink; often, again, it becomes quiet as soon
as freed from the inconvenience Of bed and
covers.
/ A in ri iltri orl, lit A.
means, so important in adult life, is i'm
peration in the tender age, with its limited
capacities for digestion. One OF the gravest
errors committed by mothers, and even
physicians, regarding the welfare of chill
dren, is the heedlessness and negligence
with which they regard diarrh@a The
preposterous assumption that the diarrhea
comes from teething and prevents cramps
and commissions, Stays thousands ofchildren
every year Every diarrhma ought to be
regarded as dangerous disease The
physician is to examine carefully the
excavations, and to eliminate from the diet
of the child such articles as are even micro
scopically found in the ipaes, and which
constitute the cause of the affection. Milk
is injurious in every form of diarrhma.
Eptomizing Hullman's views, we obtain
the following conclusions;
l. Mothers milk is the only perfect food
for the infant
2. The infant ought not to be fed arti-
ficially during the first four to six weeks.
3. Cows milk is the best substitute for
mothers milk.
4. The quality, quantity, and mode of in.
gestion of food-stuifs ought to be equally
considered.
.. Diarrhua in children must be regarded
a grave affection.