The Wilmingtonian., 1888-07-21
A Good Work.

This was most wise. Few subjects could
have been discussed which are of equal i'm
portsnce to the physician to his clientage.
The proportion of deaths from gastro-intes-
final diseases, in children under five years,
is so great as to be standing disgrace TO
the medical profession. 1t cannot be gain
said that a more thorough acquaintance
with the physiology of digestion would
greatly diminish this mortality.
We occasionally hear the rather remark
able assertion that cows milk, in it's natural
condition, is to be preferred as the proper
food for infants. The fact that COW has
four stomachs, while baby has but one,
and that very little one, ought to show
that the food elaborated by Nature for the
calf is scarcely suited to the infant.ss Besides,
the calf begins active exercise. as soon as it
comes into the world; the babe lies helpless
for months.
But little reflection is needed to develop
other objections to milk. OF all foods 1t is
the most liable to impurity as to the source
of supply. The discusslon.upon the trans
mission of scarlatina by milk of sick COWS
is still fresh in our minds. The finest beef
in the world is supplied to the London mar
kets; and, yet few years since, the Regis
trar- General of Great Britain stated that
fifty per cent of these cattle were tuber
culous. The transmission of disease from
domestic animals to man is now attracting
considerable attention; it is almost virgin
field; and the possibilities in this direction
are unknown.
But this is by no means the only objection
to milk 1t varies greatly in quality, in the
proportion of its constituents, ETC., accord
ing to the breed of the animal, its health,
food-supply and the care taken of it.
Milk is proverbIally easy to adulteratei
and the water from the barn-yard is only
too apt to contain many other ingredients
besides HO.
Milk is Of all foods the most prone to de-
composition; and demands the greatest care
and the most scrupulous asepticism to pre-
serve it in hot weather
Milk is also exceedingly apt to absorb i'm
purities. Put pa Of milk in the refrigera-
tor in which bit of tainted meat has fallen
, down in some nook or corner; and She milk
will soon absorb the odor of the decompos.
) ing substance, and also its poisonous proper.
ties. The list is not yet exhausted, as the
celebrated researches Of Vaughan have
opened up new possibilities of evil from thii
''mode food" 1t would be indeed difficult
to fluid food to which as many Or as vita
objections could be raised as against ordinar.
cows milk.
The woman who claims to have cured he
child of cholera -infantum by feeding it witt
raw peaches, occupies far more defensibl
: ground than the physician who orders al
exclusive milk diet.
To large extent, tho sam, objection
q hold good in the case of such foods as re
Il quire milk to be given with them. Whethe
9 these add to the milk any constituents i
n, which it is dt tfcent, whether they increas
its digestibility, hinder the formation
a hard curls, or simply increase the child
= difficulties by adding other elements whic
ID its digestive powers are unprepared to COP
d with, may be passed by, in view of the fa'
rs that the grim array of indictments again
IS the milk with which they are given, st
~ remains ON the calendar.
T. The qualities to be required OF perfc
food for infants is as follows:
of /. 1t she uld be sufficient in itself to full
an nourish the infant, without the further a
ic. dition of any uncertain substances.
he ?. Its constituents should be in such
alt state that even the weakest digestive powe
,se can utilize them. Stronger children ne
less care; but with them the question is lie
important. 1t is the feeble infant viii
requires the most exact and scientific fee
ing.
'he g. 1t should be put in such shape that
py least amount of intelligence and of lab
are needed to prepare it. A food which
ion quires chemical laboratory, or tedic
di- and complicated method Of preparation
ted use, is unsuitable for general consumptiC
cal A. 1t should be so put up as to keep "
in all climates, and not be prone to spt
taneous decomposition.
As Vaughan so well puts it: "Thrre
. the same reason for the drying Of milk a
-. the preservation Of its solids that there
/. for the curing OF meat or the canning
49,, fruit. The dried milk solids may be ira
=, ported any distance and kept for any reas
,,a able length of time, if properly prepar
I'D without undergoing putrefactiye changes
5. Finally, it should be sold at sucl
reasonable price as to bring it within
reach Of all classes
In conclusion, we will say, that this S
ect ought to handled without gloves.
the multitudinous infant foods in the mari
/. r. each and every one is better than all
5 to Others, according to the manufacturer.
Ia I,,gi,