The record-union., 1893-09-09
HEALTH And HYGIENE.
The Administration Of Milk by Accu-
rate Dosage.
An Eminent Physician Tells How He
Uses Milk in His Practice
A Sanitary League.


Thomas q. Morton has printed a careful
article upon his extended experience in
the administration of milk, which is OF
such interest that we copy II in its en-
tirety, us follows:
For many years l have been accus-
toned to prescribe milk, not only in
medicine but also largely in surgical
maIadles, both in hospital and private
practice. IN my somewhat extended ex-
perlence l have found that it is very
usual to have patients declare that they
cannot take milk, and that it had been
ordered and fairly trieu, but it was not
possible to continue its use. 4 very COM
mon expression is that lit makes me
bilious" The difficulty, however, is not
with the milk where due care is exercised
TO obtain pure article, but with, | think,
the uncertain method of its administra-
ton. Very few persons can commence
abruptly and take two or more quarts a
day, and such quantities are likely to up
set the stomach. Some medical men
have little idea of the value of milk, and
have but little experience with its use,
from the TACT that they DO not know how
best to administer it, and consequently
rarely order it Ior their patients. An il
Iustratlon OF this occurred recently. /
directed member of the medical profess
sion to take milk, 1t being absolutely
necessary that he should do so in his con-
dition. His reply was: My dear sir
have not tasted milk for forty years. 1t
would be poison to me-" Nevertheless,
under my directions, he did take milk,
commencing with small quantity at
first, and, to his surprise, with benefit.
1t is so much easier for the physician to
prescribe some drug than to take the
trouble to instruct the patient in the tax
ing Of milk that this probably accounts
Tor the want OF confidence III milk and
for the lack of experience in its use, eX-
listing in the general community. In
deed, many physicians have never had
this subject properly brought to their at
tentiOn.
nave, during the past twenty-five
| years, had many instances Of apparent
malignant disease Of the liver or other
internal organs, where it was not possi-
bIe to make an accurate diagnosis, but
! alter putting the patient upon an absO-
lutely skinned milk diet for from six 10
eight weeks, l finally observed that the
malauy was purely functional one. In
Inveterate dyspepsia L have rarely ever
prescribed any other treatment than a
/ course of milk, excluding all other foods,
and very often to patients who at tie
same time continued their business du-
ties, and with the most satisfactory re-
suits. Indeed, now refuse to have the
charge or responsibility of treating any
such case unless the patient is willing 10
submit to the above restricted diet. In
the various functional intestinal or di-
gestive naladies milk taken in proper
quantities will promptly effect improve
ment and restore health. | have fre-
quently noticed the remarkable tOndness
which such patients, having once learned
how to take 1t Systematically, ever alter
ward have Tor milk, so much so that it
generally becomes a permanent article of
their diet. Its power as a restorative and
i 4lfHFaTlNa TAfnarl-o n
hip disease, and tubercular maladios
generally, milk in large amounts Will,
according TO my Judgment, do more for
the patients, young and old, than any
other treatment.
IN former times l was Obliged to write
out the instructions as to how to take
milk, but as this involved some consider
able trouble, l then had the Instructions
printed; finally | devised what NAV be
termed a milk tumbler." This vessel is
of glass in the usual form. 1t has en-
graved upon it the hours when the milk
IS to be taken, and also the instructions
! with regard to the quantity TO which it is
to be increased from day is day
The convenience of this milk measure
is very easily appreciated. In attending
REST Cure' cases, it is a most convenient
vessel for the nurse, who is enabled in
this way to be accurate both in the
amount Of milk and the proper times for
OF trouble.
When patients are confined to their
| room or bed, l have found it well to have
the milk kept in a small tin box, such as
those which are made for the purpose.
and are styled bedroom refrigerators. y
This box is about 10 inches long, II inches
/ wide and IN height IL inches. 1t has one
partition; ice is kept in one side and in
the other the pitcher of milk. 1t is not
we'll to keep the milk used by a patient
/ in the general household refrigerator
! where meats and vegetables are stored.
| for under such conditions it becomes al
times, and before the day is over. some-
what tainted, this is soon observed by the
fastidious palate Of the patient and is OBJ
jectionable on other grounds. Then.
again, If the milk IS kept just outside the
patients room, it saves the nurse MANY
! steps and she is not Obliged to be away
from her patient so often or for 50 long a
time, which is an important matter The
invalid also has his milk cooler and
sweeter.
In great irritability Of stomach, it NAV
| be advisable to commence with a very
small quantity of milk at each time; and
it is well to remember that each dose
should be given at exactly the hOur-and-
| a-half interval, and the stomach soon be-
gins to expect it at the proper time for its
administration.
by commencing at Z o'clock in the
| morning and stopping at 10 o'clock at
night we have eleven times for giving
the milk, so that the quantity of milk
daily taken can easily be reckOned.
| When six tablespOOntuls are taken every
hour and half 1t amounts to one quart
twelve tablespoonfuis to two quarts, and
eighteen to three quarts; thus, promptly
the physician can tell at each visit the
exact amount the patient is taking and
increase or decrease the dose at his dis
cretion. 1t is usual with ME to com
mence, in any ordinary case, with one
quart of milk day. or three ounces, or
six tablespOOntuls every hour and a half
/ each day. This amount is increased by one
| tablespoonful each time, so that il this is
kept up for twelve days the patient at The
end OF this period will be using three
quarts. Usually this quantity is as much
as can be digested, although l have had
patients who could take five or even six
quarts without trouble and this for many
weeks.
Sometimes it is advisable in COM
mencing milk course 10 allow a patient
three simple, easily digestible meals OF
selected articles a day in conjunction
with small but gradually increased doses
OF milk. AS the quantity of milk reaches.
say, two quarts daily, we may then omit
one or more OF the meals, until the abso-
lutte milk diet is nnally attained.
When milk is given with a view to
affording the digestive organs absolute
rest, then milk only should be permitted
for at least three to five weeks or longer.
according to the case or the character of
/ symptoms. At the end of this time a
selected diet should be allowed, at II rst
consisting of very few easily assimilated
articles, and then by degrees the milk is