Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06

an apple filling a space intended BY
nature to hold as much as is represented by
a walnut, is certainly not the chid's fault.
Seventy-tivc per cent of the deaths that oc-
cur among children under five years of age
are directly due to errors of diet which
are prewentable. AS those in charge of the
child are responsible for what it takes into
its stomach, it is, perhaps. to be regretted
that the mite is not gifted with even great
er lung power. and for that matter, of
lists. too, that it might protest il an eff
fertive manner and be given at least a fight
ing chance for its own comfort, and may
nap for its very life.
The greatest amount of evil that occurs
in this world comes undoubtedly from iy-
rorance; but that we should know so uttla
or rather refuse to know more OF this the
!nost vital subject relating to humanity
the feeding Of our kinds, if it is not to he.
explained, certainly most de.nlv RI no da
plored.
a child's hold on life is naturally A tena
clous one. Were this not 50 the mortality
among infants would be even greater tha n
1t is. Nature fights harder to preserve n ~
young than to keep her aged
W no has not seen, wi:h the surferi,,
babe. the spark of life futter 10 the point
OF extinsulshment? The Ialil little hands
80 80 weak that 1T lay upon The pillow mo-
tlonless and still; the eye, dull and glazed
beneath tae transparent iii-lhe little sp;r-
it lowering on the bor1arl1ni, and almost
over then, trembling Of the tiny Inns a
rant sigh, and a return to he would ,ha
struggle to be resumedp
Granting. however, after such a corte ST
some OF these little half-famished victims
Ive' VIII net they be handicapped for life ?
ia IVY "ian slarted nervous systems and
impaired equipment. will it :lot be Strange
If they enjoy the life that is thus 1,ractica1-
ly forced upon them?
The Amount and QuuIity of Food.
The stomach of an infant will hold. in its
natural condition. from Two to three
ounces; that is. as much rs will fiji! an or
binary teacup half fun. Whan, therefore
the capacity of this organ IS considered
an idea as to the proper amount of food to
be administered, at one time, may bc gath
ed. The mother who delights in seeing
her offspring dispose OF large bottleful of
milk at one sitting. amounting, periiaps
to seven or eight ounces ana who hastens
to refill the container, out Of kindness of
heart, may be interested in learning thar
instead OF pushing the no irishlnnnt of her
darling. she is stretching and distending it's
stomach to a point where ,roba bic h. sjs
for gastritis is being created
But 1t is not the volume of food a1ona
that must be guarded against That Will
OF Importance. is as nothing when compar-
ed to it's quality.
The process of digestion in the human ho
ing ordi1 arily commences with the secre-
tlon or sanVa. In infants there is no saliva
formed before the third month ana 80
very little during the entire first wear In
the digestion Of what are termed starch.
LOCUS, such as bread, potatoes. sweet po-
tatoes' odt meal, beans, peas, barley tan.
loca and rice, the presence of saliva il q h
soluteiy necessary, otherwise food consist
mig IN whole or in part OF these substance
enters the stomach in unfit condition onS
will cause arrangement Of that nrsan
Inc practice. therefore, of feeding a babe
with articles from the table. even in TIA
smallest quantities. cannot be too strongly
| condemned. 1t will invariably prodnre
stomachc trouble ANe
Hunger Is often assigned as a cause Of
an INFANT crying, and from the fact that II
arises the perncious practice of eternaIIv
stufnng' It, SO to speak. This is a fruit
| Iul cause OF trouble and one which is hard
to correct. ~ Au
A well-fed kitten will cry and neov for
| food, when its already congested stomach
| ball " iopoer
| healthy infant will thrive on a comn.r
| auVely small amount of food If the food
| be pure and given at proper intervals II
| will sicken more quickly from oyerfeedinn
than from any other cause. 1t is fact
| that half pint of milk per diem will 49,
| an adult alive for months Aeep
| Inc amount of nourishment to he a.
| mlnlsterei to babe should be decided al.
| together by the mothers intelligence, and
not by me infants cutlery. Habit has
| II food be restricted at the start and regn.
| lar hours for feeding adopted and carrisd
| out for the first month, there will ha ny
| trouble in this respect, Az
The Only Substitute,
While, of course, the mothers breast Z.
above ALL the proper source for the nour.
ishment Of her offspring, vet, in the abb
sence of supply from that quarter ma
turs has provided a substitute-but only
enc. Cows muk Is now recognized as the
only food that viii take the place fully
ana Completely Fl tat supplied by ths
mother And u, keo; fnust bA obtained and
prepared in the most careful manner. II