Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-11-30
NURSERY COOKERY.
FOR THE BABIES.
By Christine Terhune Herrick.

BY Christine Terhune Herrick.
No household subject IS more import.
ant than the feeding OF children. None,
as rule, receives less attention.
The progressive housekeeper takes
one or more monthly magazines because
they devote goodly space to the pur-
Chase, preparation and service Of food.
She turns eagerly TO the columns Of her
daily or Sunday paper for the recipes
that far-sseing managing editor has
appreciated would make his journal
popular with women. 1t is highly prob
able tina. she keeps a serap-book and a
manuscript cook Of her OWE in
which 10 paste or copy directions for
dishes that please her fancy or hints
that will help her In the conduct OF her
household.
AL this Is admirable But how many
OF these women who are mothers have
book in which 10 note down sugges-
lions for the correct proportion and
proper compromising Of certain foods
that ate suitable for the small children.
the growing boys aud girls Of the home2
Even IN this enlightened day there are
-
alas! who have not the excuse Of igno-
rance. who begin their course Of Impair
ing ehiids digestion while il Is stil a.
80 tender an age that u should know no
food beyond lis mothers milk OF what
ever substitute she Is obliged to give
him. There Is ground Tor hope how
ever that this sin against the child's fu-
ture health and happiness Il less COM
mon than Il once was. although the ef-
fort al optimism which such trust re-
quires seems little short OF heroic when
one recalls the nursing babies one sees
In public conveyances. TRANQUILITY suck
ing candy or cooky, or pulling on
banana. Even in the face OF these
sights Il IL stlll safe TO say that most
mothers defer their period OF neglect OF
their ehildren's diet until these have at
least cut their first teeth. Painfully
few. however. are the homes In which
the youngsters. by the time they are
allowed TO come to the table. are not
permitted 10 eat and drink the same
things as their elders and in such guam
titles as the Infants themselves crave.
with this aspect Of the matter We will
deal little later. Let us return for the
present 20 the case OF the aforementioned
infants In arms whose mothers are so
unfortunate as to be unable 10 nourish
them with the sustenance Nature has
provided FOR the young Of the human
species.
or making infants foods there Is nc
end. d Is not my purpose to institute
invidious distinctions by here commend
ing one al the expense OF others. For
those required IN special cases the
mother must depend upon the advice OF |
her family physician. only. it is safe |
10 lay down one principle.-which should, |
indeed II there be anything in frequent |
repetition. be familiar 10 every mother |
who is enough interested in nursery |
dietetics 60 bestow upon them any at |
tention Untl the child begins 70 cut |
his teeth be should never be given |
starches.
This principle. ss a matter OF course.
rules out all preparations Of farina. ar
row-root oatmeal or other cereals. II
also taboues the crust of bread or crack
er which parents and nurses. for some
unknown reason. always seem anxious
10 give to the infants In their charge at
The earliest possible moment.
The reason for this abstinence from
starchy food has been given as frequent
y as mas the prohibition against their
use. bur in view OF the apparent disre-
gard or both dicta IL may be well TO re-
peat the truth once more. During the
irst eight OF nine months OF an infants
lie the salivary and pancreatic juices
which accomplish the digestion OF
Itarehes. are not fitted for this work
rhe saiivary diastase. or ptyalin. is the
irst agent In the digestion OF starches.
With their conversion into matter which
an be absorbed and assimilated the
stomach has practically nothing to do.
The work begun in the mouth is COM
,leted IN the intestines. Many authori-
les go 80 far as to say that the child
Ihoud have no tarchy food until he is
eighteen months old.
TO BE- continued next week.