The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-13


such consideration temperaments must
always be studied and taste and Xix
ings consulted, which questions are OF
the greatest Importance through the
influence they exert ,on the digestion
of food.
Naturally following as a result of
such study. the fact would be diScov-
cred that more liquid food should be
used than is common and less Of solid
The giving Of water is one of the most
important features Of invalid and in
FAINT feeding. Many conditions require
il and it is heaIthful at all times unless
in rare stages of illness when it would
be forbidden by the attending physi-
cian- 1t is not unusual to deprive in
fants almost entirely of water because
they drink milk. The fact IS over
looked that milk. though a liquid out
Of the body, becomes in the stomach a
solid food containing all the nutriment
for an infants normal growth. r.
regular action of natural laws OF the
body is not infrequently the result of
such deprivatiOns and can easily be
corrected by the use of what may ap-
pear TO many to be an excess of water.
Among the uneducated. strong in the
old theory IF teething being the neces-
sary cause, it IS a very common custom
to look tolerantly upon serious infan-
tile ailments. Errors in diet and
consequent disorders of digestion,
which frequently give rise to violent
commissions in infancy, would occur
less frequently it," as has been aptly
said by physician. for 'teething' we
would read stomach and feeding; and
II we would always consider whether
these are at fault we might, although
proving disagreeable and troublesome
at times to the mothers and nurses, DO
more good to the suffering infants"
If food Is not such as the digestion
can master, il is useless and can only
do harm Not being turned to proper
account, the blood receives no new sup
ply and is impoverished, there is no
nOuTishment given for development of
body, and inherited tendencies to vari-
Gus diseases are encouraged by those
whose DUTY it is to provide food of
nutritious quality and to see that il is
carefully administered Many Of the
diseases TO which children are liable
would disappear entirely under strict
supervision Of hygiene and diet, es-
peciaily the various intestinal disOr-
Cers, including many resultant throat
catarrhal and nervous troubles. Ma
ture resents caTelessness and is re-
lentless in her punishment. What the
doctor calls cholera infantum, ricketts,
VI Ailetl et7iltltSs tAt-s dflu the ulolutI u
often inclined to consider q diSpensa-
ton of Providence, is only too fire.
quently the direct result of violations
ot the most common laws Of home
science.
The whole study of feeding children
and inValids may appear to be a vast
One, Yet it resolves itself into a few
simple and generally acknowledged
facts. The evil conditions that arise
from improper feeding are not always
the result Of lack of knowledge. but
very frequently because what we know
We do not Go. When endeavorirg to
apply the principles Of food and nutri-
ton we must both know and do
knowledge and action must be COM
biEed Tor good results The few under
lying principles to remember when
studying how TO individualize each
case Of feeding, whether it be invalid
or child, are these:
l. What is given to an infant as a
substitute food must resemble its nat
ural food as closely as possible. This
can be done with the aid of a physi-
clan. upon whom every chiid's health
should depend # possible during al
least the first twelve months of its
precariOus existence.
2 Following infancy comes the more
difficult period of childhood although
not usually considered SO, when neces-
sary supplies of nutriment must be fur
nished to repair the constant waste
caused by the active growth of the
child. 1t is at this time that the con-
stituentS Of various foods should be
thoroughly understood and the amounts
necessary for various periods. the
methods Of preparation and admins
tration required, etc. General knOWl-
edge viii not be of service at this pc
Rod unless directed toward specific
study such specific study taking up
the laws of heat and its effect on foods
during cooking, the proper balancing
Of dietaries, the relation Of fat to food
the use OF cereals and sweets, when
and how to use meats, eggs. fish, etc.
What are the reasons for the use Of
Inorganic salts, contained more partic-
ularly in green vegetables and fruit
what foods are laxative in their infiu-
ence, which are suitable for winter
and which for summer use. which
FOODS are supplementary in certain con-
ditiOns of rapid growth and which are
basic needs for all times, as, for in
stance, during the school period when
children so quickly develop anaemic
conditions from overstudy and lack Of
hygienic care. These and kindred sub
iects come up under this special phase
3. Following the period of childhood
comes the time for the study of esti-
mating correct quantities and proper
selections of food to be used in regu-
lating the diet suited to the individual
needs Of girls and boys approaching
maturity. the excuses to be avoided by
those of sedentaTy habits and questions
of similar import.
4. a simple presentation of the physi-
OlOsy Of digestion would undoubtedly
serve to show why there is need Tor
care in diet during illness. Inasmuch
as every aimentary organ has its spe-
cifi3 work to do, it is plain that GER
tain conditions call for certain foods
When digestion is faulty or disordered
from illness ii is necessary to know
which class Of foods is to be withheld
and which should be given, a., for in
Stance. in typhoid fever there must be
no tax upon the intestines. and foods
must therefore be given that are easily
absorbed and digested in the stomach,
such as peptOniZed milk or beef, white
Of egg in water. kOumyss, etc It Is
also necessary to know that in cases
Of doubt in illness total abstinence
from food is the safest plan until a
physician can be called and this is
sometimes the only way By which alb
SoluJe rest can be obtained for the
diseased parts. FOussagrives of Paris
says. The number of cases Of dis
ease which can be arrested in children
by instituting a preventive diet is al
most Incredible" The late Professor
Gross of Philadelphia once said: The
diet Of the sick room has slain its
thousands and tens of thousands. The
ordinary preparations for the sick are.
in general, not only not nutritious, but
insipid and fatulent Animal soups
are among the most efficient supporters
of the exhausted system, and every
medical MAR should know how 10 give
directions for their preparation. The
life of a man is his food Foussa-
grivea maintains that the feeding in
illness is a question Of the very great
est delicacy. which embarrasses eda-