Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-25
HYGIENE FOR BABIES
THERE IS NO PERFECT SUBSTI-
TUTE FOR A MOTHERS MILK.
Care in the Selection of Artificial Food
for Infants-Cleanliness
Necessary.
From the indianapolis News.

From the indianapolis News.
No perfect substitute has yet been found
to take the place Of mothers milk. The
death rate among artificially fed infants
is from 80 to SO per cent, according to
the intelligence of the mother or nurse,
while the mortality among children reared
upon the breast is about 10 per cent. These
facts show the danger that accompanies
the artificial feeding of infants. The prac-
tice. quite general among some mothers. of
refusing to nurse the baby simply for SEN
timental reasons, cannot be condemned too
strongly.
1t s.simply criminal to feed q baby from
a bottle unless every endeavor has been
made to provide the child with the food
which nature intended it should have.
a Physicians Advice.
Unfortunately, conditions frequently arise
which compel the physician to recommend
some supplementary food, and often an en-
tire artificial diet must be substituted. In
these cases, cows milk should always re-
ceive the first consideration. 1t Is now uni
versally conceded that cows milk is the
best artificial food. not because it more
nearly resembles human milk, but because
1t Is the most practical
The cow is subject to more limitations
and better sanitary conditions than most
animals. 1t furnishes the cheapest food
with which to nourish a baby Cows milk.
however, should not be given in it's natural
state, but must be adapted to the needs of
each baby. In modifying cows milk 1t Is
not safe to follow any set formula. Cows
milk contains about the same amount of
fat as mothers milk one-third less sugar,
three times as much curd and four times
the amount of mineral constituents.
disturbing
element in giving cows milk, because when
1t reaches the stomach 1t forms a larger
and tougher mass than does the casein of
human milk These hard curds become a
source of irritation to the digestive organs
and make favorable culture media or
breeding ground for disease germs.
Milk Must Be Diluted.
Cows milk must, therefore, be diluted
to lessen the quantity of curd, but this
also reduces the amount of fat and sugar
and brings these important nutritious ele-
ments below the normal of mothers milk
These deficiencies must be supplied by the
addition Of cream and sugar. The lack of
sufficient sugar and fatty elements Is fire.
quently the cause of constipation, so COM
mon With babies who are otherwise healthy
Inc old idea that 1t is better to feed
baby with milk from one cow Is no longer
indorsed by physicians. The milk from a
nerd of cows will have more uniform
daily average than that of any one cow
The necessity for having milk of a known
ana uniform standard is quite evident.
Keeping the nursing bottle clean Is a
matter In connection with artificial feed
ing that deserves the greatest emphasis
The bottle should be taken from the baby
as soon as empty, washed, scalded and
placed In solution of soda, borax or other
antlseptic. where it should remain until the
next feeding time. when 1t should be scald-
ed again mediately before using.
A Few Extra Bottles.
A few extra bottles should be constantly
on hand and kept in the borax water. Tn.
nipples must have the same treatment and
should be turned. the inside exposed and
brushed thoroughly each time. The rub
Der tube should never be used, and in
selecting nipple get one with two or more
holes, small enough to let the milk pass
slowly.
Another valuable safeguard is that or
cleansing the baby's mouth before each
nursing. Make new swab every time by
twisting absorbent cotton on the end of a
stick and dip it in weak solution of
boracic acid: This extreme cleanliness in
every detail should not be considered
tedious or too much trouble If we remam-
Der that the least carelessness may result
in a dead baby
If we were sure of being supplied with
perfectly pure milk. the question of modi-
ncatlOn would be less important and the
present fad of pasteurizing and sterilizn.g
would be unnecessary. Heating the milk
either stertlizing or observation-disclosures
Its food value and makes it more Difficult;
FOR the little stomach to digest The great
question of artificial feeding Is simply a
matter of cleanliness. and the greatest life
saving power Is In the hands Of the daily
man.