Middletown transcript., 1908-07-25
BABY POISON SQUAD ORGANIZING

and Drug Inspection OF the Department
of Agriculture is about to begin acompre-
hensive inspection of baby foods will in
terest mothers everywhere. In fact the
inspection is said to be directly due to
inquiries sent to DIR. H. W. Wiley by
mothers whose babies had not thrived on
certain of these preparations.
The Baby Food Campaign
1t is said that poison squad may be
organized on the plan Of the adult squads
that have been employed to test canned
goods and other food products. This is
probably only a rumor, for the babies
could not give their consent to become
the subjects of such tests, and surely no
parent would be willing, even if DIR.
Wiley was inclined to risk results to the
infant subjects Of his experiments.
The "Pure Food Department" as the
bureau is popularity termed, will no
doubt find way to make their investl-
cations thorough and conclusive, and
those baby foods that emerge, stamped
with the approval of the board will en-
Joy increased prestige and prosperity.
An Expensive Experiment
Unfortunately all work of this entails
great expense to all concerns engaged in
the manufacture of baby foods. Those
whose preparations are of high grade
suffering as much as the firms pro-
ducing unworthy or deleterious foods,
for, until the completion of the investi-
CATION, all these food are more or less un-
der suspicion.
Starch Indigestible
1t is said that no child under two and
one-half years of age, is able to digest
starch, hence this ingredient is to be
tabooed in all preparations labeled "Baby
Food"
What ever the requirements Of DIR.
WiIey's department may be, people will
no doubt feel much safer in using these
foods after they are stamped with the
endorsement of the department.
In baby foods, above all others, it ls
essential to avoid the use of any doubt,
full ingredients, since an infants digestion
is dangerous subject for experiment, as
too many people know to their sorrow.
The Ideal Form of Nourishment
The ideal nourishment for baby Is
the one that Nature provides, when the
mother is thoroughly strong and we'll and
able to devote herself exclusively to the
care of her child, but as from the condi-
tions of modern life, an increasing num-
Der of women are obliged to bring their
children up on artificial food, the subject Of
securing the best substitute for perfect
mothers milk is one of wide spread and
vital interest,
Cows milk properly diluted, if it can
be obtained perfectly fresh, and from a
dairy where the most rigid precautions
against infection are maintained, is rec
ognized as the best substitute for the nat
ural food. 1t is because of the uncertainty
that most people feel about the purity OF
the milk supply that the prepared foods
have become popular.
Uniformity Of Diet
Another reason has been the uniformity
of diet thus secured. All recognized au.
thorities agree that uniformity Of diet and
surroundings are prime necessities for the
chiId's proper growth aud development.
1t is an open secret known to most physl-
clans and trained nurses as we'll as to
many experienced mothers that prepara-
tions labeled "Baby Food are as satis-
factory in results as the long known and
we'll tested condensed milks of the Borden
| Co. 1t is saidthat explorers find cans OF
the eagle Brand" far toward the pole, as
well as in the equatorial zone in Darkest
Africa" and no matter how long it has
been cached it is always in perfect condi-
tion when opened.
For Travelling Purposes
The baby that gets his nourishment
from dilution OF this sweetened abso.
lutely pure milk, or from the unsweet-
ened form of the same condensa-
ton known as Peerless can be taken
anywhere without interference with bis
diet, if only care is taken to use select
ed bottled water in making the dilutions
or boiled water properly cooled where
that is preferred. Too often the trip to
the country that helps the older children
in every way, acts in the opposite direc-
ton with the baby, and the cause, as
most people know,is usually some radical
change in diet or surroundings.
Pamphlets Giving Information
ANY person can obtain pamphlets Civ.
ing full and explicit directions for the
care and feeding of babies and young
children. These are distributed by many
different agencies interested commerce
ally or philanthropically in this particular
field. Upon the chief points all author
tiles agree and these requisites are per-
feet cleanliness of surroundings, regular
ity like clock work in the time of feeding,
bathing, etc. and uniform, and unvaryinl
excellence of the food supplied. Reg
ular formulas for the dilutipn of the
milk according to the age are given,
but as babies of the same age differ in
size and general development these for
mulas must be modified to suit indiyidua
: needs.
a Physicians Advice
, The advice OF the family physician
should be had at once if the child doeI
: not seem to be thriving after normal
happy fashion. No matter how expert
enced and intelligent the mother may be
the advice of the trained medical man il
/ valuable and necessary to avoid compli
cations that may threaten the baby's ex
7 istence. Sometimes more phosphates
} are required than the milk contains ane
} in such cases the dilutions are usually
! made with barley water.
ELEANOR FRANCIS.
Enormous WATERSHEDS
! Near the st. Lawrence River, in Can
/ ada thara 10 uokor.slida thrno milns