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Regarding the Care of Infants.
46031
243
REC?
REG 23 SEP 18
It is very important that the infant should be fed for the first few months of life by its mother's milk, and that only.
But there are circumstances which prevent this being done in all cases: e.g. the mother may have to work, or she may not have enough milk, or she may be suffering from a disease which randers it advisable that she should not nurse her child. It is then necessary to use an artificial food.
For this purpose cow's milk is the best substitute, but as it differs in certain respecte from human milk it requires to be adapted by dilution with water, barley water, &c. according to the age of the child, and also by the addition of sugar and cream, if possible.
Weaning: as a general rule this should be done when the child is 9 months old. The practice of feeding the child for one or two
years with its mother's milk is harmful to both the mother and
the child, and is to be strongly discouraged.
Gastro-intestinal disorders account for a large proportion of the sickness and mortality of childhood. This is to a large extent
preventible by proper methods of feeding, i... by the use of the mother's milk, or, failing this, a properly selected artificial
method. Whenever any doubt exists as to the correct course medical advise should be sought. The feeding of children on rice
and congee before they are 12 months old is the cause of much of
the sickness and deaths which occur. The habit is to be condemned.
For the sake of the mother as well as the child it is very
necessary that the mother's health should be good. And, therefore,
any condition which may interfere with her well-being ought to
receive medical attention. For example, such states as chronic
colds and coughs, anaemia, "Fever", diarrhoea, as well as in-
-sufficient food and fresh air, and lack of time for needful rest
and recuperation require careful consideration and treatment.