Nature has provided in the milk of the mother a
suitable and sufficient nutriment for the infant. Ex-
ceptional circumstances may prevent the mother
nursing it. It then becomes necessary to provide
other food which should be chosen to resemble as far
as possible that supplied by the mother.
1 he best substitute is warm ass’s milk ; next to this
comes cow’s or goat’s milk mixed with one-third or
more of water hot enough to make the mixture warm
(about 96 or 98 Fahr.), and a very small quantity
of sugar of milk. The milk should, if possible, be
always got from the same animal. To prevent the milk
from spoiling it may be scalded (not boiled) when
received from the dairy. Sugar of milk, which may be
INFANT’S FOOD.
149
obtained at the chemists, is preferable to cane or beet
sugar which are apt to cause acidity. Should there be
any tendency to rickets, lime water should be substituted
for one half of the common water to be mixed with the
milk. Lime water may be purchased at the chemists,
or made thus : —
Lime Water. — Take a piece of unslaked lime the
size of a walnut, put it into a quart bottle of water, let
it stand twenty-four hours, then filter, and it is ready
for use.
In most cases when a child has had enough of food,
it will show a disinclination for more. Nurses often
err in forcing more upon it, and there is nothing more
apt to injure the digestion of a child than to stop its
crying fits (many of which proceed from over feeding)
by offering it food. Only enough for one meal should
be prepared at a time, as milk becomes sour, and the
slightest sourness makes the milk ferment, and is very
hurtful to the infant. For the same reason great care
must be taken to have the bottle in which the milk is
given perfectly clean. It should be thoroughly washed
after each time of using in very hot water, and then
laid in cold water till required. The difficulty of
keeping india rubber tubes clean is a strong objection
to their use. The best bottles to use are those with
the nipple directly attached to them without the tube.
In some cases the milks mentioned do not suit the
infant. Swiss milk may then be tried; instructions for
preparing it are given on the tins.
After three or four months the quantity of water
mixed with the milk should be gradually lessened ; at
six months the milk may be almost undiluted, and
after six months the infant may occasionally have one
of the following preparations instead of milk.
Pap. — Take stale bread, cover it with cold water,
ISO
INFANT’S FOOD.
and boil it for five minutes. Strain off as much of the
^ater as you can, bruise the bread till it is smooth,
bnl c ™llk 'varmed but not boiled, and a very
ittle sugar ot milk✪ Pap; mix till quite smooth. This food
should be given warm (about 96° or 98° Fahr.).
Kusks. Prepare as in last recipe. ✪ Kusks
Page 72 · 2 recipe records on this page
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Nature has provided in the milk of the mother a suitable and sufficient nutriment for the infant. Exceptional circumstances may prevent the mother nursing it. It then becomes necessary to provide other food which should be chosen to resemble as far as possible that supplied by the mother.
The best substitute is warm ass's milk ; next to this comes cow’s or goat’s milk mixed with one-third or more of water hot enough to make the mixture warm (about 96 or 98 Fahr.), and a very small quantity of sugar of milk. The milk should, if possible, be always got from the same animal. To prevent the milk from spoiling it may be scalded (not boiled) when received from the dairy. Sugar of milk, which may be
obtained at the chemists, is preferable to cane or beet sugar which are apt to cause acidity. Should there be any tendency to rickets, lime water should be substituted for one half of the common water to be mixed with the milk. Lime water may be purchased at the chemists, or made thus : —
Lime Water. — Take a piece of unslaked lime the size of a walnut, put it into a quart bottle of water, let it stand twenty-four hours, then filter, and it is ready for use.
In most cases when a child has had enough of food, it will show a disinclination for more. Nurses often err in forcing more upon it, and there is nothing more apt to injure the digestion of a child than to stop its crying fits (many of which proceed from over feeding) by offering it food. Only enough for one meal should be prepared at a time, as milk becomes sour, and the slightest sourness makes the milk ferment, and is very hurtful to the infant. For the same reason great care must be taken to have the bottle in which the milk is given perfectly clean. It should be thoroughly washed after each time of using in very hot water, and then laid in cold water till required. The difficulty of keeping india rubber tubes clean is a strong objection to their use. The best bottles to use are those with the nipple directly attached to them without the tube. In some cases the milks mentioned do not suit the infant. Swiss milk may then be tried; instructions for preparing it are given on the tins.
After three or four months the quantity of water mixed with the milk should be gradually lessened ; at six months the milk may be almost undiluted, and after six months the infant may occasionally have one of the following preparations instead of milk.
Pap. — Take stale bread, cover it with cold water,
ISO
and boil it for five minutes. Strain off as much of the water as you can, bruise the bread till it is smooth,
boil some milk warmed but not boiled, and a very little sugar of milk; mix till quite smooth. This food should be given warm (about 96° or 98° Fahr.).
Kusks. Prepare as in last recipe.
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