Green, Herbert Melvill

2018-01-31T11:44:48Z

2018-01-31T11:44:48Z

1898

The subject of infant feeding, in this country at least, does not seem to have received all the attention that the importance of the matter deserves. The figures on Infantile Death and Disease, and the extreme frequency with which gastro-intestinal disorders occur amongst infants, which on enquiry are found in the majority of cases to be brought on by improper food, are sufficient to justify some enquiry into the methods at present in vogue in feeding infants.

I propose to consider the subject in the following manner:-

The natural food is of course taken first with general conditions as to the times of nursing and the quantities taken.

Failing the Mother's milk, the selection and control of a Wet Nurse is considered next, as being the best substitute. This leads to some of the reasons that make nursing impossible, and the method and times for weaning. Which brings us to Artificial feeding.

The substitutes for Mother's milk that have been considered are:- Asses Milk. Goats milk. Ewes milk. Mares milk. Patent foods. & Cows milk.

In considering the bearing that food has upon Infantile gastro-intestinal troubles, it is certain that errors in diet are responsible for the majority. Such are:- Dyspepsia, Gastro-enteritis, Diarrhoea and Constipation.

The grave constitutional conditions due also largely to errors in diet are considered;- Anaemia, Atrophy, Rickets and Scurvy.

It has seemed to me that the main lines upon which improvement should take place are:- 1) The greatest possible care in producing a milk supply of constant quality and Unquestionable purity. 2) The admixture of dilutants and scalding. 3) The dissemination of more accurate knowledge of the subject, amongst those responsible for the upbringing of children.

I have tried the effect of administering a specially prepared cows milk, whose preparation is described, with very satisfactory results.

http://hdl.handle.net/1842/28153

The University of Edinburgh

Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2017 Block 16

Infant feeding

Thesis or Dissertation

MD Doctor of Medicine