THE UPBRINGING OF THE CHILD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 15

THE UPBRINGING OF THE CHILD.

(By Dr. A. Wilson.) Regarding (he early feeding of children there are two points of much interest to mothers which should be specially noted. I deal with these points before .1 describe the diet which is proper for tho months succeeding those of early infancy. The first to be dealt with is the importance of fat in the feeding of children. Few of us realise tho value of fat as a food in adult life as demanded by Nature- for the carrying on of certain definite actions of our frames. Amongst these actions wo might include not merely heat and energy but a certain power in assisting the assimilation of other foods. If the adult cannot be healthy without his due share of fat foods, the infant stands in a still more delicate position with reference to this item in its diet list. It requires fat in order that it mav. aid in body building, and especial!" in the development of the nervous system, and, naturally, it also requires, fat in order to maintain its heat and tp Biipplv it with "energy,” which last term we have' seen to mean "the power of doing work;”’ Now, milk contains ■ a’ duo proportion of fat, thus showing that Nature takes care to include this necessary item in the diet of the young of all quadrupeds. In human milk there is 3.5 per cent, of fat, and tho same amount is found in cow's milk. Goat's milk contains 4 per cent., but that of the ass shows only 1.5 per, cent, of fat. The milk of the latter animal, however, is rich in sugar (d per cent.), in this respect resembling human milk, as also it does in tho anvbunt of casein or curd, both containing 1.75 per cent. If wo deprive a child of its duo proportion of fat it is safe to. say _ its weight will decrease, and it will exhibit other symptoms of under-feeding. _ I know of no greater error in the nutrition of infante than that common among the masses, when; a mother buys a tin of condensed skimmed milk, under the delusion that she is purchasing' milk of perfect character. Such milk is utterly unsuited for the nourishment of the child. Had I my will X would allow no skimmed milk to be sold in' tins at all. Tho practice used to prevail (it may prevail now) of printing the word "skimmed” on the label in characters of micro-' scopic size, so. that tho purchaser might, very well overlook the real designation of The article. Adhere to and follow Nature’s teaching, hero as elsewhere, and if experience. Nature’s demonstrator, tells us that fat is an essential item in the child’s diet, let us sec- that it is duly supplied. ' , The .second point to which I referred bears upon another topic of importance —I mean tho use of foods other than milk in the diet of the infant. These are included under the general name of artificial foods. No one can set about making an universal indictment against their employment, but at the same time, while some are useful, others are utterly'unsuitable for tho nourishment of the child. Remember that save under very exceptional circumstances (whereof the doctor must be the judge) no food can replace: milk, and perhaps, to express a general and safe opinion, artificial foods are most safely given along with milk. I will give mothers hero a little hit of practical experience which comes within the daily range of tho doctor’s observation. In many cases infants develop the. disease known' as "scurvy.” With this ailment is associated boneweakness tending to the production of ‘‘rickets.”, Now, in such cases, the firsttiling tho doctor will, do will be to institute an inquiry into the nature of tho child’s food. He finds, as a rule, the story is one of tho doing away with milk and the substitution for it, more or less completely of some artificial food or oilier. When tho mother has been cautioned, and the receives its proper diet, the disease is cured. Let mothers remember these facts, by way of saving the lives of their children. Many artificial foods contain starch. Now starch—useful food as it is after the child has attained the age of seven or eight month®, and useful ns it is for us in youth and adult life—cannot be digested by the infant before tho weaning period has arrived. To give it starch ia thus to load its stomach with a food incapable of digestion, and to supply it with a substance which, in short, is not a food for it at all. Bread, potato®!, biscuits, all contain starch, as also does arrowroot and tho like. Small wonder that little children suffer so much when they are treated to something which is in the nature of the proverbial "stone.” The best artificial foods are those made of what may be called dried milk. To

this is added in some cases malt cm* tract. Such a food may be given, in tho pnoportion of about half an ounce, with water added to make up a total of four ounces. .Many artificial foods, let mothers beware, are nothing, but starch in, tho form of flour, little altered or not altered at all for' infantile diges. tiou. Remember, finally, the caution already given that oven the best of thee® foods ia not to supersede milk, and fresh milk, of course. At the age of six or seven months (preferably eight months, perhaps) cow's milk may be given, and if starch feeding is then to be commenced—the milk, of course, being continued —a little thin gruel or cornflour may bo added to' tho milk, in the proportion of about one. fourth of the hulk of tho food. Between tho ages of six and nine months thai amount of food for the twenty-four hour* will ho thirty-six to forty ounces, each feeding (six in the twenty-four hours) being' set down at about six ounces or so. - An authority advises as the hours of feeding, 7 a.m., 10, 1,4, 7,: and 10 o'clock. Sleep should lost from 10 p.m. till 6 a.m,, with two naps xu tho day .between feedings. •. From nine to twelve months of ago five meals daily ' ore recommended, giving eight ounces at each meal. The first meal is given at 7 a.m.; succeeding ones at ' 10.30, 1.35, 5 and 8 o’clock. At the age of twelve months spoon feeding should be commenced, and tho.child gradually weaned away from the bottle. Then also it in ay bo fed from a cup, but there is to be no hurry over the acquirement of these accomplishments. Many infanta are slow in picking up the new mode of feeding. _ Greater Variety in diet is now permissible, but the doctor’s advice hero is to avoid any excess of solid food. Eggs may be given, oatmeal, broth and amps, a little meat and cooked fruits. Bread and :milk are also suitable, ■ and the milk given to drink should have a little barley or lime water added. An authority prefers boiled fowl at first to beef ox mutton, because it is more easily digested. See that eating between meals is prohibited, and it will, bo well that any excess Of sweet things be' tabooed.' Tea and- coffee are not at all good things for children: cocoa. is preferable, but is not to supersede .milk. Such''hr© the main facts about iufant feeding, that process and duty on which tho ; welfaro of future generations depends.—" Lloyd’s Weekly.”