On the wasting diseases of infants and children / by Eustace Smith, M.D.

  • Smith, Eustace, 1835-1914.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the wasting diseases of infants and children / by Eustace Smith, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    teaspoon, is cut out of thin sheet elastic, and is sewn to the upper part of the stalk of the nipple where this projects from the shield. In the mouth of the infant the flap forms an artificial palate, against which the nipple is pressed during suction, and the fluid is thus prevented from passing into the nose in the act of swal- lowing. Infants who have been brought up at the breast with- out the addition of any other food are sometimes difficult to wean, as the new food does not always agree. Accus- tomed as such children are to the light human milk, the firm curd of cow's milk proves a heavy tax upon their digestive powers, and unless the change be made with care serious dangers may arise. In these cases the milk should be diluted with barley-water, or thickened with some infants' food. When the child has become accustomed to do without the breast-milk, he may begin to take the food which is hereafter to form his ordinary diet. Potatoes carefully mashed with a spoon, with gravy; meat broths; light puddings; eggs very lightly boiled ; or a bone to suck, may be allowed. No meat, however, should be given till the sixteenth or eighteenth month, when he may begin with a very small quantity once in the day. The best kind is a small piece of roast mutton, without any fat or grease. This should be very finely minced, or even pounded in a mortar to ensure fine division, for a young child will not chew his food. With this he may drink plain water, toast- water, or milk-and-water. For further information on the subject of feeding chil- dren, see Chap. XI, Diets 1—11. In making the various changes in the diet, it is im- portant to watch the child carefully, so that too great precipitancy may be avoided. Any signs of laboured digestion should be carefully noted, and a simpler diet at once returned to. The child when awake should be