London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1899
Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1899
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(b) Artificial Feeding.— (From birth to the end of Six months). If
the mother cannot, or can only partially, suckle her child, it should
be fed on fresh cows' milk, diluted in the proportion of one part of
milk to two parts of either water or barley water, and slightly sweetened
with sugar. Two tablespoonfuls of this mixture should be given
to the infant during the first month every two hours between the
hours of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m., and once during the night.
As this mixture is r; ther deficient in fat, it is better to add a teaspoonful
of cream to one of the meals each day, or to give half a teaspoonful
of cod liver oil twice a day.
After the first week, the quantity and composition of the milk
given, and the periods of feeding, must be modified in accordance
with the following table up to the end of the sixth month.
Food table for average infant
| Period. | Intervals of feeding. | Quantities for each meal. | No. 01 feeds in 24 hours. | Composition of Food. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ist week | 2 hours | 2 tablespoonfuls | 10 | One part milk, two parts water or barley water. |
| Ist month | 2 ,, | 4 tablespoonfuls | 10 | |
| 2nd „ | 2½ ,, | 6 to 8 tablespoonfuls | 8 | Equal parts of|milk and water, &c. |
| 3rd A 4th month | 3 ,, | 8 to 10 tablespoonfuls | 7 | Equal parts of milk and water, &c. |
| 5th & 6th month | 3 ,, | 12 to 14 tablespoonfuls | 7 | Two parts of milk to one of water, &c. |
| N.B.—All milk or water used should be previously boiled. |
This table is only intended to be an average. It will, no doubt, be
necessary to depart in certain cases from the quantities and proportions
as experience teaches, perhaps more being given at one time
and less at another; but it would be advisable to keep as close as
possible to it, especially as regards the intervals.
Condensed skim milk or condensed separated milk must not be
used on any account.