London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Lewisham 1905

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]

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141
supplied by cows' milk. During the first six months of life
they are unable to digest starch owing to the absence of saliva,
and much mischief is caused by its early use in the form of
patent foods. Now, however, saliva is secreted, and the best
food will consist of mixture No. 3, thickened with a thin gruel
made of oatmeal, barleymeal, biscuit powder, or a suitable
malted or dextrinized food, such as Benger's, Savory & Moore's,
Mellin's or other good infants' food. Avoid cheap and common
forms of infants' foods. They are difficult for infants to digest.
Their use causes much serious trouble.
From Six to Nine Months.—Give six bottles a day
containing 12 to 14 tablespoonsful of mixture No. 3, thickened
as described. The addition of two teaspoonsful of meat juice
two or three times a day will be a great advantage. Allowabout
two pints for the six meals.
From Nine to Twelve Months.—Give five meals a day,
The quantity for each feed should be about 14 tablespoonsful.
Allow two to two and a quarter pints for the day. The milk
diets previously referred to may be supplemented by giving the
child the yoke of a lightly boiled egg, with stale bread crumbs,
once a day.
At 10 months old, stale bread-and-butter may be given,
and a teacupful of weak mutton or chicken broth.
About this time an effort should be made to cease the use
of feeding-bottle, substituting spoon or cup feeding.
From 12 to 18 months, the following or a similar diet
will be suitable:—
7 a.m.—The yoke of an egg lightly boiled. Thin stale
bread-and-butter, and a teacupful of new milk.