A 575739
How To Feed

To Prevent Sickness.




How TO
Feed Children

A Lecture
DELIVERED BEFORE MANY MOTHERS
in Hehshey Music Hall,
June 12, 1879.
By T. C. Duncan, m.d.,
CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE CHICAGO FOUNDLINGS' HOME,
AUTHOR OF '* DISEASES OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN,"
*' HOW TO BE PLUMP *, OR, TALKS ON PHYSIO-
LOGICAL FEEDING EDITOR OF THE

TO
PREVENT SICKNESS.
UNITED STATES MEDICAL INVES-
TIGATOR, ETC., ETC.
CHICAGO:
Duncan Brothebs, Publishers.
1879.
Copyrighted by
Duncan Brothers,
Chicago.
Dedicated
TO THE
MOTHERS OF CHICAGO,
BY THEIR ADMIRING FRIEND.
Preface.
Many of the philanthropic plans for the
amelioration of suffering humanity have come
from the fertile brain and warm heart of
woman. This one is no exception. A mother
was recounting her sad experience in feeding
her children, and emphasizing the many prac-
tical facts she had gleaned, and finally ex-
claimed: "If I could only tell what I know
to the mothers of Chicago, what an amount
of suffering it would prevent!" "Write out
your experience or give it in a lecture," said
her physician. "Oh my! I could not, but
you know all I do and much more, you are
the one to give the lecture. I wall engage
the hall and invite the ladies if you will giy^
X. PREFACE.
the lecture; will you do it?" Those who
heard of the suggestion urged with one accord:
"By all means give us the lecture."
The address, poor as it is, was prepared
amid the bustle of professional engagements,
and does not claim to be exhaustive; but,
treating as it does the salient points of the
subject, may prove just as practical. It
was well received by a large audience of ex-
perienced mothers. The "Diet Rules for Chil-
dren of Different Ages " were compiled chiefly
from the best authors and modified to suit
American children and American habits.
The few additions made are the result of care-
ful study and observation, especially in that
noble charity, the Chicago Foundling's Home.
In compliance with the earnest solicitation
of those, who (unable to be present) read por-
tions of this lecture in the daily press, it is now
PREFACE. Xi.
sent forth on its errand of mercy. May it do
only good; may it find its way into many
homes, to comfort and cheer; may it wisely
counsel the poor careworn mother worrying
with her infant at midnight; may it bring
the word in season so that precious childhood
need not blight before reaching adolescence;
may it prove a blessing to humanity and
"echo down the corridors of time," long after
its fair inspirers are " over there," where sick-
ness and sorrow are unknown, is the humble
desire of
The Author.
133 S. Clark St.
ON FEEDING CHILDREN
To Prevent Sickness.
Women of Chicago: I appear before you
to-day to plead for the lives of thousands of
little ones. I wish to speak to you on the
vital subject of "Feeding Children to Pre-
vent Sickness." That this is one of the most
difficult problems we have to solve is well
known to most of you. I do not claim to
have received any new revelation, but simply
to have collected some practical facts that
have been of inestimable value to me and my
infantile friends, as many present can bear
witness. It is believed by the many mothers
who planned this lecture, that their wide cir-
culation may benefit multitudes of little folks.
Forewarned is forearmed. If we would
know how to prevent sickness, we must know
14 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
something of the causes that lead to disease
and death. Let us glance at the vital statis-
tics of this city. The mortality in infancy is
simply enormous. Do you know that more
than one-half of all the deaths that occurred
in this city last year, were children under five
years of age? During 1878, the total mor-
tality in this city was 7,422. Of this number
2,455 were infants under one year,—over
one-third of the entire number! Of children
under five years, there died in this city last
year, 4,017, over 54 per cent of the whole
number of deaths! Think of it! Over four
regiments of children! More than six such
halls as this would seat! Think of the many
homes desolated and the hundreds of paternal
hearts, lonely and sad at the loss of precious
ones. But why recall these sad events? I
do not wish to add a pang to any bereaved
maternal heart present, but simply to arouse
the practical inquiry, cannot this enormous
"slaughter of the innocents" be prevented?
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 15
This is a practical age and we see the pleas-
ing picture of the whole scientific profession
turned in the direction of preventing disease.
The old adage, "an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure," is doubly true when
the health and lives of our little ones are at
stake.
Let us for a moment study the mortuary
statistics of this city for 1878. Which of all
the causes of death among children do you
think should head the list? "Cholera infan-
tum" will, I presume, occur to most of you.
You will doubtless be surprised when I tell
you that "premature births (86) and '6 still-
births" (686) together numbered 772 deaths,
or over 10 per cent, of all the deaths!
Why is this regiment of children "born
dead?" I at one time thought that all chil-
dren should live, but my examination of
hundreds of these cases convince me that
many are born to die rather than live. But
why so many? I have only reported two
16 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
still-births in four years. At the Health
Office I learned that many of these reports
came from midwives. Thirty years ago
the great number of still-births called out
this remarkable statement, as to one cause;
"I feel persuaded," said Dr. Francis of New
York, "that the annual list of still-born
infants published by our authorities in the
bills of mortality, is greatly increased in num-
bers by the use of ergot administered during
labor. Indeed I deem it expedient that in
all cases of still-born children, inquiry should
be made whether ergot had been adminis-
tered during parturition" (Billard's Diseases
of Infants, p. 605). Some years ago the
German government investigated this subject,
and the result was that the midwives were
prohibited from using ergot in labor. There
are other causes, as well as the indiscriminate
use of this agent, and perhaps too much blame
has been laid upon the midwives. This I do
know, that I have not used ergot in labor for
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 17
ten years. If the use of this powerful agent
is responsible for still-births, the people
should know it. But it should also be known
that many cases occur from lack of proper
nutrition.
The cause of death that ranks next on the
list is "convulsions." These cases numbered
729, last year. Under this head the Health
Department places all the reports of deaths
from "fits," "spasms," "cramps," "inter-
nal spasm," etc. Smith in his work on Dis-
eases of Children tells us that convulsions are
the most frequent cause of death among chil-
dren in Germany. The free use of ergot
may have something to do with it, as well as
the prevalent use of soothing syrups contain-
ing opium. But we know that they are caused
by errors in diet. Convulsions are supposed
to be caused by teething, worms, etc. A
convulsion is the last expression of many dis-
eases and is not strictly speaking a cause of
death.
18 ON FEEDING CHILDKEN
The chief cause back of all is usually de*
rangement of the digestive organs.
In England during 1868 there were 786,
858 births. During the same year there were
23,198 deaths from convulsions, or one out of
•every thirty-four children! In Scotland the
.same year there were 115,514 births and only
312 deaths from convulsions, or only one out
of every 370 children. The Scotch Registrar
■General, commenting on this wonderful dis-
parity, thinks the difference due to the
English habit of stuffing their babies with
spoon meat almost from birth; while the
Scotch wisely give nothing but the mother's
milk. In England, twice as many die from
diarrhoea as in Scotland, doubtless due to the
same stuffing process.
The cause of death among children that
rank next is cholera infantum, numbering
517 cases. I do not see one case of infantile
♦cholera now, where I saw twenty some years
-ago, and I have a great many more children
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 19*
to treat now than I had formerly. I only
met one ease last year, and the one I refer to-
was not strictly cholera infantum, but rather
the result of defective nutrition. When I tell
you that inanition (starvation) caused the
death of 274 little ones, you will doubtless
appreciate the force of the opinion of our
best men of to-day, that "errors in feeding
rank first among the causes of infantile dis-
ease and mortality."
Fifty years ago the world renowned sage
Hufeland wrote: 6' Dentition becomes one of
the most frequent causes of the diseases of chil-
dren." According to the statistics of this
city last year, dentition caused the death of
seventy-one children. Where nutrition is at
fault, dentition may be a grave complication
especially if there is a large development of
the nervous system, but this I do know, that
children can teeth even in the hot weather,
and remain comparatively well. Last sum-
mer a little fellow cut six teeth with very
20 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
little disturbance, and then only when some
error in feeding upset his stomach. He came
very near dying from mal-assimilation when
little, until we realized that his was one of
those stomachs that cannot digest milk.
Teething does not cause one-tenth of the
sickness it is credited with. A prominent
New York physician, Dr. Jacobi, wrote a
book to combat this popular error. Now
when the mother says: "I think my child is
suffering with its teeth," I always look to the
♦condition of the stomach. When the tongue
is red at the tip, I have found that the stom-
ach is deranged either with gastritis, acute
or chronic, or gastric catarrh. Only recently
I was consulted in several cases, to know if
the cause of sickness in each case was not " its
teeth."
One case, child ten months old, mother
obliged to feed it from lack of milk, was
taken to the table and given '6 a little ginger-
bread," "piece of sponge cake," "cracker,"
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 21
and "half of a banana!" As a result "a
cradle concert " at midnight. Found its upper
incisors crowding through a swollen gum.
Tongue red at the tip. It was restless, un-
easy and starting in sleep. Did not lance its
gums as I would have done years ago, but
regulated its diet, cured its gastritis, and the
teeth came through without help.
Another case two years old was fed almost
everything; now has vomiting and diarrhoea,
and no appetite, (stomach laid off duty for
repairs). I told the mother how to feed it;
i.e., a hearty breakfast of milk, potatoes, and
bread; milk before nap at 11 a. m.; hearty
dinner at 1 p. m., and a light supper at five,
and no more. Nothing between meals. With
a little medicine the child rapidly recovered.
Another case I will relate. Child, four
years old had repeated attacks of fever, coated
tongue, vomiting and cough— a case of gastro-
enteric and bronchial catarrh. But what was
the cause ?'' It could not be his teeth," said the
22 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
mother, " for he has all of them. The neigh-
bors suggest * worms,' but you do not believe
in worms." Yes I do, when I see them. I
fished out of a year-old-ehild, twenty-seven
feet of tapeworm! I suspected there might
be trouble with its diet, and inquired when it
had supper? "We have a late dinner at 6:30
p. m., and it has a frolic, and then retires
about 7:30 p. m." Does it sleep soundly. '' He
starts in his sleep, cries out and kicks the
clothes off." I ordered three meals a day,
only a light supper at 5 p. m., and no frolic.
Now this pale, thin, four-year-old is getting
plump and well.
I do not know of anything that would
suggest worms or difficult dentition, or both,
like the restless feverishness of gastric derange-
ment. I do not know of a more fruitful
cause of gastric derangement than irregular
and unseasonable eating. Late dinners are
responsible for much of the dyspepsia that
is so prevalent now-a-days among both adults
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 23
and children. The heavy meals for adults and
children should come in the early part of the
day. Evening is the time for recreation —
rest. Late dinners are deranging more stom-
achs in this city than all the physicians can
correct. Next to this cause is the use of
tobacco. Children that live in tobacco smoke
are difficult to keep well. I have not now
the time to demonstrate the truth of these
seemingly dogmatic assertions, but they are
true notwithstanding. Can we wonder at
the blindness of people on the deleterious in-
fluence of late dinners, narcotics, stimulants,
etc., when mothers cannot see that their chil-
dren are starving at their breasts?
The other day, with one ot my patients
from a distant city, came a mother with a
twin fourteen months old, without a tooth.
Its appearance arrested my attention. The
head was large and full on top, the eyes start-
ing and watery, while the lower part of the
face was small and pointed. Hollow cheeks
24 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
and narrow jaws point to starvation. As
Csesar said of Brutus,
"He has a lean and hungry look."
This child's skin was pale, waxy, bloodless.
Curious to know how well informed the
mother was in regard to her child's health, I
asked her if the child was well. "Not very,
its teething." Is it nursing or feeding?
"Nursing." Have you plenty of milk? "Not
very much." You ought to wean it. Its
starving. "Oh, I want to nurse it through
the summer." Is your appetite good? "Not
very. I eat when I feel like it." Your child
is not growing as it should. "My doctor
thinks it is doing nicely now. He says it has
a splendid head, see how large its wrists
are?" They were deformed with rickets.
Hoping to arouse her to the fact that there
was something more than teeth the matter
with it, I inquired, does it sleep good? "It
is a very poor sleeper. I have to give it a
teaspoonful of soothing syrup to get it to
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 25
sleep." Children doing well, ©vcn- when
teething, sleep, esp^Hy at night. That
face lilies me. Poor, starving child! The
mother thinks that the frail little thing is
only teething, while it is now suffering with
gastritis, inanition, rickets and hydrocepha-
lus (water on the brain). But this is not an
isolated case. What more heart-rending spec-
tacle than that of a mother starving her own
child at her breast, and all unconscious of the
tragedy she is enacting?
Children to live and thrive must have:
1. Good food; proper food.
2. Must be fed regularly.
3. Must have good care.
We will consider the first two points
at this time:
Many infants are starved before birth.
The mother should have a good appetite for
substantial food. Some refuse to eat as they
should, for fear of a large child and a hard
26 ON FEEDING CH1LDKEN
time. According to my observations it is a
large head at tlit> back, even with a small
body, that causes difficult labor. 4 mother
nervous, anxious and a poor eater (suffering
with chronic inflammation of the stomach) is
apt to have just that kind of a child, which
will be nervous and restless. It will sleep
but little, cry or worry with colic. It is
such children that ruin the reputation of
babydom and render motherhood a dread.
All this need not be if mothers live a natural
life. Nothing develops woman physically
and mentally (and I might add, morally) like
motherhood. Boneparte said, that the need
of France was mothers. Yea, mothers and
homes are the need of the world! "Homes"
it is well said, " are the bulwark of peace."
What is home without a mother?
A true mother is a good cook and a good
eater. Nothing should hinder the develop-
ment of a full round figure. Think of the
human form divine, plump and well rounded
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 27
needing corsets — that girdle of barbarism!
"Oh," says a frail form, " I need it to sup-
port my back." Why does thy back need
splints? Verily thy stomach is "caved in."
See that elastic little miss as she tips to
school, erect and plump as a partridge. Her
stomach rebels at the corset pressure, but it
must be crowded—modeled. The only good
the corset does is to crowd everything down,
out of place, and give thousands of physi-
cians work to repair damages. I am glad to
say that a great reform is going on among
our better people in regard to development
and underwear. If any support is needed it
is to hold the abdomen up. This is often
necessary to allow the requisite exercise. I
have devised such a support and cut hundreds
of patterns for my patients. One woman
wdth triplets was with it enabled to be about
to the last. One of the most vigorous moth-
ers I know, one who can out-work and out-
walk any younger woman, has worn such an
28 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
abdominal support for fifteen years: she never
had a weakness, and in the meantime raised
five children, including a pair of twins. I
will gladly supply any one with the pattern *
Sleep and rest are necessary to good diges-
tion in both mother and child. Said a mother,
"I was a great sleeper. Besides sleeping all
night would take a nap after dinner, and if
fatigued in any way would drop down and
take a snooze — 'forty winks,' as an old
English lady expressed it. My children
were never wakeful. I never lost an hour's
sleep with them." Need I tell you that they
were substantial children and are healthy
adults? "Train up a child in the way it
should go, and when it is old it will not de-
part from it."
There is a widespread impression that
healthy children cannot be raised in a city, but
I know of many city children as plump and
well as can be found in all the country
round. There is no place like home for a
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 29*
child, especially in summer, where it can be
regular in its habits and its eating. I am
more and more convinced that it is the food,
and not so much the surroundings, that deter-
mines the health of children.
Said a true, noble mother to me, as she
referred to the death of two children after
long tedious illness, the distress of a third with
hydrocephalus, and the undeveloped condi-
tion of a fourth. "Oh! doctor, if I had only
known that my milk was poisonous to the
poor tilings, as I am now convinced it is, I
believe all my children might be alive now,
and well. How many mothers to-day believe,
that because they have plenty of milk, there-
fore they ought to nurse their children.
When I think of it, I almost go wild. See
how finely baby does on a wet-nurse whose
milk agrees with him nicely." Why did not
this mother's milk agree with her children?
She is spare and nervous. Has a large devel-
opment of the nervous system. Her milk is
30 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
thin, blue, sours readily, and lacks the ele-
ments of good milk. She is so constituted.
Most mothers should nurse their children,
but there are exceptions to this rule. When
should they not nurse them?
i. When constitutionally nervous, rest-
less, and poor eaters and sleepers, they will
give thin, poor, sour milk that will not
nourish infants.
ii. Consumptive wTomen as a rule should
not nurse their children.
in. Mothers with any wasting or conta-
gious constitutional disease are in no condi-
tion to nurse children.
iv. Mothers in deep grief should not
nurse.
v. Mothers who flesh up rapidly while
nursing, have as a rule, very poor milk.
The best nurses are women of medium
height, brunettes, with a soft delicate skin.
The poorest nurses are the tall or large and
fair. Their milk contains much casein, and
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 31
like cow's milk, is hard to digest. A very
active mother makes a poof nurse. Proper
food will change the character of any mother's-
milk. The milk of large fleshy mothers may
be improved by avoiding much nitrogenous,
food, like meat, oatmeal, etc., and eating
freely of starchy food. While that of thin
mothers may be improved by more food of all
kinds, and especially liquid food, as soups,
milk, gruels, etc. Where the milk is too
rich, so that the child fats up too rapidly,
more nitrogenous food should be taken to
give it a corresponding amount of muscle and
vigor.
From a variety of sources, and as the re-
sult of experience, I have arranged a series of
Diet Rules for the various stages of child
development.
NO. I. FROM BIRTH TO SIX MOJfTH8.
If the child be suckled^ and the breast milk
found in all. respects suitable and sufficient,
give no other food.

ON FEEDING CHILDREN
The child should take the breast once in
two (2) hours for the first six weeks; after-
wards, once in three (3) hours, except from
9 or 11 p. M. to 4 or 6 a. m. Frequent nurs-
ing through the night is injurious to both
mother and child.
If the mother's milk is insufficient, and
•cannot be made sufficient by proper food, the
following may be given in addition, until the
breast-milk becomes sufficiently abundant;
i. A teaspoonful of cream and half a tea-
spoonful of loaf sugar or sugar of milk may
be added to four tablespoonfuls of hot water;
or,
ii. One tablespoonful of fresh cream, two
tablespoonfuls of whey, two tablespoonfuls of
hot water (not boiling, but which has been
boiled).
The whey is made fresh in the house by
adding one teaspoonful of prepared rennet to
a pint of new milk, well warmed; after mix-
ing well, allow it to stand until the curd
forms; this is removed by straining through
muslin. (A piece of fresh rennet an inch
square may be soaked in half a glass of
TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
33
water, and a teaspoonful of the liquid used
instead of the prepared rennet). If the child
belches sour water consult your physician.
When children are to be brought up by
hand, milk should be given for the first eight
days in the form of a dilution of one part
cream and three parts water with the addi-
tion of one part milk-sugar, and, when the
bowels are constipated, a little barley water.
From the eighth day one part milk and
two parts water; or pour four spoonfuls of
boiling water upon one of sweet cream and
add a very little loaf sugar. This is entirely
suited to the stomach of the youngest infant.
After six or eight weeks it should be
prepared as follows:—Boil a heaping tea-
spoonful of sugar of milk in half a teacupful
of water for fifteen minutes,—then add half a
teacupful of nice fresh milk and it is ready
for use. If allowed to get cold it should be
warmed by dipping the bottle containing it
into hot water. The milk must not be
boiled. The milk should be kept in a glass
jar, and in warm weather should have a wet
cloth wrapped about it, when ice is not at
hand.
34
ON FEEDING CHILDREN
Quantity.—For the first two or three weeks,
six or eight tablespoonfuls at each meal will
be sufficient; this can be gradually increased
as the child grows older.
When milk is rejected, a teaspoonful of
cooked arrow root or corn-starch, or a piece
of isinglass an inch square, or a correspond-
ing portion of Cox's gelatin, dissolved in four
ounces of milk and water, will prevent the
milk running together into large curds. In
these cases some of the so-called 6 4 Infant's
Foods" may be used to advantage.
When about four months old, or near the
period of teething, the water should be one-
third of the mixture, and gradually dimin-
ished until we have pure milk. After the
fifth month a little meat broth may be given
(not oftener than once in twenty-four hours),
but no addition of oatmeal or any starchy
food, whatever, unless well-cooked, until
after six teeth have appeared.
The bottle must be kept fresh and clean!
Empty and wash it thoroughly after every
meal. Soak the teat or tube in a little bi-
carbonate of soda if living inland (on the
TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
35
sea-coast use bicarbonate of potassa) in
the water until wanted again.
Egg Drink.—Consisting of six (6) ounces
of boiling water, which is cooled down to 100°
Fah., is stirred up with the white of an egg
and seasoned with salt. To this mixture is
added later the yellow of an egg in gradually
increasing doses. This preparation is partic-
ularly well adapted alone or as an addition to
a weak broth during teething, and should be
given once or twice daily.
The first month is the most critical period
of the infant's life. The largest mortality
occurs then. A great mistake is often made
in feeding the infant the first day. Nature
says, "rest two days and on the third day
food will arrive." The child has been water-
soaked and much evaporation must go on dur-
ing this time of rest. The child sleeps and
the digestive organs get ready for duty, un-
less disturbed. If it must be fed give it
sweet cream one part, warm water eight
parts and sugar of milk, or sugar one part.
36 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
Feed it as little as possible. It should sleep
nearly all the time for the first month barely-
waking enough for food. A wakeful infant
is sick and needs the watchful care of a physi-
cian. If the breast milk is sufficient give it
no other food. How shall we know when it
is sufficient? Shall we wait till some one
guesses it is not satisfying the child? No.
If not suitable the child will be in distress
after nursing, or will not drop to sleep, will
cry and be wakeful. In either case the milk is
not suitable.
The first milk will usually agree for a week
or perhaps two, then the trouble may begin,
just when the mother begins to get up, un-
less it has been upset before the milk arrived.
If now it seems more hungry, the milk is in-
sufficient, or else it is already suffering with
gastritis. In the latter case the tip of the
tongue will be very red. In either case it
will act hungry. If the mother is too smart
and active, her milk will grow scanty or of
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 37
poor quality. She will be tired and nervous
and baby "cross as all creation" from hun-
ger. Its cry properly interpreted is "I'm
starving" The symptoms may be very mild.
Case, colic after nursing with frequent stools
—always after nursing. Child restless at
night when it formerly slept well. This
child would not have been considered sick by
many people, but the intelligent young
mother thought otherwise. She began to
look tired and to suffer with neuralgia, a flag
of distress that it is always well to heed. In
this case it pointed toward a failure of the
milk supply from genteel starvation. She
was at a boarding house and was ashamed to
pass her plate the second time. I ordered six
meals a day. A bowl of oatmeal gruel three
times a day between meals. To eat hearty of
bread, potatoes, soup, etc., and to drink milk
at meals. If not satisfied add an oyster stew
in her room. The milk rapidly improved in
quantity and quality. She soon went to
38 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
housekeeping, ate like a pig, and niother and
child did well.
If the child's tongue is fiery red it needs
medical attention. This is the mildest and
often the only sign of sickness. One great
mistake that is often made in such cases, is to
try this and that domestic expedient which
usually results in making matters worse. A
word of advice, or one visit may save a long
sickness. Do not allow a delicate growing
sensative child to struggle with sickness.
Delays are dangerous.
Some mothers are very indiscreet while
nursing. Some do not eat enough, while
others eat anything they crave, irrespective
of the demands of themselves or infants.
Case, child four months old. Done well the
first two months, then the mother began to
take hot lemonade for drinks, and about the
same time passed through much grief at the
temporary absence of her husband. Her milk,
scanty enough before, became thin and easily
TO PREVENT SICKNESS, 39
soured by the acid drinks and grief. Do you
wonder that her child broke out with an
eruption from head to foot? This mother,
tender hearted, erred through ignorance.
Remember this: Avoid acids, they are pois-
onous to anjr child. Acidity and heat, or cold,
are the infant destroyers.
Many children are overfed. Some mothers
feed the child every time it cries. A small,
thin child will cry much from colic till it
becomes fleshy. There is so much acidity of
its system that it will be in distress. The
cry from hunger is a mild sort of a cry com-
pared to that caused by pain. If the child
has grastric derangement it should be fed less
often, instead of more frequently, as is usually
the case, because it seems so ravenous. A
child that wants to feed, cries for food every
half hour, is suffering with gastric derange-
ment, A child that wants to nurse all night
is sick. Nursing at night is injurious to
mother, and dangerous to the child. The
40 ON FEEDING CHELDREN
constant drain cm the mother allows no time
for rest, and no chance for the system to re-
cuperate, consequently the milk will be im-
paired in quantity and quality. A child that
wants to lay at the breast at night is not well.
The proper course should be in such cases for
the mother to nurse it less often (three hours),
and not at all at night. She should feed it
some. I recall such a case. Child six months
old wanted to nurse all the time. Mother was
advised to feed it some or wean it. It refused
food. She was weak and yielding. The
result was that the child barely survived the
next six months. It will take years for that
child to recover from the bad effects of those
months of starvation.
A child six months' old should feed. Oh,
but it won't eat. It gags and chokes at food.
They all do that at first. Stuff it down it
as the old ladies do. This seems cruel, but
children, babies even, should early learn to
obey. There is a feeling, especially with the
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 41
inexperienced, that the child kuo-w« what it
wants. That maybe true, but it does not
know what it needs. The mother should
guide its youth. Inexperinced and yielding
mothers are responsible for many of the will-
ful and head strong children we meet.
NO. II. FROM SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS.
After six months the milk may be boiled,
unless there be constipation. For constipa-
tion add a little strained oatmeal gruel. Five
meals a day; two of which may be milk
thickened with flour porridge or a teaspoon-
ful boiled flour, or a tablespoonful of pearl-
barley jelly. A teacupful of beef tea, or the
yolk of an egg beaten up in a teacupful of
milk may be given once a day for a change.
Two of the five must be pure fresh milk.
Boiled Flour is prepared as follows: One
pound of pure wheaten flour, tied up very
tightly in a pudding bag, is placed in a sauce-
pan of boiling water and allowed to boil con-
stantly for ten hours. On removing the
cloth at the end of this time a yellowish-
42 ON FEEDING CHILIAN
white ball is ««<5ff> feeling soft and rather
-ek^tfic'to' the touch, like India rubber. When
cold, the softer, outer coat is cut away and
the hard neucleus which is left is reduced to
powder with a fine grater. A child six
months old will seldom digest more than two
teaspoonsful of this food in the twenty-four
hours, and in many cases half that quantity
will be sufficient. One teaspoonful of this
powder is rubbed with a tablespoonful of
cold milk into a smooth paste, continuing
the rubbing until all the lumps have disap-
peared. A second teaspoonful of cold milk
is then added and the rubbing is repeated
until the mixture has the appearance of a
perfectly smooth cream. A quarter of a
pint of boiling milk, or milk and water is
added, slowly stirring all the time, and the
mixture is ready for use.
If the above be found not to agree, a
smaller quantity should be given, or if neces-
sary, some other farinaceous, or well-cooked
starchy food should be tried. Grerber's, Hor-
lick's (Liebig's), Kestle's, Neave's, Ridge's
Food, Imperial Granum, etc., may be used.
TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
43
Sometimes one, sometimes another, will be
found to succeed, but in no case should fari-
naceous food be given oftener than twice a
day.
Pearl barley boiled for six hours forms, on
cooling, after the water has been strained off,
a jelly which dissolves readily in warm milk.
If there be constipation a teaspoonful of
fine oatmeal may be substituted for the other
farinaceous food.
Beef tea.—Put one-half pound (or one
pound according to strength required), of
fresh lean beef, cut into small pieces, into a
covered bowl with a pint- of cold water and a
pinch of salt. Put it in the oven and let it
simmer gently for two hours. Skim well and
serve. When not served at once, it must be
kept in a cool place well covered. In re-
warming beef tea which has been allowed to
cool, care must be taken to warm the tea up
to the point at which it is to be served and
no higher. Only warm as much as is to be
taken at once. It should on no account
BE ALLOWED TO BOIL.
A healthy child between 10 and 12 months
44 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
old will require from a pint and a half to a
quart of milk in twenty-four hours. It
should have nothing between meals except a
drink of water now and then. It should now
sleep all night without food.
NO. III. FROM TWELVE TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS.
A healthy child of a year to eighteen
month old, will usually take between two
and three pints of milk in the twenty-four
hours. Some children take larger quantities
than others at one meal, but if the meals are
made very large, their number must be re-
duced in proportion. Many children between
twelve and eighteen months old will do very
well upon only three meals a day. A healthy
child eighteen months old should sleep from
6 p. m. to 6 a. m., without waking. The
sooner a child becomes accustomed to sleep
all night without food the better. When,
however, he wakes in the morning, refreshed
by his night's rest, he should never be allowed
to remain fasting for an hour or more. A
drink of milk or a thin slice of bread and
butter should be given at once.
TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
45
First Meal.—7:30 a. m. (or as soon as child
awakes): A slice of stale bread well soaked
in a cupful of new milk.
Second Meal.—10 a. m.: A drink of milk;
a plain biscuit or a slice of thin bread and
butter. Now it should take a long nap.
Third Meal.—1:30 p. m.: A teacupful of
good beef tea with a slice of bread; a good
tablespoonful of light farinaceous pudding,
and baked potatoes.
Fourth Meal.—5 p. m.: Same as first.
Fifth Meal.—10 p. m.: (If required) a
drink of milk. If the child is restless at
night omit the last meal, giving a drink of
water instead.
Some children may need the following:
First Meal.—As soon as he wakes. The
yolk of a lightly boiled egg; a slice of thin
bread and butter; a cupful of new milk.
Second Meal.—10 a. M.: A drink of milk;
or a slice of bread and butter.
Third Meal.—1:30 p. m.: A mealy potato
well mashed, moistened with two tablespoon-
fuls of food beef gravy; a cupful of new
milk.
46
ON FEEDING CHILDREN
Fourth Meal.—6 p. m.: A slice of stale
bread well soaked in a breakfast cupful of
milk.
Fifth Meal.—10 p. M.: (If required), a
drink of milk. The fifth meal at 10 p. m.
should never be given unnecessarily.
Many will do well on three meals a day, as
follows:
First Meal.—On waking, a teaspoonful of
baked flour; a teaspoonful of fine oat-meal;
three-quarters of a pint of milk, a little white
sugar.
Second Meal.—1 p. m.: The same with the
addition of the yolk of one egg and potato.
Third Meal.—5 p. m.: Same as first.
In this diet the flour and the oat-meal are
first beaten up till smooth, with four table-
spoonfuls of cold water, and are then boiled.
The milk and sugar are then added, and the
mixture is boiled till it thickens. For the
second meal the yolk of an egg is stirred up
in the saucepan, and boiled with the rest.
The child should have plenty of potatoes for
the noon meal.
TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
47
NO. IV. FROM TWO YEARS UPWARD.
A healthy child should have only three
meals a day and no more. Milk should form
a part of each meal. Food acid or sour should
not be given children. The child should eat
hearty at the two first meals, and should have
nothing between meals but water. A red
tongue is an index of stomach troubles that
demands prompt attention.
The morning meal should consist of oatmeal
and milk, potatoes, bread and butter. The
child should now eat hearty and especially in
warm weather. If it has had a light supper
and slept well it will have a good appetite.
The noon meal should be the heartiest, and
should consist of meat, potatoes, vegetables,
soup, etc. The drink should be milk or milk
with warm water, taken with the food, or
after it, and never before, nor directly after
eating, as it arrests digestion.
The evening meal should be light, consist-
ing chiefly of bread and milk. Cake and
sauce, unless ripe, SAveet fruit, should not be
allowed children, and especially at this meal.
The child should retire early, about 7 p. m.,
48
ON FEEDING CHILDREN
have no excitement after supper as that will
interfere with early and sound sleep.
Begular habits especially in eating should
be early learned. The earlier the better. A
child that has its own way the first year will
want to do as it likes all the rest of its life.
A young mother who was invited to this
lecture, said to the lady who invited her, "I
ain't going; my child shall have just what it
wants." What kind of a child has she? The
report is, it is very cross, crying half the time,
and seems very clumsy on its feet. It is fed
anything and everything, at any time of day
or night, and then whipped to make it mind.
That child suffers with dyspepsia, and I judge
a progressive hydrocephalus. It is perhaps
needless to add that this is her first child. If
that child survives it will be apt to suffer for
years with chronic gastritis—a form of
trouble very common among growing chil-
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 49
dren, and almost entirely overlooked. The
following is an illustration:
Miss , aged twelve, tall and spare, is
brought to my office by Dr. for consul-
tation. A former physician had diagnosed
heart disease. As the girl drops into the
chair in a listless, tired manner, we will study
her. The face is pale and wan, the eye dull,
the skin sallow and dry, the shoulders stoop
and the form is bent. The whole appearance
is that of exhaustion. Why is this young
girl not plump, rosy and fair? Is she sick?
Many a mother would say 4 4 oh she is only
tired out, and when school closes she will be
all right." This is the way these cases are
treated, or rather neglected; but the result
is not as predicted. These cases do not
change for the better. The mother had
heard my lecture on Infant Mortality* at the
Grand Pacific Hotel, aud she is aroused.
*•• Infant Mortality and Dentition." The opening lecture
of a private course on Diseases of Infants and Children,
given to physicians.
50 ON FEEDING OHILDKEN
"Something must be done." To the inquiry,
"How does she eat," comes the answer:
"She does not eat anything; all she wants
is meat. She would rather play than eat."
"Does she drink much water?" "Very lit-
tle." "How does she sleep?" "I never saw
such a sleeper; you cannot go into her room
but you wake her. She is a very light sleeper.
Well, she is restless any time; constantly in
motion." (It is a well-known fact that car-
nivorous animals are rarely fat, drink but
little and are constantly in motion). Why
is this poor child in such a condition? It is
not due to school, although a condition fre-
quently met among school children, or to
mental activity, as many suppose, for she has
always been so. We will investigate this
case farther. The heart thumps like a trip-
hammer against the chest,wall, but is not
irregular, and as the excitement abates the
heart-throbs are less forcible. It beats as it
does in any exhausted body. The tongue tells
TO FREVENT SICKNESS. 51
the story. It is small, thin and red at the tip,
with a very thin, white coat upon it through
which the papillae show very red. I might
cite scores of similar cases that have come
under my observation, but this will enable
you to pick out hundreds of these cases
among the children you meet, and especially
school children. These "spindle shanks " ex-
cite my sympathy, for they tell a long story
of systemic starvation.
Older children are often more difficult to
feed so as to keep well than the younger
ones, but I have found that they will, as a
rule, take freely of bread and butter, vegeta-
bles, sweet fruits, and milk, and fatten nicely.
The milk should be taken with the meals or
just at the close of dinner and supper.
Between meals I insist on a drink of water;
children, like plants, need plenty of water,
but it should not be drank cold at meals, for
that is a fruitful cause of derangement of the
stomach. Following the rules laid down in
52 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
my little book, "How to be Plump," I have
found that starchy food, plenty of fluids,
water between • meals, and the appropriate
remedy will soon transform these shadows of
humanity into rosy and happy, hale and hearty
members of society.
For some time I have been impressed with
the necessity for some place where young
mothers could freely go and get light on the
many seemingly trivial questions that come to
them in the care of their little ones. In the
proposed Medical University there will be
such a Department of Public Information on
this and all health topics. What a world of
good a Society of Mothers could do in this, or
any other city, to whose headquarters would
flow all the experience of successful dames,
for the benefit of generations yet unborn.
Visiting committees of experienced matrons
could do much, yes, very much in lessening
the sickness and mortality among the chil-
TO PREVENT SICKNESS. 53
dren of the lower classes. Some philan-
thropic maternal heart, will, I believe, set on
foot such an Howard Association in this city
before very long. Possibly this lecture, made
up as it is largely of facts gathered from
many experienced and observing mothers,
nurses, and physicians, may prove the feasi-
bility as well as the desirability of such an
organization. w One of the first subjects to
engage their attention, I opine, would be
to suppress the sale of adulterated, sour
swill milk, that is poisoning so many chil-
dren.
Man's inhumanity to man
Makes coiintless thousands mourn.—Burns.
As I look into the faces of those who will
mould the lives of many, many people, I feel
the awful responsibility of this hour. No-
ble mother, your hand and heart moves
the lever that will elevate or lower genera-
54 ON FEEDING CHILDREN
tions to come. What grand possibilities are
yours! You may mould a grand, noble, self-
denying child that will shed a Christ-like in-
fluence over many communities. We are
imitative beings, therefore, the need of model
mothers—and model fathers.
Model mothers are not as many suppose,
the learned, gifted, and wealthy, but are
rather the gentle, self-possessed woman, who
can say with quiet, tender firmness, " no, my
child, it is not right for you." The atmos-
pere of such a home is sublime—heavenly.
Well do I know the ceaseless care, the pro-
tracted vigils, and the great anxiety that ren-
ders it almost impossible for the mother to
be always gentle and firm. But this I do
know that if she controls the child's feeding,
it will early learn to obey her will and yield
to her judgment .
If I have contributed anything to help you
to accomplish your noble life work, I shall
TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
have fulfilled the mission of those who
lected me to address you.
THE NURSE;
OR,
Hints on the Care of the Sick,
Including Mothers and Infants, and a Di-
gest of Domestic Medicine.
Large 12mo. 120 pp. Elegantly bound in cloth. Price,
60 cents.
"Every Nurse should have a copy!"
"Every Mother should possess this useful work!"
A very good manual with sound instruction for mothers
and nurses.—American Observer, Detroit.
This little book, bound in Duncan's best style, we cordially
endorse, and would recommend its purchase by every wife
and mother. It will help where help is most needed in a
hygienic way; where there is the most annoying ignorance,
viz., among our intelligent clas es.—Clinical Review, St.
Louis. ,
The anxious mother will And in these pages many timely
words and good advice ps to how to care for the little ones
and big one. We need a training school for nurses as well as
medical schools for doctors. They go hand in hand. A good
nurse is a fitting supplement to a good physician—and still
more to a poor one. Dr. Harris does us all good when he
?uts forth such excellent advice as his book abounds with,
here is advice about the Sick-Poom, Quietness, Ventilation,
Bathing, Expectant Mothers, New-Born Babes, Diseases and
Accidents of Childhood, Poisons and their Antidotes, etc.,
etc. with dietary rules It is handsomely published, and te a
credit to Messrs. Duncan Bros.—T7te Homoeopathic News, St.
Louis.
By Charles T. Harris, a.m., m.d..
DUNCAN BROS
113 Madison street, and I
131 & 133 S. Clark street, j

How to be Plump:
—OR—
Talks on Physiological Feeding.
BY
T. C. DUNCAN, M.D.,
EDITOR OF "THE UNITED STATES MEDICAL INVESTIGATDR,"
AUTHOR OF "DISEASES OF INFANTS AND CHIL-
DREN, WITH THEIR HOMOEOPATHIC
TREATMENT," ETC., ETC.
A Few Testimonials:
Excellently written for its purpose, and should have a large
sale.—Homoeopathic Times.
Natural plumpness is held to be one of the indices of health,
and this interesting work may truly be termed a guide to that
result.—Palmyra Enterprise.
This is just the book hundreds of people are wishing to see.
If growing plump and handsome is not one of the desirable
home arts, it is very near to it.—Home Arts.
The author has not covered up wisdom with a multiplicity
of word?, and the reader can, very readily learn^why he is
lean, and how to become plump.—Christian Herald.
A good, practical treatise on health rules, which, if followed,
will Keep any person in health, and consequently u plump
enough for comfort."—The Young Folks' World.
It seems a very sensible little treatise, from a Homoeo-
pathic standpoint, and will be valuable in the hands of those
scrawny people who desire to be round and plump.—Aurora
Beacon.
Thanks for your work. It will be an exceltent addition to
our libraries, and do good work. Now write an essay how to
reduce obesity. It troubles greatly sterile women in our
diggings.—S. LlLIENTHAL.
The volume is full of plain and useful information directed
to the avoidance of disease and to the manner of gradually
attaining a graceful contour by the use of water and starchy
foods. The motto of the book is that health and plumpness
go hand In hand.—The Record,


The author evidently knew when he had said all that was
strictly necessary. His advice is practical throughout, and
appeal especially to common sense. If any one continues
lean after reading this book, he will at least he able to tell
the reason why.—Journal and Messenger.
This is a book full of practical information, with which
every one should be acquainted, but which cannot be found
except in this work. The book is written in the easy, frracef ul
style characteristic of the author, and if the direction i in it
are followed, that rotundity of form, which is so desirable,
may easily be attained.—Farm and Fireside.
It teaches the man—or woman—of many angles and obtru-
sive osseous structure how cavities may be cushioned, and
smooth surfaces and unbroken curves may be attained. It is
not to be inferred that there is any charlatanism in this cure
—any more than there is in arsenic. It is all honest and
reasonable, and based on physiological facts and functions.—
Detroit Evening News.
The book contains tables giving the composition of various
classes of food, and shows the necessity of starchy foods and
sweets in the human diet. Plumpness, the author holds to
be a symptom of health, and as most people look better if
they do not feel bitter for being possessed of a little of it.
Dr. Duncan ought to have a large following in his efforts to-
ward accomplishing a new social revolution." — Brooklyn
Daily Times.
The author recommends fliet and rest as the only requisites
for development. No medicine whatever is required in his
course of treatment. He tells how he became fat; discourses
on Leanness as a Disease; on the Healthy or Physiological
Standard; the Importance of water; the Value of Fat; the
Necessity for Starchy food and Sweets; and How to become
Plump. Dr. Duncan writes in a popular style, and his little
book will be a most useful addition to the family library.—
Rural New Yorker.
Sent free on receipt of price, 50 cents.
Catalogue of Medical Books sent on application.
DUNCAN BROTHERS,
181 and 133 S. Clark St., CHICAGO.
ID XT KTG A 3ST BROS.'
Medical Publishing House
AND
HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACY.
The Homoeopathic Law of Cure.
This Is an excellent tract for general distribution among
those unacquainted with the benign practice of Homoeo-
pathy. Send for a sample.
Homoeopathy and Scarlet Fever.
A review of the success of Homoeopathy in the manage-
ment of this terrible scourge. Price, 5c each.
Diet Rules for Children of Different Ages.
Printed separately for general circulation. Price, 10 cents
per dozen.
A Choice Selection of Domestic Books.
Family Medicines, Cases and Chests.
A full line of Homoeopathic Medicines and
Foods for Children, etc., etc.
DUNCAN BROS.,
113 Madison street, and \ Ptjt^ a rn
131 & 133 8. Clark street, f ^rllCAOU.
* i



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