Excessive infant-mortality : how can it be stayed? : a paper contributed to the National Social Science Association, (London meeting) : to which is added a short paper, reprinted from the Lancet, on infant-alimentation, or artificial feeding, as a substitute for breast-milk, considered in its physical and social aspects / by M.A. Baines.

  • Baines, Mary Anne.
Date:
[1862]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Excessive infant-mortality : how can it be stayed? : a paper contributed to the National Social Science Association, (London meeting) : to which is added a short paper, reprinted from the Lancet, on infant-alimentation, or artificial feeding, as a substitute for breast-milk, considered in its physical and social aspects / by M.A. Baines. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    tainty to their respective causes. I am induced on this account to suggest, that unless any medical practitioners can bring their experience to hear upon this question, they will reserve their remarks; for although I am anxious to induce discussion on the subject of this paper, I should he sorry for the cause to be prejudiced by the mere repetition of old objections, having no better authority than that derived from the dogmas which belong to routine practice^ and based upon no solid nor tenable foun- dation. If any medical man would undertake to conduct a series of experiments as to the value of farina- ceous foods in the cases of children who may be depending entirely upon artificial feeding, such a practical experimentalist would j)erform a signal service to mankind. Let a fair trial he made under the direction and observation of the medical attendant, and let him report the result to the pro- fession and the public through the medical journals, whose columns are ahvays open to contributions which are calculated to benefit the cause of science and humanity.* * Another consideration in favour of my suggestion is, that ill-nourished children —those who are improperly fed, either by an excess of food or unsuitable diet—more readily fall a sacrifice to epidemics; whilst those subjects whose blood is kept in a ])ure state by wholesome food, have the power of resisting the influences which strike \down the feeble frames by huudreds. I believe that diarrhoea is oftener induced by wrong diet than by any atmospheric or other-local causes; at any rate, attacks are much more serious and fatal in cases where inattention to diet prevails. If this be true as regards adults, the fact is still more forcible with reference to children. JOHN FARNCOHBE, TRINTER, EASTERN ROAD, BRIGHTON. V