Much of the headache and inattention of pupils during school hours is the direct result of an ill-regulated diet, or from vitiated appetites.

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INFANTS’ DIET.

One of the most important subjects included in a domestic science course of study is the feeding and care of infants.  A subject requiring special intelligence and consideration; one which embodies the condensed information of the preceding chapters, and is the foundation upon which the future physical structure is built.

It is not upon the mother alone that the baby depends for care and attention.  Many young girls, especially elder sisters and nurse-maids, have this responsibility placed upon them when they are little more than children themselves.  To these, as well as to young mothers, the following suggestions may prove helpful.

The first demand of an infant is for food, and upon the quality and quantity of the article provided depends the health of the child, as well as the comfort of the household.

Milk is the only food required by an infant until it is, at least, seven or eight months old, or until sufficient saliva is secreted to assist digestion; some authorities say one year, others until the child has sufficient teeth with which to masticate food.  If nature’s supply is not available, or sufficient, the best substitute is cow’s milk.  As cow’s milk contains less sugar of milk, and fat (cream), than human milk, these must be supplied.  Being more acid than alkaline, this must be corrected by the use of lime water.

There is more casein (curd) in cow’s milk than in mother’s milk, therefore water must be added to reduce this.  The following proportions have been submitted as a digestible form of preparing cow’s milk for young infants (Dr. Meigs):—­

    Cream, 2 tbsps. 
    Milk, 1 tbsp. 
    Lime water, 2 tbsps. 
    Milk-sugar water, 3 tbsps.

One quarter of this amount to be given every two hours during the day, and once or twice at night.

After the baby is a week old, the quantity may be increased to one-half at each meal; at two months the whole amount prepared may be given at once.

The proportion of milk should be gradually increased, and the water and cream decreased, until at two months old the proportion should be:—­

3 tbsps. milk. 1 tbsp. cream. 1 tbsp. lime water. 3 tbsps. sugar water.

When six months old the quantity of milk is doubled.  It should be increased every day until ten tablespoonfuls are given at a feeding.

BARLEY WATER.

    2 tbsps. pearl barley.
    1 pt. boiling water.

Wash the barley carefully.  Pour over it the boiling water.  Let it simmer for two hours.  Strain and sweeten with a pinch of sugar of milk.