Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

3 oz.
    Barley Gruel 0 oz. 0 oz. 0 oz. 5 oz. 5 oz.
                     ——- ——- ——- ——- ——-
                     20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz.

*(As the milk sugar is dissolved in the boiled water the quantity is twenty ounces instead of twenty-one.) Oatmeal gruel can be substituted for barley gruel if there is constipation. To increase the food to twenty-five, thirty, or thirty-five ounces increase the milk ingredients by 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and for forty ounces using two times as much.

How shall I increase the food during this period? Beginning with formula one of this series, which should usually follow five of the first or second series, you can usually make the increase in ten days to No. 2; in two weeks you can use No. 3; but proceed more slowly to four or five when you have reached them. The same formula may be continued sometimes for three or four months with no other change, except an increase in the quantity of the food, that is from twenty ounces to twenty-five, etc.

Is it necessary or important to reduce the proportion of fat as it is at first, reduced in passing from formula five of the first series to formula one of the third series? It is not necessary.

How much is this reduction? From 3 to 2.50 per cent.

How much increase of fat is there from the fifth formula of the second series to the first formula of the third series? From 2.00 to 2.50 per cent.

Can the first decrease be avoided? Yes, by taking off at first the upper thirteen ounces as top-milk, and using in a twenty-ounce mixture seven ounces of this in place of formula No. 1, and also by using for the next increase the upper fifteen ounces as top-milk—taking of this eight ounces in a twenty-ounce mixture in place of formula No. 2. Then follow three of this third series. This is only done when you think the formulas two and three of the third series do not give enough fat.

[584 MOTHERS' REMEDIES.]

Can I add any other food about the sixth or seventh months? Yes, foods in the form of gruel, and have this take the place of part of the boiled water and part of the sugar. Oatmeal and barley gruels can be added.

Can I make further changes at ten or eleven months? The proteids (skim-milk) may be further increased, sugar and lime-water reduced until plain milk is given.

How can I do this? Give at first one feeding of plain milk and barley gruel daily; later two feedings, then three feedings, etc. For example, suppose one infant was being fed with modified milk as formula 4 or 5, series 3, six feedings daily. The plain milk diluted with boiling water would take the place of one such feeding at first, then two, three, four, etc., feedings. Such changes to be made at intervals of two weeks. Proportions of milk and barley gruel should be, at first, about five and one-half ounces milk, two and one-half ounces barley gruel; later six ounces milk, three ounces barley gruel and then seven ounces milk, two ounces barley gruel until plain milk is alone used, and this can usually be reached at twelve to thirteen months. For five months' infants a pinch of soda may be added to each feeding when the lime-water is omitted. It is not generally necessary, however.

Do some infants dislike the milk after the milk sugar has been omitted? Yes; for such 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoonful of granulated sugar may be added for a time to each feeding and gradually reduced.

RULES FOR USING THESE FORMULAS.

They are only for healthy infants. Begin always with a weak formula, especially with an infant previously nursed at the breast, with one just weaned and with infants who have poor digestive powers, or whose digestive powers are unknown. Should the first formula tried be too weak the food can be strengthened every three or four days until the right formula is found. If the food is made too strong at first an attack of indigestion is liable to follow.

How shall I increase the strength of the food? This should be done very gradually. Do not advance more than one formula in the given series. It is frequently better to make the increase in half steps. Say when it is from three to four, give three and one-half, and then four.

How rapidly can I increase the quantity of food? This should not be more than one-fourth ounce in each feeding, one to one and one-half to two ounces daily.

[ALL ABOUT BABY 585]

When should the amount of food be increased? An increase may be necessary every few days in the early weeks, but the same formula is often continued for two or three months during the later months.

What signs in the infant demand an increase? The infant is not satisfied, does not gain in weight, but it has good digestion—that is, it does not vomit and has good stools.

When should I not increase the food? So long as the child is satisfied, gains four to six ounces weekly, even when the quantity and strength of the food is considerably below the average.

Should you then increase the food if the child seems somewhat hungry, but still gains from eight to ten ounces weekly? It is not always a safe rule to be guided by the appetite.

How can I know whether to increase the strength or the quantity of the food? In the early weeks it is well first to increase the strength, the next time the quantity of the food, then the strength, then the quantity, etc. The quantity chiefly should be increased after the fourth or fifth month.

Should a slight stomach discomfort or disturbance follow after the food has been strengthened, what shall I do? If the disturbance is marked and continues and the infant does not seem able to accustom itself to the new food, you should go back to the weaker one and the next increase should be smaller.

Should I be worried if the gain in weight for the first few weeks of artificial feeding is slight, or even no gain? Not as a rule; if the infant loses no weight, sleeps well, is comfortable, does not suffer from vomiting, nausea, colic, you can feel sure the baby is doing well and is becoming used to his new food. As his appetite improves and his digestion is stronger the food may be increased every few days. Then the weight will soon increase.

Is constipation likely to occur from such a weak food? This is very often seen owing to the fact of their being little residue in the bowels, so if he has a daily stool, even if it is small and dry, it need not cause worry as it soon passes away with the using of stronger food.

What circumstances indicate that the food should be reduced? When the child becomes ill from any causes, or when there are any marked symptoms of indigestion.

How can I reduce the food? If there is but a slight disturbance and the daily food has been prepared, pour off one-third from each bottle just before each feeding and replace this quantity of food with boiled water; if the disturbance is more severe, immediately dilute the food at least one-half and also reduce, at the same time the quantity given; for a severe attack of indigestion, omit the regular food altogether and give only boiled water until a doctor has been called.

How shall I return to the original formula after it has been reduced for a disturbance of digestion? The increase must be very gradual after the immediate reduction. After a severe attack of indigestion, the milk should not be made more than one-fifth the original strength, and ten days or two weeks should elapse before the original strength food is given and, as stated, there should be a gradual slow increase.

[586 MOTHERS' REMEDIES] ABOUT ADDING OTHER FOODS TO MILK.

How long shall I continue the modified milk? Usually for about six months; but if the infant is doing well you can continue it for ten or eleven months. If the infant has trouble in digesting cows' milk other foods can be added at three or four months or even at the beginning.

What food can I first use? Barley, oatmeal, arrowroot, and farina.

Is it better to make them from the flour? Yes, they are more simple to prepare from the flour.

How shall I cook them? Cook them separately, and when used they take the place of some of the boiled water.

(For another way, see former pages.)

How shall I prepare barley gruel water? Take one teaspoonful of the flour and rub it up with a little cold water, and then stir this into a pint of boiling water; add a pinch of salt and boil it fifteen minutes; strain if it is lumpy. Oatmeal gruel is made the same way, only using two teaspoonfuls instead of one.

Barley Jelly.—One rounded tablespoonful of the flour, mixed with a little cold water, is added to one pint of boiling water containing a pinch of salt; cook twenty minutes in a double boiler and strain. A thinner gruel (barley water) is made by using half of the quantity of flour.

How much of the gruel can I use? If prepared by the last method one-sixth to one-half the total quantity of food; if the barley water is used it can be used in greater quantity if desired, as it is weaker by half.

Which one shall I use? Barley and oatmeal are generally used; oatmeal is more laxative.

What is their value as infant foods? Their chief value is to prevent the curd from coagulating in the stomach in hard masses, thus rendering it more digestible.

Would you advise this addition for all infants? No, for it does not agree with them all, and so it cannot be recommended for all infants.

Can I give anything more during the first year? Beef juice, white of an egg, and orange juice.

How and when may I use the beef juice? It may be begun at ten or eleven months in infants who are strong and thriving well. Two teaspoonfuls may be given daily, diluted with same amount of water, fifteen minutes before the midday feeding; in two weeks it may be doubled; and six teaspoonfuls can be given, in four weeks. Two or three tablespoonfuls is all that can be given a child of one year.

[ALL ABOUT BABY 587]

Is beef juice of value in delicate pale infants? Yes, of much value, and it is more important for them, and it may sometimes be given them at five or six months in one-half the quantity mentioned.

When shall I give the white of egg (albumen) or albumin water? When the conditions are similar to those requiring beef juice especially in infants who digest the proteids (curd) with difficulty. You can give the one-half of the white of one egg at six months, and soon the entire white of one egg can be given.

What is the best way of preparing this? By coddling the egg.

Describe the way of preparation? Place a fresh egg with the shell on in boiling water and immediately remove all from the fire. The egg cooks slowly in the water for seven or eight minutes as the water gradually cools, and the white part becomes like jelly. Give the white with only a pinch of salt—it can be easily separated from the yolk.

When can I give orange juice? Usually about the eleventh or twelfth month, and it should be given about one hour before the feeding. You can begin with two teaspoonfuls at first, then one tablespoonful at a time, and later three or four tablespoonfuls. Orange juice is very good when constipation exists—strain it always, and it must be always fresh and sweet.

OVER NURSING.

Mothers who have a very large supply of milk are very likely to overfeed their babies if the milk is of good quality. This will drain the mother's strength. Some mothers allow their babies to nurse to relieve the uncomfortable feeling. If the infant vomits the surplus immediately