No particular diet can be recommended for the infant that is so
unfortunate as to be deprived of its natural nourishment. What agrees
with one is quite unsuccessful with another. Different kinds of diet can
only be tested. Children’s little illnesses are often the result of food
which, in their case, is unassimilating and indigestible; and it is
often better to attempt a change of food than to resort to medicines.
City babies generally thrive poorly with cow’s milk. Some can stand it,
however, diluting it with a third water, adding a slight thickening of
rice, well boiled and mashed, and also a little sugar. Others thrive
well on goat’s milk, when no other kind will answer. The Borden
condensed milk serves like a charm with very young infants in cold
weather; but in warm weather its excessive sweetness seems to cause
acidification when taken. In New York, where it may be obtained fresh,
without sweetening, I have heard that it is more satisfactory.
Some babies are ruddy and strong with an oatmeal diet (oatmeal porridge
strained and mixed with the milk). I have already mentioned this as
especially successful in Ireland and Scotland. However, in the warm
climate of many of our cities in summer I have known the oatmeal diet to
cause eruptions or boils. It is almost a crime to undertake to bring up
children artificially in warm summer climates. Many a heart-ache is
caused when, failing to supply the natural food, nothing would seem to
agree with the baby.