THE ETHICS OF FOOD 549 



fat-free milk. A standard solution of lactose (milk-sugar) is 

 made. Sterile water is obtained by means of a Pasteur-Cham- 

 berland filter and lime-water is prepared from pure calcium 

 hydrate. In this way the modifying nurse has six solutions 

 (or ingredients) at her disposal: (i) Cream; (2) Fat-free milk; 

 (3) Lime-water; (4) Lactose; (5) Whey; (6) Sterile water. 



These solutions are placed in metal tanks fitted with 

 ice-containing chambers at the back ; from these solutions the 

 milk-mixtures prescribed for the infants are prepared. The 

 diet prescription for each infant is sent from the ward to the 

 milk-laboratory in the following form, for example : 



Ward I. Infant No. 24. 



Per cent. 

 Fat . 2'00 



Lactose 6*50 



Whey-proteins 075 



Caseinogen . . . . ' . . . . C25 



Alkalinity , 5"oo 



Ten tubes each of 4 oz. 



In the laboratory the prescription is translated into actual 

 amounts. The following is the translation of the above pre- 

 scription : I 



c.c. 



Cream (32 per cent.) 75 



Lactose solution (20 per cent.) 121 



Whey 858 



Fat-free milk 59 



Lime-water ......... 60 



Water 27 



The milk mixture so constructed is then carefully put up into 

 separate bottles, one for each feed. Many thousands of such 

 combinations are in use at the hospital. 



Since milk is provided by Nature to be transferred directly 

 from the mother to the offspring, it is essential that the measures 

 adopted for the storage of milk should be of such a character 

 that its natural properties are uninjured. The keeping of milk 

 at ordinary temperatures involves a rapid development of 

 bacteria, with the result that the composition of the milk is 

 altered in consequence of the bacteria living in and upon it. It 

 is therefore necessary to keep the milk at a temperature at which 

 these processes cannot occur, i.e. at a temperature not exceeding 

 40 Fahrenheit. 



