I. 



A NOTE ON THE FJECES OF STARCH-FED 

 INFANTS. 



THE series of experiments presented in the pre- 

 ceding paper by Dr. Keating seems to me to be in 

 the highest degree suggestive, for it is only rational 

 to suppose that the development of the amylolitic 

 ferment of the pancreatic juice is coincident with 

 the appearance of the analogous salivary ferment. 1 

 Inasmuch, however, as the food even in spoon-fed 

 infants is retained but a short time in the mouth, 

 and further, as the continued action of the saliva 

 after it enters the stomach is as yet problematical, 

 the only absolute control for such observations is 

 afforded by an examination of the faeces. 



Through the kindness of Dr. Keating I have 

 been enabled to examine the stools of twenty-four 

 starch-fed infants, of ages varying from forty-five 

 days to eighteen months. Twenty-three of these 

 children were fed upon cracker-dust, water, and 



1 The experiments in question demonstrated the activity 

 of the saliva of very young infants. 



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