460 BIOLOGICAL AND SANITARY MATTERS. 



advocated at intervals since, notably by Waldstein in 1900, 

 who determined that 7 grains to the pint was the minimum, 

 though at least double the quantity was advocated, and by 

 Poynton much later, who is widely, but erroneously, given the 

 credit of being the first originator. 



Owing to a mistaken idea that cow's milk is acid, while human 

 milk is alkaline, and a probably equal mistaken idea that acidity 

 is harmful, lime water is added frequently to milk for infant 

 feeding ; Bosworth and Bowditch have proved that the addition 

 of lime water converts the soluble calcium present into insoluble 

 calcium phosphate, and may reduce the soluble calcium (and 

 phosphate) to less than that in human milk. Waldstein and the 

 author have proved that the addition of lime water caused 

 practically all the calcium and phosphates, together with an 

 increased amount of the proteins and fat to appear in the faeces. 

 The addition of lime water to infants' milk is to be condemned, 

 and Waldstein advocated the addition of very dilute acids 

 (e.g., hydrochloric) instead. 



Peptonised Milk. It is now conceded by the best authori- 

 ties that th*e use of peptonised preparations is not an advantage, 

 as, though the digestibility of the proteins is increased, it is at 

 the expense of the development of the digestive organs. 



Peptonised milk is also used in cases of gastric disorders. 

 Vieth gives the composition of this product as : 



TABLE CLVI. 



Water, 89 -20 per cent. 



Fat, 3-41 



Sugar, . . . . . . 3-80 



Casein, 0-96 



Albumin 0-07 



Albumoses, 1-88 



Ash, . . . ..-. . 0-68 



The value of the milk in the treatment of disease lies in the fact 

 that it is readily digestible, especially if diluted or modified so 

 that the formation of hard curd in the stomach is prevented. 

 As an example, it may be mentioned, that during the epidemic 

 of typhoid at Ms^dstone in 1897, the Aylesbury Dairy Company 

 sent many hundreds of bottles of humanised milk to the hospitals, 

 which gave most satisfactory results, and provided a food which 

 was readily retained and assimilated. 



Diabetic Milk. In cases of diabetes, Ringer has recom- 

 mended a solution of casein in a mixture of salts approximating 

 to those present in milk as supplying protein nourishment ; and 

 Overend has used a diabetic milk in which the milk-sugar has 

 been replaced almost entirely by laevulose with success. 



