FEEDING AND CARE OP INFANTS 783 



bowel disorders in children at this season of the year, 

 partly due to the depressing effects of heat, but chiefly 

 to infection of the intestine with putrefactive germs, 

 the most common source of which is cow's milk. 



The bacterial examinations of cow's milk some- 

 times show 100,000,000 germs to the teaspoonful, and 

 even more. Milk inspectors are ready to pass a speci- 

 men of milk as commercially pure that contains no 

 more than 800,000 germs to the teaspoonful, and even 

 so-called certified milk is permitted to contain 40,000 

 germs to the teaspoonful ; so it is apparent that there 

 is abundant opportunity for infection of the intestines 

 of bottle-fed children. The greatest care should be 

 taken in the feeding of children, during this season of 

 the year. If cow's milk is used, certified milk should 

 be obtained if possible. When certified milk cannot be 

 obtained, the milk should be sterilized and should be 

 supplemented by fruit juices. One or two oranges 

 daily, between feedings, will supply certain elements 

 which are destroyed by sterilizing or cooking the milk. 



An acute attack of intestinal disorder in a young 

 child is best treated by withholding all food. The child 

 should receive nothing but water for two or three days. 

 Barley gruel, or still better, rice gruel, may be first 

 given, either with or without a little buttermilk or 

 whey. Buttermilk may be increased as the symptoms 

 subside. Whenever the bowel discharges of a young 

 child become offensive, attention should be given at 

 once to the feeding. A diet of buttermilk and rice, par- 

 ticularly of Toasted Rice Flakes or Rice Biscuit, is well 

 suited to such a case and will probably prevent a more 

 severe attack. Yogurt buttermilk is best. When this 

 is not obtainable, Yogurt Tablets or Yogurt Cheese 

 may be used instead. 



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