596 MILK 



at short intervals. If breast milk is not obtainable, the child 

 should be put on a milk poor in fat, skimmed milk being the best 

 substitute. As the child's tolerance for food is increased it should 

 be given diluted milk in the proper proportions. 



Infectious Diarrhea. — A certain nimiber of diarrheas are due 

 to direct bacterial infections, such as the Bacillus dysenteric or 

 similar bacteria. The onset in cases of infectious diarrhea is 

 usually sudden, high temperature, vomiting, and loose stools 

 accompanying the condition. The stools usually show the pres- 

 ence of mucus and blood. The diagnosis of infectious diarrhea 

 can generally be established through direct bacteriologic examina- 

 tion of the stool and by cultures. 



The most effective way to treat infectious diarrhea is to starve 

 the patient for a while, and then put it on a food antagonistic to 

 the bacteria. If, for instance, the offending organism has been 

 the Bacillus dysenterise, cereal should be given and also Eiweiss. 

 The administration of Bacillus bulgaricus has often been found of 

 value in combating diarrhea due to Bacillus dysenterise. 



Milk in Its Relation to Infant Welfare 



When we compare infant mortality of today with that of 

 several years ago we find a marked reduction in the mortality rate 

 of every country. The marked saving in human life is attribut- 

 able to many factors, chief among them being our constantly 

 increasing knowledge of milk in general and of its relation to 

 infant welfare in particular. 



An examination of the infant death-rate in various countries 

 shows the following figures: 



Between 1884 and 1893 the death-rate per 100 infants under 

 one year of age in the various countries of Europe was as follows: 



Per cent. Per cent. 



Norway 9.5 France 16.7 



Ireland 9.6 Holland 17.5 



Scotland 12.2 Italy 19.0 



Denmark 13.4 Spain 19.2 



England 14.6 Germany 22.0 



Finland 14.9 Austria 24.9 



Belgium 16.3 Russia 26.8 



Switzerland 16.4 



When we compare these figures of 1884 with the infant mor- 

 tality rate of the years 1900 to 1914 we find the following figures 

 per 100 infants under one year of age: 



Per cent. Per cent. 



Norway 7.0 Italy 14.7 



England, Wales and Scotland 10.9 Germany .. 17.0 



Belgium 14.1 Austria 19.7 



France 11.0 Russ.a 24.6 



Lmted States 11.2 



