20 THE COMMON SENSE OF THE MILK QUESTION 



statistical testimony in existence which can be cited 

 as conclusive evidence upon this point. As was 

 pointed out by the British Interdepartmental Com- 

 mittee on Physical Deterioration, notwithstanding 

 that such knowledge may be regarded as essential 

 to any comprehensive investigation of the problems 

 of maternity and infantile health, the lacteal inability 

 of mothers has received but scant attention from 

 physiological investigators/ 



The fact is admitted, however, by many of the 

 leading medical authorities, though, as already 

 pointed out, some eminent physicians hold to the 

 view that the failure is due to social and economic 

 causes, and not to any physiological failiu*e. Hun- 

 dreds of physicians of extensive practice among 

 various social classes have assured me that in their 

 experience the unwilling mother is rarely met, while 

 the mother who is 'physically unable is common. 

 Many pathetic stories of the mortification of such 

 mothers have been told me, sometimes by the mothers 

 themselves, and I am unable to resist the conclusion 

 that physical disability accounts for more cases of 

 failure to feed infants at the breast than aU other 

 causes combined. "What the causes of this physio- 

 logical development are, can only be conjectured in 

 the absence of adequate scientific research and 

 investigation. 



Professor von Bunge, a famous German authority, 



