AMAND ROUTH, M.D., F.R.C.P., ON MOTHERHOOD. 65 



infantile deaths of acute maternal alcoholism, two important 

 facts are known as regards the harmful influence of chronic 

 alcoholism upon the well-being of the growing embryo and of 

 the infant. 



(1) In both sexes the reproductive cells contain a minute 



portion of cell-tissue called the germ-plasm, which 

 combines in the fertilized cell, and is passed on from 

 generation to generation, imperishable and largely un- 

 alterable by environment. Practically this germ-plasm 

 dominates the race. Unfortunately this germ-plasm 

 can be affected seriously and for several generations by 

 parental chronic alcoholism leading to prematurity 

 and to mental and physical degeneration of the 

 offspring. 



(2) It is known that alcohol gets into the circulation of the 



offspring before birth as well as during lactation, 

 especially in chronic maternal alcoholism, and may 

 encourage a taste for it in the child's later years, 

 or lessen its self-control, besides causing damage to 

 the immature organs and nervous system of such 

 offspring. 



Breast Feeding. 



The intimate association of mother and child during pregnancy 

 is very close ; the child is protected by its mother's tissues from 

 all external injuries, and receives its food, prepared for it by 

 marvellous processes going on in the various maternal organs, 

 directly from the mother's blood-stream. Every emotion of 

 the mother is probably felt by the child, so that a happy healthy 

 satisfied mother may expect to have a happy child free from 

 restlessness of body and mind. 



Yet some mothers do not suckle, so that this intimate nutri- 

 ment relation between mother and child ceases at birth. 



If the mother is tubercular or otherwise unhealthy, lactation 

 should be avoided. In a few cases also a child cannot suck, 

 owing to prematurity, debihty or maldevelopment. Probably, 

 however, 80 per cent, of normal mothers can, if they will, supply 

 their offspring from their birth with their best food, warm, 

 wholesome, germ free and individually suitable. 



Is it reaUzed how maternal lactation helps to mould the child's 

 character ? First of all, the child looks to its mother for its 



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