710 
other food. The usual practice of feeding a newborn child with de- 
coctions of various sorts with the object of alleviating the colic sup- 
posedly indicated by its cries is absolutely to be prohibited. The cry- 
ing promotes the full expansion of the lungs and the establishment of 
normal circulation. Plain boiled water, however, may be freely 
given, as the body fluids of the newborn are in a concentrated state. 
Regular habits of nursing . — Much more is dependent upon the 
early establishment of regular nursing habits than is supposed. 
They are as easy to initiate as the irregular, and by so doing much of 
the strain of lactation upon the mother can be eliminated. This is 
highly desirable in view of the beneficial effect a calm and equable 
state of mind and adequate time for rest and sleep have upon the 
lacteal secretion. Moreover, the milk is more likely to be of a uni- 
form character throughout lactation when the breasts are drawn 
upon at intervals definitely spaced. A young infant can usually 
be expected to take a long nap of some four or five hours during 
some period of the twenty- four, and it is just as easy to have this 
secured at night. In order to promote the uniformity of lacteal secre- 
tion necessary to regular growth, the intervals between nursing 
should not be too short. Nor, on the other hand, in the earlier 
months at least, should they be too long. In the first instance, the 
milk is apt to be too rich and concentrated (Rotch), thus causing 
overfeeding, ami in the second, it is apt to be deficient in nutritive 
elements. Huebner is of the opinion that the number of nursings in 
the twenty-four hours usually advocated is too great, and a less num- 
ber is productive of better results. In this view he is confirmed by 
Czerny, Keller, and others. 
The following schedule seems to fulfill the best practice in this 
direction : 
Age. 
Number of 
nursings 
in 24 hours. 
Interval 
during 
day. 
Night. 
First day 
4 
6 
1 
Second day 
6 
4 
1 
Third to twenty-eighth day 
8 
2£ 
1 
Fourth to thirteenth week 
7 
3 
1 
Third to fifth month 
6 
3 
0 
Fifth to twelfth month 
5 
4 
0 
It may not always be possible to carry this schedule into effect, but 
every effort should be made to do so. In the majority of cases, how- 
ever, no difficulty will be experienced, provided the child be always 
awakened, if necessary, when the time comes to put it to the breast. 
Regularity in nursing intervals is of great assistance to the mother 
in providing for her adequate recuperation, and the unbroken sleep 
