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Concentrated  Milk  Products. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharjn_ 
(   September,  1920. 
One  of  the  best  known  brands  of  condensed  milk,  can  marked 
"net  weight  15  ounces,"  has  upon  its  label  the  following  statement: 
"By  adding  i  part  of  water  to  i  part  of  the  contents  of  this  can,  a 
resulting  milk  product  will  be  obtained  which  will  not  be  below  the 
legal  standard  for  whole  milk."  Presumably,  parts  by  volume  are 
meant — not  parts  by  weight.  On  examining  this  condensed  milk, 
I  found  it  had  a  specific  gravity  of  about  i  .26  and  one  tablespoon- 
ful  (rounded)  weighed  about  350  grains.  (The  tablespoon  is  the 
usual  form  of  measurement  for  the  smaller  dilutions.)  Therefore, 
one  tablespoonful  of  the  condensed  milk  mixed  with  one  tablespoon- 
ful  of  water  represents,  practically,  60  per  cent,  by  weight  of  con- 
densed milk;  with  6  tablespoonfuls  of  water  represents  20  per  cent, 
by  weight;  with  12  tablespoonfuls  of  water  represents  11  per  cent, 
by  weight;  with  18  tablespoonfuls  of  water  represents  8  per  cent,  by 
weight.  With  these  factors  the  percentages  of  the  food  elements 
in  the  different  dilutions  when  measured  by  the  tat)lespoon  can  be 
readily  ascertained. 
But  the  tablespoon  "heaps"  when  filled  with  condensed  milk, 
measuring  more  than  240  minims  (as  with  water).  Hence,  one 
fluid  ounce  of  condensed  milk  (S.  G.  i  .26)  weighs  about  575  grains 
and  mixed  with  an  equal  volume  of  water  represents,  practically, 
56  per  cent,  by  weight  of  condensed  milk,  with  6  fluid  ounces  of  water, 
represents  17  per  cent,  by  weight,  with  12  fluid  ounces  of  water 
represents  9.5  per  cent,  by  weight,  and  with  18  fluid  ounces  of  water 
represents  6 . 5  per  cent,  by  weight. 
In  making  condensed  milk  dilutions  for  infant  feeding,  the  grad- 
uated measure  should  be  used  instead  of  the  tablespoon;  it  is  much 
more  accurate. 
Condensed  milk  is  often  useful  for  feeding  infants,  but  it  has  its 
limitations.  It  "is  advisable  for  temporary  use  during  attacks  of 
indigestion,  for  infants  with  feeble  digestion,  especially  in  summer, 
for  very  young  infants  during  the  first  two  or  three  months,  or 
among  the  very  poor  when  the  cow's  milk  which  is  available  is  still 
more  objectionable"  (Holt),  and  also  for  undernourished  infants 
where  the  use  of  a  rapidly  assimilable  body  fuel  like  sugar  is  indi- 
cated. In  traveling,  it  is  most  convenient  as  well  as  the  safest  food 
to  use.  It  is  usually  diluted  six  times  or  more  with  water,  accord- 
ing to  age.  But  condensed-milk-dilutions  are  illy-balanced,  physio- 
logically, containing  low  percentages  of  fat  and  protein  and  a  high 
content  of  sugar,  and  hence,  even  if  prepared  under  the  best  possi- 
