States, laboratories, with accompanying farms in outlay-
ing districts, have been established to famish proper in-
fants* food. While human milk is self-modifying, thus
meeting the needs of the child in the different stages of
its growth and development, its composition varies but
little during the period of lactation.
The modification of laboratory milk needs to be changed
from time to time according to a physician's formula, lime-
water being added to neutralize the acid present in cow's
milk. Human milk is sterile, while cow's milk, in the
hands of the consumer, contains many varieties of bac-
teria; therefore it was formerly thought advisable to
sterilize the modified product ; but sterilization has been
largely superseded by pasteurization, and this is not deemed
necessary or advisable, where fresh milk can be procured
from a reliable source, except in cases of bowel trouble
or in extremely hot weather.
A child should not remain at the breast for more than
fifteen or twenty minutes at each feeding. Never wake
a healthy baby during the night for feeding. It is some-
times necessary during the day, as a young child is quite
liable to turn night into day ; but by persistent effort this
may be overcome before it is an established habit.
