Remarks on the Subject of Lactation

CONTAINING OBSERVATIONS ON THE HEALTHY AND DISEASED CONDITIONS OF THE BREAST-MILK; THE DISORDERS FREQUENTLY PRODUCED IN MOTHERS BY SUCKLING; AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIVE CASES; PROVING THAT, WHEN PROTRACTED, IT IS A COMMON CAUSE, IN CHILDREN, OF HYDRENCEPHALUS, OR WATER IN THE BRAIN, AND OTHER SERIOUS COMPLAINTS.
FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, AND MEMBER OF TRINITY COLLEGE; CANDIDATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, LONDON; LATE PHYSICIAN TO THE WESTERN DISPENSARY, AND TO THE ROYAL METROPOLITAN INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN, &c. &c.
LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. MDCCCXXXI.
LONDON: Printed by William Clowes, Stamford Street.
TO Sir HENRY HALFORD, Bart., M.D., F.R.S., F.A.S., PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, LONDON, PHYSICIAN TO THE KING, &c. &c. THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE, WITH HIS PERMISSION, AND WITH A GRATEFUL SENSE OF THE HONOUR THUS CONFERRED UPON THEIR AUTHOR, MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

Several cases which I witnessed led me to believe, some years ago, that inflammation of the brain, or its membranes, might be produced in children, owing to their being suckled for an undue length of time. Since that period, having enjoyed opportunities of observing infantile diseases on a much more extended scale, and my attention being expressly directed to the point in question, I not only became fully convinced of the correctness of my previous conclusions, but was induced to carry them still farther.
The bare statement of that fact was, indeed, nearly all that my approaching departure from England, at the time last mentioned, left in my power: upon the present occasion I have offered arguments for, and endeavoured to anticipate those against, the deductions I then made public; and however imperfect may have been my success in either, the welfare of society at large is too deeply involved in the establishment of my opinions with respect to the custom I condemn, (if those opinions be correct,) for me to hesitate while again committing them to the press in a more extended form.