Constipation may exceed the normal limits of the artificially fed child when the food contains too much fat.
Bad odors of the stools result from putrefaction.
Colic means imperfect digestion with gas. There is less colic when the intervals between the feedings are lengthened.
Curds are of two kinds. The soft friable ones due to fat, and the hard bean-like masses of protein. Curds occur with feedings of raw milk only, and though associated with symptoms of indigestion, they signify overfeeding. If the sugar content of the food is low, the child will gain very slowly.
Vomiting is an important phenomenon. It may be due to overfeeding, to excess of sugar or fat in the food, or to pyloric stenosis. Excess of fat is shown by vomiting and regurgitation of small quantities of food one or two hours after feeding. It may be associated with constipation.
If vomiting occurs immediately after feeding, it is probably due to the taking of an excessive amount, or to the too rapid ingestion of the regular bottle. If the vomiting takes place later than twenty minutes after feeding, it is probably pathological. It may be the result of indigestion, meningitis, or of pyloric stenosis (q. v.).
For the first weeks of life, mother’s milk should be obtained at all hazards, if possible, but if this is not to be had, the artificial feedings may be started.
A desirable milk modification for the first weeks of life should begin with a low food value. For example, a child one week old weighing seven pounds, should start on a formula like this:
| Whole milk | 7 oz. |
| Water | 7 oz. |
| Cane sugar | ½ oz. |
| Boil two minutes. |
This will make seven feedings of 2 oz. each, and one is given every three hours with one feeding omitted at night.