1. When she cannot have a sufficient quantity of milk.
2. When the supply falls off from some defect which is not remediable.
3. When there is a strong venereal or scrofulous taint in the constitution.
4. When suckling produces an active or painful disease in the mother, as colic, etc.
5. When the mother is subject to great nervous debility; possesses an irascible temperament, and cannot avoid grief and sorrow; and also when she is suffering from certain hereditary chronic diseases.
When a mother cannot suckle her child, if circumstances will allow, a healthy wet-nurse should be procured. Choose one that is of a healthy family; ascertain that there are no eruptions on her skin, or if there be other disease; if she have a plentiful breast of milk, and if it be of a good quality; if she has good nipples, and if her child is born near the time that the one was that she is to nurse. Do not get a nurse that menstruates during suckling, nor one that has a child which is unhealthy, or has a sore mouth or blotches upon the skin.
Very feeble new-born babes cannot take the breast sometimes. In such cases cow’s milk, water and sugar (F. 1) may be given in small quantities at a time, but frequently repeated. If it takes only a teaspoonful at a time it should be repeated every half hour.
Many mothers are unable to obtain the services of a wet-nurse. The milk of a cow is the best substitute, and when this is of ordinary richness, it may be diluted with an equal quantity of water, or thin barley water.
The following are leading principles to guide in giving infant food:
1. Aliment should always be presented to the infant stomach in a fluid form.