As previously stated, the infant requires a certain percentage of protein, fat, and mineral for the blood and tissue building and the growth of the bones. In artificial feeding, the preparations given are often deficient in these important elements.
Climate and poor hygienic surroundings sometimes cause rickets in breast-fed babies, probably on account of the lowered vitality of the mother and the child and consequently poor digestion and assimilation, but it is most frequently found in babies improperly fed.
Dr. Winfield S. Hall says:
Fresh milk, appropriately modified and in proper amount, together with such other food as is indicated for the age and weight, is the important point in the treatment of rickets. Fresh air, day and night, sunshine and outdoor life, are only next in happiness. Cod-liver oil, especially with the addition of phosphorus, is a very valuable addition to the treatment.
Scurvy
Rickets is a chronic condition, while scurvy is an acute disease.
This difficulty is considered as entirely due to improper feeding and therefore must be overcome by a change of diet. Recovery is usually very rapid when the child is properly fed.
Pains and tenderness about the joints, particularly of the legs, are the usual symptoms, causing the baby to cry when it is lifted or moved about. The gums sometimes become swollen and bleed. In almost every case it is found that infants suffering from scurvy have been on a continuous diet of prepared foods like malted milk, condensed milk, or boiled milk which Dr. Hall terms “dead food,” presumably on account of a lack of the life-giving proteins and butter-fat.
When boiled milk has been used, the change should be made to pasteurized milk or raw milk if it can be secured clean and fresh. If prepared foods have been given, the amount should be greatly decreased and replaced by a cow’s-milk preparation in which a small percentage of the prepared food may be included, or, better still, omitted entirely, if a cow’s-milk preparation including a good substantial gruel will agree.