Artificial infant feeding.

It can be accepted as axiomatic at the present time that the basic food substance for the artificial feeding of healthy infants is cow’s milk. In the first place, therefore, attention must be directed towards a comparison between human breast milk and cow’s milk. Ideally, the substitute food should approximate to nature’s food as closely and as exactly as possible. Towards the end of the last century this seemed to be a simple and relatively easy procedure and was the basis of what was called the percentage method of infant feeding. The protein, fat and carbohydrate content of the two milks was known and a little juggling with cow’s milk, sugar and water provided the satisfactory modification. The advances of science and chemical analysis soon revealed differences, particularly in the proteins and fats of the two milks, and then the different amino-acid composition and the varying amounts and proportions of the many mineral substances began to render the problem increasingly difficult and complex. To-day, a perusal of current paediatric text-books and handbooks on the artificial feeding of healthy infants and a cursory glance at the spate of pamphlets, booklets and advertisements of the manufacturers of infant feeds leaves one disconcerted, overawed and aghast. Not unnaturally, the impression is being created, particularly in the minds of the uninitiated, that the whole subject is confused and chaotic. Indeed, the position might almost appear to be that, before any intelligent advice can be given on substitute or bottle-feeding, technical knowledge of the chemical composition of the innumerable constituents of breast and cow’s milk must be profound, precise and exact. Surely this pseudo-scientific approach has been overdone, and has not the time come when we should return to a more simple, commonsense and realistic attitude? It is submitted that fundamental principles seem to have been buried beneath a welter of secondary, minute or perhaps even unessential details. To-day in the streets of our cities and towns we can see countless happy, healthy and contented babies reared on artificial feeds by parents with a very wide range of intelligence, and it is difficult to feel that all have followed current professional advice, assuming that this has been sought. Let me reiterate that I am only concerned with the feeding of healthy infants; the problems in connexion with sick or premature infants will be dealt with by other speakers.