The care of infants : a manual for mothers and nurses / by Sophia Jex-Blake.

  • Sophia Jex-Blake
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The care of infants : a manual for mothers and nurses / by Sophia Jex-Blake. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/136 (page 17)
    II.] etc., ill her are pretty sure to react upon the infant; and the safest way to secure its well- being is to see that her functions are healthily performed, and that therefore her milk will con- vey no injurious influence. No special dietary or regimen is necessary, but careful attention should be given to whatever promotes general health— e.g. a light but nutritious diet, including plenty of well-cooked vegetables or ripe fruit, moderate exercise, abundance of fresh air, etc. etc. Not only is the nurse’s physical health of vital importance, but it is most essential that her mind should be quiet and undisturbed by passion. Many cases are on record where sudden rage or terror so altered the character of a wmman’s milk, that it became to the last degree injurious, and even fatal to the child at her breast. One in- stance is given of a woman who lost successively two children from violent convulsions, brought on by suckling after fits of passion.^ Another case is recorded of a mother who was terrified by a struggle between her husband and another man, and who at the time suckled a child, perfectly healthy till then, with the result that it died within a few minutes, while still at the breast.^ After these warnincfs o it is clear that no mother can be too careful to preserve her own equanimity; or, if needful, to select as wet-nurse a woman of calm temperament. I Cazeaux’s Midwifery. American edition, riuladelRhia, 1857. * Cembe’s Management of Infancy. Q