DENTITION

_How many teeth are there in the first set?_

Twenty.

_What is the time of their appearance?_

The two central lower teeth are usually the first to appear, and come
from the fifth to the ninth month; next are the four upper central
teeth, which come from the eighth to the twelfth month. The other two
lower central teeth and the four front double teeth come from the
twelfth to the eighteenth month. Then follow the four canine teeth,
the two upper ones being known as the "eye teeth," and the two lower
as the "stomach teeth"; they generally come between the eighteenth and
the twenty-fourth month. The four back double teeth, which complete
the first set, come between the twenty-fourth and thirtieth month.

At one year a child usually has six teeth.
At one and a half years, twelve teeth.
At two years, sixteen teeth.
At two and a half years, twenty teeth.

_What are the causes of variation?_

The time of appearance of the teeth varies in different families; in
some they come very early, in others much later. The teeth may come
late as a result of prolonged illness and also from rickets.

_What symptoms are commonly seen with teething?_

In healthy children there is very often fretfulness and poor sleep for
two or three nights; there may be loss of appetite, so that only one
half the usual amount of food is taken; there is salivation or
drooling, and often slight fever; there may be some symptoms of
indigestion, such as vomiting or the appearance of undigested food in
the stools. In delicate children all these symptoms may be much more
severe.

_How long do these symptoms last?_

Usually only three or four days; but there may be no gain in weight
for two or three weeks.

_What is the cause of most of the other symptoms attributed to
teething?_

Nearly all of them come from indigestion due to bad feeding.

PART II

INFANT FEEDING

_What is the best infant food?_

Mother's milk.

_Of what is mother's milk composed?_

Thirteen parts solids and eighty-seven parts water.

_What are the solids?_

Fat, sugar, proteids, and salts.

_What is the fat?_

The cream.

_What is the sugar?_

It is lactose, or milk sugar.

_What are the proteids?_

The curd of the milk.

_Are all these elements necessary?_

Yes; we cannot expect to rear a healthy infant unless they are all in
his food.

_Of what use is the fat?_

It is needed for the growth of the bones, the nerves, t