f you
remember that this mass of undigested matter is confined in a small
space which is both warm and damp, it will be easily understood that
putrefaction is the inevitable outcome. As a result of this putrefaction
there are produced certain ptomaines and leucomaines. These poisons are
carried through the body, causing "auto-intoxication" which upsets and
irritates the child's nervous system and may cause very serious
consequences, as it frequently produces sudden death from apoplexy and
"heart failure" in the adult. These children are always restless,
fretful, continually uncomfortable, sleepless and colicky. They lose
weight, the stomach becomes distended and a gastritis or inflammation of
the stomach results.

Frequently a mother with such a fretful baby, seeing her child getting
thinner and thinner, will think that it is not getting enough to eat,
and will proceed to add to the trouble by giving the child more to eat.

Mothers must therefore learn not to overfeed their infants; not to
imagine that a failure to gain weight means the need of more food (if
the quality of the food being given is wrong, will increasing the
quantity of bad food do any good?); not to feed irregularly, no matter
how insistent the child may be.

INTERVALS OF FEEDING.--The physician will give instructions regarding
the feeding of the newly born baby for the first few days. After the
first few days and up to the beginning of the third month, it should be
fed every two hours from 7 A. M. until 9 P. M., and twice during the
night between 9 P. M. and 7 A. M., when the regular two-hours' interval
again begins for the following day. The two night feedings should be
about 1 and 4:30 A. M.

After the third month, and up to the sixth month, feed every three hours
and once during the night. From the sixth month until weaned, every
three and one-half or four hours, and not at all during the night.

While it has been pointed out that regularity of feeding is absolutely
essential, the above schedule is not to be regarded as an absolute
guide. It is a general guide,--approximately it will be found correct in
a large majority of cases. Each baby is a rule unto itself. The quantity
of the mother's milk will dictate the interval after the first month and
for each month as the baby grows. If a mother with no milk to spare, is
nursing a big, strong, husky baby, the three-hour interval during the
day may have to be shortened to two and one-half hours. As a