Pasteurized and homogenized milk should never be allowed to stand for any length of time out of the refrigerator as it is apt to spoil and spoiled milk is anything but a health food. Raw milk on the other hand will sour and formulas made with sour milk are perfectly safe and will rarely be refused by the child.
The liberal use of the fresh fruits and raw juices is more essential with formula feeding than in breast feeding. If any of the processed milks are used these vital foods become of immense importance and may determine the difference between success and failure of the feeding plan.
The best carbohydrate addition to a milk formula is raw cane sugar, sometimes called natural brown sugar. This is distinctly different from the ordinary brown sugar sold in grocery stores. Most Health Food Stores carry it in stock. However satisfactory results can be had by using a Dextrin- Maltose combination in powder form. This is usually supplied in three ways: (a) plain, (b) with the addition of 2 percent sodium chloride and (c) with the addition of 3 percent potassium bicarbonate for constipated infants. The plain is much to be preferred to either of the others as we do not approve of the addition of any drugs even in low potency to the feeding formulas.
Water is the third and last ingredient of the formula. If the water has been chlorinated or otherwise chemically treated, or is from a doubtful source, it is best to boil it. Pure spring water, bottled water and that from drilled wells need not be boiled.
In preparing the formula dissolve the sugar or the dextrin-maltose preparation in warm water. Stir until it dissolves completely, then add the milk and mix thoroughly. Fill each nursing bottle to the required level. The entire quantity for twenty-four hours to be made up at one time and kept under refrigeration until needed. Warm the mixture in the nursing bottle before feeding. Do not over-heat. A temperature of about ninety degrees is satisfactory until the child is several months old when the temperature may be gradually reduced.
SUGGESTED FORMULA FOR UNDER A WEEK OLD:
Certified Raw Milk 7 ounces.
Raw Cane Sugar or plain Dextri- 2 level
Maltose tablespoonfuls.
Water 7 ounces.
2 ounces at a time 7 feedings in 24 hours.
SUGGESTED FORMULA FOR TWO WEEKS OLD:
Certified Raw milk 10 ounces.
Raw Cane Sugar or plain Dextri- 3 level.
Maltose tablespoonfuls.
Water 8 ounces.
3 ounces at a time. 6 feedings in 24.
hours.
Forenoon 2 to 1 ounce fresh orange juice (undiluted.).
Afternoon 2 to a teaspoonful of scraped apple.
SUGGESTED FORMULA FOR ONE MONTH OLD:
Certified Raw Milk 12 ounces.
Raw Cane Sugar or plain Dextri-Maltose 3 level.
tablespoonfuls.
Water 8 ounces.
4 ounces at a time. 5 feedings in 24 hours.
Forenoon 1 ounce or more of orange or grapefruit juice.
Afternoon 1 rounded teaspoonful of scraped apple.
SUGGESTED FORMULA FOR TWO MONTH OLD:
Certified Raw Milk 18 ounces.
Raw Cane Sugar or plain Dextri-Maltose 3 level.
tablespoonfuls.
Water 7 ounces.
5 ounces at a time, 5 feeding in 24 hours.
Forenoon all the orange or grapefruit juice child will.
take.
Afternoon as much scraped apple or desired.
From this point on the only changes necessary are to reduce the amount of water and increase the milk content of the formula. This is largely controlled by weight gain and general condition of the child.
It would be a serious mistake to regard formulas such as the above as anything more than suggestive. Each baby is an individual problem and the physician must use his best judgment in the light of his own knowledge and experience. Some infants will do better on stronger mixtures, others on weaker, even the hours of feeding may require modification to suit individual requirements.
After the child is a month old the most satisfactory schedule is every four hours and five feedings in twenty-four hours. Convenient hours are frequently 6-10-2-6 and 10. This leaves the night entirely free. At least ninety percent of all infants will easily conform to this routine.
If wakefulness and crying occurs during the night try a little larger quantity of the 10 P.M. feeding. If the crying persists a few teaspoonfuls of warm water should have the desired effect. To give any milk at this time will tend to perpetuate the waking habit.
After five months the last bottle in the evening should be omitted. Orange or grapefruit juice may be substituted temporarily. The omission will require that a larger quantity be given at each of the four remaining times. Here again no inflexible rule should be followed. If the baby is healthy and in a good state of nutrition his organism will possess an amazing amount of adaptability and there should be no difficulty in making any sensible modification in his routine of eating and living.
After six months it is well to broaden the diet. Add only one food at a time and see how it agrees. Finely-chopped raw vegetables may be given without hesitation. If broken or ground up there is no vegetable that will not digest more easily raw than cooked.
The heavier foods should be given at meal time so the new member of the household can sit up in his high chair and join in with the rest of the family so that a good time will be had by all. Baked white or sweet potato with butter (no salt or pepper) is a good substantial food, far better than bread.
Thin, cooked cereals may be allowed after six months, yellow corn meal, whole wheat cereal or oatmeal. Cook only five minutes and serve with a little cream, honey or raw cane sugar.
The very best grade of meat, ground or finely-chopped, may be allowed sparingly at an occasional meal after six or seven months. Egg yolk may be given once or twice a week, more often if really craved or desired.
If anything should be especially stressed, it is variety in the diet from day to day and week to week. Avoid, however, too complicated a meal at any one time. It is also of the utmost importance to see that the child is given a large portion of natural, wholesome, fresh and unprocessed foods.
Habits and preference in respect to food and drink can be given a healthful and hygienic direction during the early months and years of life. Why not give the children the best things in life, the best in food to build strong bodies, intelligent and sympathetic training to insure emotional stability, careful instruction and good literature to enlighten the mind.
Eugene passed away at his country home on Spring Hill, Tuscarora Township, Bradford County, PA. He had been in ill health for several months. His wife, the former Caroline Davis, whom he had married in Philadelphia in 1910, had passed away in 1961. They spent most of their marriage lives in Swarthmore, PA.
Dr. Underhill was a member of the United Lodge of Theosophy, a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He was also the editor of the Homœopathic Recorder.