Page:Food and cookery for the sick and convalescent.djvu/47

There was a problem when proofreading this page.
INFANT FEEDING.
25

and walk two miles daily. To decrease the fat, eat correspondingly less meat and fat.

Too much proteid, which is the result of a large amount of meat, in the diet with little exercise, causes constipation and colic. If the fat is increased with the proteid, diarrhœa and vomiting follow.

Human Milk.

Composition. Reaction slightly alkaline.

Water 87 to 88%

Fat 3 to 4%

Milk sugar (lactose) 6 to 7%

Mineral matter .1 to .2%

Proteid 1 to 2% Caseinogen .59% Lactalbumin 1.23%

König.

Note.—While human milk has a slightly alkaline reaction, it is also amphoteric. It will change red litmus paper blue; blue litmus paper red.

Cow's Milk.

Composition. Reaction slightly acid.

Water 86 to 87%

Fat 4%

Milk sugar 4.5%

Mineral matter .7%

Proteid 4%

Caseinogen 2.88%

Lactalbumin .53%

König.


By comparing the tables showing the composition of human and cow's milk, it will be seen that cow's milk contains more proteid and mineral matter and less sugar of milk, the fat and water varying but little. The calf grows faster than the baby, therefore needs more building material. The baby, having a relatively larger surface exposed, loses more heat.