Infant Feeding in England and in France From 1750 to 1800

Abstract

There are various reasons for considering the history of infant feeding in the latter half of the eighteenth century. During this period many changes took place in methods of feeding, which finally resulted in something approaching those of modern times. Books on pediatrics, which had previously been scarce and which had contained few details concerning modes of feeding, became more plentiful, and can even now be readily obtained by the private collector. These give detailed accounts of the methods of preparing and of the utensils used in feeding the many different mixtures. A representative collection of these feeding bottles can be obtained from European dealers at a small outlay.A knowledge of the infant mortality of the period is obtained from the following extract:In the year 1767 in consequence of the humane suggestions of Mr. Jonas Hanway, an act of parliament was passed, obliging the parish officers of London and Westminster to send their infant poor to be nursed in the country at proper distances from the town. Before this benevolent measure took place not more than one in 24 of the poor children received into the work houses lived to be a year old ; so that out of 2800, the average annual number admitted, 2690 died, whereas since this measure was adopted, only 450 out of the whole number die, and the greatest part of those deaths happen during the 3 weeks that the children are kept in the work-houses.1In London and its suburbs for the period from 1762 to 1771 there were 16,283 births per year; 10,145 children under 5 years of age died and 7,987 under 2 years, a mortality of 62 per cent under 5 years and of 49 per cent under 2 years.2 That other factors besides the methods of infant feeding had a share in this huge mortality may be gathered from the following therapeutic measures :Powder of earth worms is reckoned a specific for epilepsy. Rubbing of the gums with hare's brain will cure difficult breeding of teeth. Church bugs,

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“…The procedure was recorded by Alphonese Le Roy, one of the faculty members, as follows (Drake, 1930(Drake, , p. 1053:…”