Infant feeding through the ages
1981
The ideal food for the human infant has always been mother's milk, but expedients have been necessary or convenient since recorded history began. Wet nurses were frequently used by wealthy classes in ancient Rome, in Egypt, in Europe, and in colonial America. For the less affluent, animal milks were used either directly from the udder (as Romulus and Remus were suckled by a wolf) or through various sucking devices. Hand feeding of infants in primitive times was done with premasticated food or liquid mixtures made with gruel or honey. Infants have been fed on such varying foods as small beer (low alcoholic content malt), pap (a mush of bread and water), caudle (a stewy mixture of ale, bread, eggs, and spices), and bird's nest soup. The infant food industry began in the mid-19th century when a chemist concocted and marketed what was hailed as a perfect infant food. The process of canning and sterilizing food was perfected to meet the needs of Napoleon's armies. More recent developments reflect greater knowledge of infants' nutritional needs. (cj)
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