Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2117

Rh development. The selfish nurse, in her ignorance, believes, too, that as long as she experiences no admonitory symptoms herself, the child cannot suffer; and is satisfied that, whatever the cause of its screams and plunges, neither she, nor what she had eaten, had anything to do with it; with which nattering assurance at her heart, she watches her opportunity, and has another luxurious feast off the proscribed dainties, till the increasing disturbance in the child's health, or treachery from the kitchen, opens the eyes of mother and doctor to the nurse's unprincipled conduct. In all such cases the infant should be spared the infliction of medicine, and, as a wholesome corrective to herself, and relief to her charge, a good sound dose administered to the nurse.

The Diet of the Wet Nurse.—The first point of importance is to fix early and definite hours for every meal; and the mother should see that no cause is ever allowed to interfere with their punctuality. The food itself should be light, easy of digestion, and simple. Boiled or roast meat, with bread and potatoes, and occasionally some sago, rice, or tapioca pudding, should constitute the dinner, the only meal that requires special comment; broths, green vegetables, and all acid or salt foods must be avoided. Fresh fish, once or twice a week, may be taken; but it is hardly sufficiently nutritious to be often used as a meal. If the dinner is taken early—at one o'clock—there will be no occasion for luncheon, which too often, to the injury of the child, is made an excuse for a first dinner. A glass of milk and a biscuit at eleven o'clock will be abundantly sufficient between breakfast at eight and a good dinner at one o'clock. Supper may be taken about eight o'clock, and should consist of some light farinaceous pudding, porridge and milk, etc. Animal food once in twenty-four hours is quite sufficient. All spirits, unless in extreme cases, should be avoided; and wine is still more seldom needed. With a due quantity of plain, digestible food, with early hours and regularity, the nurse will not only be strong and healthy herself, but fully capable of rearing a child in health and strength. The large quantities of stout or porter which were formerly ordered are not essential; one pint during the day is an ample allowance, or milk may be substituted altogether. Two points are of importance in maintaining the nurse in good health: (1) The diet should not be too rich at the commencement of her duties. A change from a poor, insufficient diet, to which she may have been accustomed, to a rich, full one, is likely to cause indigestion; (2) Exercise daily in the open air is absolutely essential to her well-being.

There are two cautions which all mothers who are obliged to employ wet nurses should remember. The first is, never to allow a wet nurse to give medicine to the infant on her own authority; many have such an infatuated idea of the healing excellence of castor-oil, that they would administer a dose of this unpleasant grease twice a week, and think they had done a useful service to the child. The next point is, to be careful that to insure a night's sleep for herself, she does not dose the