This process of
nature, then, should be emulated as far as possible; and food (for this
purpose) should be imbibed by suction from a nursing-bottle: it is thus
obtained slowly, and the suction employed secures the mixture of a due
quantity of saliva, which has a highly important influence on digestion.
Too much care cannot be taken to keep the bottle perfectly sweet. For
this purpose there should always be two in the nursery, to be used
alternately; and, if any food remain after a meal, it must be emptied
out. The bottle must always be scalded out after use. The flat glass
nursing-bottle itself is too well known to need description; it may be
well, however, to say a word about the teat that covers its narrow
neck, and through which the infant sucks the food. If the artificial
or prepared cow's teat is made use of, it should be so attached to the
bottle that its extremity does not extend beyond its apex more than
half or three quarters of an inch; for if it projects more than this,
the child will get the sides of the teat so firmly pressed together
between its gums, that there will be no channel for the milk to flow
through. This remark applies equally to the teat made of soft wash-
leather, which many ladies prefer to that of the cow, and it is a good
substitute; but then a fresh piece of leather must be made use of
daily, otherwise the food will be tainted, and the child's bowels
deranged.
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