A history of infant feeding. II. Seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Abstract

In this review of the history of infant feeding attention is directed to 17th century writers the incidence of rickets in the 17th century the influence of social factors on infancy in the 18th century and the employment of wet nurses. French obstetrician Jacques Guillemeau wrote the work De la Nourriture et Gouvernement des Enfans which was translated into English in 1612 under the title of The Nursing of Children. Guillemeau enumerated his objections to wet nurses as follows: the child might be changed and another put in his/her place; the natural affection between mother and child declines; some bad condition or inclination may be derived from the nurse; and the nurse may impart some bodily imperfection. Rickets has occurred since the earliest historical times. Soranus briefly described the characteristically crooked limbs and skeletons have been found which provide material support for the contention. Daniel Whistler wrote the 1st full clinical description of rickets in 1645 but the credit is usually given to Francis Glisson who wrote his famous treatise in 1650 entitled De Rachitide. This work was translated into English in 1651. Whistler attributed the late manifestations of rickets to protection in utero tight swaddling of the head and limbs during the neonatal period and the wholesomeness of the diet in the 1st months. Infant life during and for long before the 18th century was valued by the majority of the populace no higher and probably somewhat lower than that of the average pet dog or cat today. Towards the latter 1/2 of the 18th century there were definite signs of an awakening of the public conscience along with an increased interest in infant care and management and an expanding knowledge of childrens diseases. In the 17th and 18th centuries the ladies of quality did not breast feed their own infants. Wet nurses were frequently employed in the 12th century onwards. In 1762 legislation was enacted which forbade nurses from taking charge of an infant unless her own child was older than 9 months. legislation also provided for regular medical inspection of the nurses.