Pap, gruel, and panada

Abstract

This chapter collects information on artificial infant feeding published before 1860, the date when commercial formula became available. There is extensive artefactual evidence from thousands of feeding vessels since the Bronze Age. Literature on the use of animal milk for infant feeding begins with Soranus in the 2nd century c.e. Literature evidence from the very first printed books in the 15th century proves that physicians, surgeons, midwives, and the laity were aware of the opportunities and risks of artificial infant feeding. Most 17th- to 19th-century books on infant care contained detailed recipes for one or several of the following infant foods: pap, a semi-solid food made of flour or breadcrumbs cooked in water with or without milk; gruel, a thin porridge resulting from boiling cereal in water or milk; and panada, a preparation of various cereals or bread cooked in broth. During the 18th century, the published opinion on artificial feeding evolved from health concern to moral ideology. This view ignored the social and economic pressures which forced many mothers to forego or shorten breastfeeding. Bottle feeding was common practice throughout history.