One of the accepted beliefs of both contemporary pediatricians and parents is that most mothers a century ago could successfully nurse their infants. That this may be a myth seems evident from the quotation below: In the normal state, Nature has made ample provision in the structure of the female for nursing her offspring. In order to furnish this nourishment, pure in quality and abundant in quantity, one must possess a good development of the sanguine and lymphatic temperament, together with vigorous and healthy digestive organs. Formerly (prior to 1873) such an organization was very generally possessed by American Women, and they found but little difficulty in nursing their infants. It was only occasionally, in case of some defect in the organization, or where sickness of some kind had overtaken the mother, that it became necessary to resort to the wet-nurse or to feeding by hand. . . . It is a fact, that large numbers of our women (in 1873) are anxious to nurse their offspring and make the attempt: They persevere for a while–then fail. . . . There is still another class that cannot nurse at all, having neither the organs nor nourishment requisite even to make a beginning....1