Home › The Care of Babies › The Care of Babies: Horlick

The Care of Babies: Horlick

Horlick's, Borden's (malted) milk, and Mellin's are examples of the second class, and Eskay's of the third. None of these foods contain sufficient fat. Some of them have an excess of starch which makes them unsuitable for an infant until the latter part of the first year. Some contain too much sugar. None of these foods should be used alone. Some authorities claim that they are harmful and that certain diseases have followed their prolonged use. Others consider them of considerable value. Many advocate combining their use with the breast milk to help the mother out during the latter part of the nursing period, especially after the fifth or sixth month.

Notwithstanding the difference of opinion regarding the value of these foods, they are recommended by competent physicians and are used to seeming advantage by many infants, although they do not agree with others. They should be used under the advice of a physician, if at all, and mixed with diluted cow's milk for the purpose of breaking up the BREAST MILK perhaps be used alone, temporarily; but for continued use, milk should be added.

Mellin's Food is said to be a dry extract from wheat and malt, and free from cane sugar and starch.