CHAPTER III.. Of the Kinds of Food.

OF THE KINDS OF FOOD.

What is the proper food of man?--Food to be adapted to constitution and circumstances--Diet must vary with time of life--Diet in infancy--The mother’s milk the best--Substitutes for it--Over-feeding a prevalent error--Causes which vitiate the quality of the milk--Regimen of nurses--Weaning--Diet after weaning--Too early use of animal food hurtful--Diet of children in the higher classes too exciting--and produces scrofula--Mild food best for children--Incessant eating very injurious--Proper diet from childhood to puberty--It ought to be full and nourishing but not stimulating--Often insufficient in boarding-schools--Diet best adapted for different constitutions in mature age--Regimen powerful in modifying the constitution, mental as well as physical--Farther investigation required, 251–287