_What other conditions besides the food greatly Influence the child's
digestion?_

Proper clothing, warm feet, regular habits, fresh air, clean bottles,
and food given at the proper temperature are all quite as important as
the preparation of the food; quiet peaceful surroundings and absence
of excitement are also essential to good digestion.


COMMON MISTAKES IN MILK MODIFICATION AND INFANT FEEDING

I. In using modifications made from top-milk, much confusion arises
from the notion that top-milk is a single definite thing, whereas its
composition depends upon a great variety of conditions and, unless all
these are known, it is impossible to tell how strong it is. Directions
for the removal of top-milk should be explicitly followed (see page
63), or the results will be very different from those expected.

II. In formulas calling for a certain number of ounces of top-milk of
any given strength, the mistake is made of removing only the number of
ounces needed for the formula. The proper way is to remove the amount
required to secure a top-milk of the desired strength and then to take
of this the number of ounces needed in the formula.

III. A rich Jersey milk is used as if it were ordinary milk. The
formulas given in this book are chiefly calculated on the basis of a
good average milk which contains about 4 per cent fat. Many persons
have the idea that the richer the milk, the more rapidly the child
will gain in weight, and hence the superiority of such milk for infant