The number of children who die under five years of age is enormous--many of them from the want of the mother's milk. There is a regular "parental baby-slaughter"--"a massacre of the innocents"-- constantly going on in England, in consequence of infants being thus deprived of their proper nutriment and just dues! The mortality from this cause is frightful, chiefly occurring among rich people who are either too grand, or, from luxury, too delicate to perform such duties; poor married women, as a rule, nurse their own children, and, in consequence reap their reward. If it be ascertained, _past all doubt_, that a mother cannot suckle her child, then, if the circumstances of the parents will allow--and they ought to strain a point to accomplish it--a healthy wet-nurse should be procured, as, of course, the food which nature has supplied is far, very far superior to any invented by art. Never bring up a baby, then, if you can possibly avoid it, on _artificial_ food. Remember, as I proved in a former Conversation, there is in early infancy no _real_ substitute for either a mother's or a wet-nurse's milk. It is impossible to imitate the admirable and subtle chemistry of nature. The law of nature is, that a baby, for the first few months of his existence, shall be brought up by the breast, and nature's law cannot be broken with impunity. [Footnote: For further reasons why artificial food is not desirable, at an early period of infancy, see answer to 35th question, page 26.] It will be imperatively necessary then-- "To give to nature what is nature's due." Again, in case of a severe illness occurring during the first nine months of a child's life, what a comfort either the mother's or the wet-nurse's milk is to him! It often determines whether he shall live or die. But if a wet-nurse cannot fill the place of a mother, then asses' milk will be found the best substitute, as it approaches nearer, in composition, than any other animal's, to human milk; but it is both difficult and expensive to obtain. The next best substitute is goats' milk. Either the one or the other ought to be milked fresh and fresh, when wanted, and should be given by means of a feeding-bottle. Asses' milk is more suitable for a _delicate_ infant, and goats' milk for a _strong_ one. If neither asses' milk nor goats' milk can be procured, then the following _Milk-water-salt-and-sugar Food_, from the very commencement, should be given; and as I was the author of the formula, [Footnote: It first appeared in print in the 4th edition of _Advice to a Mother_, 1852.] I beg to designate it as--_Rye Chavasse's Milk Food_:-- New milk, the produce of ONE _healthy_ cow; Warm water, of each, equal parts; Table salt, a few grains--a small pinch; Lump sugar, a sufficient quantity, to slightly sweeten it.