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. For further reasons why artificial food is not desirable at an early period of infancy, see answer to 35th question. 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, as it is wanted, and should be given by means of a feeding-bottle. Asses’ milk is more suitable for _delicate_ infants, and goats’ milk for those who are _strong_. If neither asses’ milk nor goats’ milk can be procured, then the following from the very commencement should be given: New milk, the produce of ONE _healthy_ cow, Warm water, of each, equal parts; Table salt, a few grains; Lump sugar, a sufficient quantity to slightly sweeten it.