ill likely result.

Starchy food should not be given to a child until it is able to
masticate. (See digestion of starch, Chap. VIII.)

Arrowroot, cornstarch, rice, etc., _must not be given to infants_.

FLOUR BALL.

Put a bowlful of flour into a strong cloth, tie it up like a pudding,
and place it in a kettle of boiling water. Boil for 10 or 12 hours.
When boiled turn it out of the cloth and cut away the soft outside
coating. When cool, grate the hard inside portion and use a
teaspoonful at each feeding, for a baby 8 months old, increasing the
amount for an older child. This may be prepared in the same manner as
cornstarch or flour. The long boiling converts the starch into
dextrine, which is more easily digested than starch. This is
especially valuable in cases of diarrhoea, and may be used instead
of barley gruel as a food.

OATMEAL GRUEL.

Pound a cupful of oatmeal in a pestle or on a bread board. Put in a
bowl and pour over it 1 pint of cold water. Stir it up, then let the
mixture settle for a few minutes. Pour off the milky fluid, repeat
this process. Boil this water for an hour, adding a pinch of salt, and
use it to dilute the milk instead of water.

A thicker gruel may be made from oatmeal by allowing 1 tablespoonful
to a cup of boiling water. Let it boil 1 hour, then strain through a
wire strainer.

FARINA GRUEL.

1 tbsp. farina.
2 cups boiling water.
A spk. of salt.

Cook for 20 minutes; use as directed for oatmeal.

BEEF JUICE.

(_See page 145._)

_Beef juice_ is sometimes ordered for delicate babies. For a child 9
months old, 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls may be given once a day.

ALBUMINIZED FOOD.

When milk cannot be taken, albuminized food proves an excellent
substitute.

Shake the white of 1 egg with 1/2 a pint of water (filtered or boiled
and cooled) in a glass jar until they are thoroughly mixed. Add a few
grains of salt.

Children do not require a great variety in their food. Give one
article of diet at a time and see how it agrees before trying another.

After a child is a year old the various cereals may be given as
porridge instead of gruel, with the addition of a little sugar.

Remember, all cereals should be thoroughly cooked (see page 83).

BISCUITS.

Gluten, soda, oatmeal or Graham biscuits may be soaked in milk or
given alone. Do not give the fancy or sweet biscuits to young
children.

EGGS.

A properly boiled egg (see page 69) may be given e