the child may not suffer, by any needless delay, a
physical loss by the deprivation of its natural food. The first
consideration should be as regards age, state of health, and temper.

2439. The age, if possible, should not be less than twenty nor exceed
thirty years, with the health sound in every respect, and the body free
from all eruptive disease or local blemish. The best evidence of a sound
state of health will be found in the woman's clear open countenance, the
ruddy tone of the skin, the full, round, and elastic state of the
breasts, and especially in the erectile, firm condition of the nipple,
which, in all unhealthy states of the body, is pendulous, flabby, and
relaxed; in which case, the milk is sure to be imperfect in its
organization, and, consequently, deficient in its nutrient qualities.
Appetite is another indication of health in the suckling nurse or
mother; for it is impossible a woman can feed her child without having a
corresponding appetite; and though inordinate craving for food is
neither desirable nor necessary, a natural vigour should be experienced
at meal-times, and the food taken should be anticipated and enjoyed.

2440. Besides her health, the moral state of the nurse is to be taken
into account, or that mental discipline or principle of conduct which
would deter the nurse from at any time gratifying her own pleasures and
appetites at the cost or suffering of her infant charge.

2441. The conscientiousness and good faith that would prevent a nurse so
acting are, unfortunately, very rare; and many nurses, rather than
forego the enjoyment of a favourite dish, though morally certain of the
effect it will have on the child, will, on the first opportunity, feed
with avidity on fried meats, cabbage, cucumbers, pickles, or other crude
and injurious aliments, in defiance of all orders given, or confidence
reposed in their word, good sense, and humanity. And when the infant is
afterwards racked with pain, and a night of disquiet alarms the mother,
the doctor is sent for, and the nurse, covering her dereliction by a
falsehood, the consequence of her gluttony is treated as a disease, and
the poor infant is dosed for some days with medicines, that can do it
but little if any good, and, in all probability, materially retard its
physical development. The selfish nurse, in her ignorance, believes,
too, that as long as she experiences no admonitory symptoms herself, the
child cannot suffer; and satisfied t