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Infant feeding in colonial Australia 1788–1900
Author(s) -
THEARLE MICHAEL J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1985.tb00132.x
Subject(s) - medicine , welfare , breast feeding , infant feeding , colonialism , infant mortality , pediatrics , environmental health , economic growth , nursing , law , population , political science , economics
In nineteenth century Australia, concern to reduce a high infant mortality rate prompted discussion of various alternatives in infant feeding practices. Breast feeding was encouraged, although problems inherent in the practice of wet nursing were highlighted. Warnings against adulterated milk and poorly prepared cereal food were frequent. At the end of the nineteenth century a consensus had been reached which paved the way for the development of the educative initiatives of the infant welfare movement of the twentieth century.