It will he seen from the foregoing how many difficulties have to be overcome in the examination of a wet-nurse. If, however, the conditions are such that it is impossible to make use of the suggestions above recom mended, we must do the best we can with the means at hand, making the prognosis with the greatest caution. If, on the other hand, it has been proved that the person presented is healthy and has an abundance of milk, it is well to be satisfied and not to make unnecessary further demands.
It has been shown that there are numerous conditions of lesser significance, which need not be considered. It is necessary, however, to repeat the views concerning the significance of the age of the milk, which are widely held in medical circles, and which lead to unjustifiable diminution in the number of available wet-nurses. It is not true that the child of the wet-nurse and the child to be nursed must be the same age, that "young milk'' is suitable only for a young child and "old milk" for an old one. The theoretical arguments which Runge has brought forward in the matter have been proved false in practice.
His views concerning natural nourishment, the ability to nurse, etc., valuable as they may be, have often led to wrong impressions. On behalf of the practicing physicians who make a specialty of children's diseases, such pessimistic ideas, particularly in regard to the abil ity of women to nurse, which results in the non-use of wet-nurses, must be energetically opposed. In the Dresden Nursing Home we are accus tomed to give the weakly premature children to those nurses who have lived for sonic time in the house and who are accustomed to a careful technique. In spite of the noticeable differences in ages, the children thrive splendidly. If then it becomes necessary to provide a nurse for a newborn child, which is most frequently the case. do not be concerned if she has already nursed a child several months. If there is nothing else against her. she will certainly fulfil the necessary requirements.