Milk is often referred to as a perfect food, and it is the perfect food
for infants. The young thrive best on the healthy milk given by a female
of their own species. Every baby should be fed at the breast. The milk
contains the elements needed by the body.
The table at the head of this chapter shows that milk contains all
essential aliments. The ash is composed of the various salts necessary
for health, containing potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, iron,
silicon and other elements. For the nourishment of the body we need
water, protein, fat, carbohydrates and salts, so it will be seen that
milk is really a complete food. However, as the body grows the nutritive
requirements change and milk is therefore not a balanced food for
adults.
It may be interesting to note that there is no starch in milk and that
infants fed at the breast exclusively obtain no starchy food. Many
babies get no starch for nine, ten or even twelve months, and this is
well, for they do not need it. They grow and flourish best without it.
Milk is an emulsion. It is made up of numerous tiny globules floating in
serum. The size of the globules varies, but the average is said to be
about 1/10,000 of an inch in diameter.
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