Quite frequently, one observes breast fed infants who, after doing well for the first few weeks or months of life, stop gaining in weight, and become restless and irritable. The stools are either small and dark colored, or frequent, loose and foul smelling. Mucus and fat curds may be present. Vomiting, occasionally severe, may be a predominating symptom. Ultimately these infants lose weight, and unless proper treatment is instituted they become distinctly athreptic. The symptoms enumerated are commonly designated by the term "dyspepsia."
CAUSE
Overfeeding at the breast has been considered a frequent cause of the symptoms observed, especially in those infants in whom diarrhea has been a prominent symptom. It is undoubtedly true that breast fed infants occasionally receive more milk than is necessary to cover their requirements, but in such cases the infant usually spits up a certain amount and continues to thrive. In my experience, overfeeding with