I asked Betty Crase, whom most of you know. Here was her answer:


> The study Kathy D was referring to is:
>
>Deem H and McGeorge M. Breast-feeding. NZ Med J. 1985;57:539-556
>
>If you want to get to the real root of the 5% breastmilk insufficiency
>claim, however, you need to get:
>
>Spence JC. The modern decline of breast-feeding. BMJ. 1938;2:729-733.
>
>Then you will discover that Dr. Spence was just spouting off in a speech
>to his >medical association that if most cows can produce sufficient milk,
>then at >least 95% of women should be able to do so.
>
>Thus the "scientific" origin of the infamous 5%!

I can't go this weekend or next, as I'll be away speaking etc., but I do
plan to take a trip up the National Library of Medicine for the 1938 study.
They have an impressive collection of old journals. If there's anything
really stunning in the article, I'll let all of you know!




--
Marie Biancuzzo, Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
[log in to unmask]
Resources to simplify breastfeeding management are available at
http://www.wmc-worldwide.com

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html