I thought you would all be interested in two tidbits from the NY Times.   One
is off the wire service printed 23-APR-96;
Eureka, CA "Police today were discounting reports that a woman twice in
recent weeks has tried to breast-feed (sic) strangers' babies in public
places.
     Authorities on Monday issued a warning to mothers to be on the lookout
for a woman who reportedly had grabbed the babies from stranger, then
breast-fed the children.
     But today, police said one of the alleged victims has given a different
account.  Authorities also talked to the suspect, who denied trying to feed
anybody's children, police Detective Dave Parris said."
     There is more, but I think this gives you the idea.  E-mail me privately
if you are interested in the rest.
     This is much more interesting and important.  In this Sunday's NY Times
Magazine, on p.21, is this article, in its entirety:"Sample Sale- the
National Institute of Standards and Technology produces some 1,300 Standard
Reference Materials-known as S.R.M.'s-that the Federal agency sells as basic
quality controls for science and industry.  It does this for everything from
whale blubber to peach leaves.  Until now, though, there has never been an
S.R.M. for a staple as common as baby formula.  According to Thomas E. Gills,
chief of the S.R.M. program, the new formula sample has assigned values for
calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates and other nutrients.
     Next?  A standard for mother's milk.  "This is a concern in developing
countries," says Gills.  "The S.R.M. would be used to compare nutrient levels
and set limits on certain contaminants."
     My comments: compare to what?  will we sample every mothers' milk to see
if it's up to the standard?  How will we decide when the immunities offer
more protection than contaminats might cause problems?  Did they look at
estrogens in soy formula?  Will they measure that in breastmilk?  What about
contaminants in formulas?
     Letters can be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Magazine, The New
York Times, 229 West 43d Street, New York, NY 10036 or e-mail to
[log in to unmask]  Letters should include the writer's name, address and
daytime telephone number.
     I have two questions.  Does anyone have aprotocol for assisting an
adoptive mother in preparing to breastfeed?  She has done some reading, but
is thinking of renting a pump.
     If you are not yet sick of herb questions-the mother of a 10-month-old
called asking about a preparation for weight loss called "Thermolift" which
contains Quazana extract, Rehmannia root, bladderwrack, ginger, licorice
root, reishi mushrooms, whitewillow bark, gotu kola, Siberian ginseng,
Astrlagus, bee pollen, Ma Huang extract, and 200 mg chromium picolinate.  I
have never heard of most of these, and am not sure where I can even reference
this stuff.

TIA and hope you are enjoying springtime, as we are here in CT