Sugar kills bacteria, which is why so many preserved foods have tons of
sugar in them (the origin of the "heavy syrup" in canned goods).  Ditto for
salt.  Can't think why anyone would want to put it on cracked nipples though
. . .

Vaseline should be safe to ingest.  At least the guy who first ingested it
ate a tablespoon a day, and recommended that everyone should.  Again, can't
think why anyone would want to eat a spoonful, but shouldn't hurt the baby. . .

Thanks to Christine Smillie for the nice words about Jim Akre's speech.  He
is coming to visit me here in Bryan next Tuesday :)  Wish I could have been
there; sounds like he did a better job of presenting my work than I did!  I
will resend the "imagine" section of "Beauty and the Breast" to all
Lactnetters next week, when everyone is back home from ILCA.  P.S.  Did I
mention that Micahel Woolridge also has a chapter on baby-controlled
breastfeeding in the book?  Sorry, I can't help myself . . . .
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University
Really Radical Mother at Home for the Summer