In response to Linda Rosetti's query:

I attended the talk of September 12 given by Jacqueline Wolf at the Society
of Medical History of Chicago entitled: "MOTHERS' DECISIONS: CHANGE IN INFANT
FEEDING PRACTICES IN CHICAGO, 1880-1940".  Jackie Wolf is working on this
topic for her Ph.D. thesis.  Her presentation was excellent and generated a
great deal of exciting discussion afterward.  She is exploring the
historical, social, medical and other phenomena that led to the gradual but
major reduction in breastfeeding incidence in Chicago over this 60 year
period.  She has not reached any final conclusions yet regarding the causes,
but suggested that it related to a declining infant mortality which was
attributed to non-breastfeeding changes such as improved sanitation,
refrigeration of milk, medicalization of infant feeding, etc.  Prior to
1880, there was broad acceptance of the essential role of breastfeeding in
preventing infant deaths.  As the 20th Century unfolded, the importance of
breastfeeding was increasingly ignored.  It is only now being again
recognized both by the general public and by the medical world.

     I told Jackie about LACTNET and she will be joining very soon.  You can
then address your questions directly to her.  She may want to add more about
her work.
                                    Larry

Lawrence M. Gartner, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology
The University of Chicago
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