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Infant nursing bottle
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY © 2003 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology Published by Elsevier Inc.
Vol. 98, No. 7, 2003 ISSN 0002-9270/03/$30.00 doi:10.1016/S0002-9270(03)00494-5
A LOOK BACK
Infant Nursing Bottle
Originally, infant feeding bottles were developed because of the death of the mother or her physical disability, which prevented nursing. They were made in Babylon circa 2000 B.C., and pottery types were also found in Roman ruins. During the Middle Ages, feeders were made from an inverted cow’s horn with an opening at the tip. In the 16th and 17th Centuries, feeders were made of glazed pottery as well as pressed leather and carved wood. Teats (nipples) were made from calves’ teats, indian-rubber, and even ivory. By the 18th Century, feeders came in two types—pear-shaped and round with flat sides. Flat, boat-shaped feeding bottles were the next type to appear. They had a central hole on the top, to which the thumb was applied to control the flow, and an opening at either end. Feeders of this type were made out of pottery, stoneware, pewter, and also silver. Glass feeders, similar in design to those made of pottery and porcelain, made their appearance in the early part of the 19th Century, when glass blowing became popular and inexpensive. A specific type of bottle called the “Siphonia” appeared in 1864 and became known as the “Murder bottle” because of a long indian-rubber tube attached to the nipple. It was a haven for bacteria and caused numerous deaths. At their height in the 19th Century, feeding bottles resulted in the death of seven out of eight babies who used them. The feeder illustrated here is from circa 1870. It has the original hard Indian-rubber nipple and the very attractively illustrated box, which shows the dress of the mothers of that day. Robert E. Kravetz, M.D., F.A.C.P., M.A.C.G. Member, Archives Committee American College of Gastroenterology
Vol. 98, No. 7, 2003 ISSN 0002-9270/03/$30.00 doi:10.1016/S0002-9270(03)00494-5
A LOOK BACK
Infant Nursing Bottle
Originally, infant feeding bottles were developed because of the death of the mother or her physical disability, which prevented nursing. They were made in Babylon circa 2000 B.C., and pottery types were also found in Roman ruins. During the Middle Ages, feeders were made from an inverted cow’s horn with an opening at the tip. In the 16th and 17th Centuries, feeders were made of glazed pottery as well as pressed leather and carved wood. Teats (nipples) were made from calves’ teats, indian-rubber, and even ivory. By the 18th Century, feeders came in two types—pear-shaped and round with flat sides. Flat, boat-shaped feeding bottles were the next type to appear. They had a central hole on the top, to which the thumb was applied to control the flow, and an opening at either end. Feeders of this type were made out of pottery, stoneware, pewter, and also silver. Glass feeders, similar in design to those made of pottery and porcelain, made their appearance in the early part of the 19th Century, when glass blowing became popular and inexpensive. A specific type of bottle called the “Siphonia” appeared in 1864 and became known as the “Murder bottle” because of a long indian-rubber tube attached to the nipple. It was a haven for bacteria and caused numerous deaths. At their height in the 19th Century, feeding bottles resulted in the death of seven out of eight babies who used them. The feeder illustrated here is from circa 1870. It has the original hard Indian-rubber nipple and the very attractively illustrated box, which shows the dress of the mothers of that day. Robert E. Kravetz, M.D., F.A.C.P., M.A.C.G. Member, Archives Committee American College of Gastroenterology