NOTE: - 71 -

that thereafter breast milk does not provide sufficient nourishment to children. Concerning weaning from the breast, the writings of physician-authors do not agree with one another: some designate one year, some less, and some more. In Arabia they give the breast [for] two years; in Europe, one year or ten months; on the contrary, there are such places where they give [it for] four years, and everywhere they consider their own custom to be best. Before weaning from milk, it is necessary to accustom the child to eating soft foods, and only then to wean [it] from milk; otherwise, the child will fall ill from the sudden change of nourishment. One must not give the child coffee (*ghavay*) and wine to drink, [and] must not feed [it] sweets and pastries.

CHAPTER XXIX. On the Disease Occurring from Mucus and Worms.

227. After children are weaned from the breast, when they begin to partake of [solid] food, they readily fall prey to illnesses. The souring of food upon the stomach does not happen very frequently at this time, but thick phlegm and excrement increase in the intestines; and if it is not cleansed by means of suitable foods, worms will be engendered. Therefore, after [the child] reaches two years of age, if illness should appear in children, we may at that time consider the cause to be their having worms. 228. The signs of worm-disease are of diverse sorts, according to the constitution of the child. There are children who have many worms, but the signs of the disease are few; and there are also many who have few worms, yet suffer severely from the disease. 229. The signs of worm-disease are: 1st. Because the worms snatch away the nourishing portion of what the child has eaten, his...

NOTE: *) In some places there is a custom [where] they give [the breast] even for six years, with the notion that he will turn out to be a brave man; however, they are greatly mistaken. **) The best season for weaning from the breast is autumn, or spring.