The prescription of milk for the treatment of child malnutrition in the Drop of Milk of the National Children’s Board. Chile, 1908-1951

Abstract

This paper examines the relevance that the Gota de Leche assigned to breast milk, in contrast to cow’s milk, as part of its strategy to combat child malnutrition. Through a historical-anthropological approach, this paper reviews the background, records, and proceedings of the First and Second National Congress of Gotas de Leche, the regulations and reports of the Gota de Leche, the documents written by Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, and various press sources. It concludes that the prescription of milk, in line with the principles of modernity, was carefully regulated, contributing to the standardization of maternal care in early childhood within a modern economic and sociocultural framework.