A CRITIQUE OF THE PIRQUET FEEDING SYSTEM

Abstract

About four years ago, I summarized¹Pirquet's interesting methods of feeding that had been developed and introduced in Vienna during the Great War. A considerable literature dealing with this subject has since then been produced, and several enthusiastic writers have advocated the adoption of these methods in this country. The general feeling here has apparently been that the methods, while interesting, were so revolutionary that their introduction would involve an endless confusion, to be avoided if possible. Few critical studies of the methods themselves have appeared, and almost none in this country. The visit of Pirquet to this country in 1921 was followed by a reawakening of interest in the subject which has culminated in the appearance of his own description of the system in book form in English,²based on the Silliman lectures at Yale. It would appear timely, therefore, to give critical consideration to the outstanding