The wet nurse: a study in ancient medicine and Greek papyri

This paper examines Greek medical recommendations concerning the selection of the wet-nurse, her regimen, and her duties towards the child (in particular feeding, and later weaning) in comparison with some contemporary Greek papyri concerning wet-nursing which come from Roman Egypt. It also measures the degree of medical awareness among the laity presented in the papyri. This paper demonstrates that these medical recommendations, though they were perhaps insinuated by social needs, were not necessarily always followed either by the nurse of those who selected her. Greek contracts which correspond in points with medical recommendations differ in adding more prohibitions. Yet it seems hard to prove that they were either respected or supervised. They were meant to be a deterrent to ensure the nurse's well behaviour and every possible care for the child.