The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-10-07
The Necessity of Variety in Food.

IltAf
who by accident have been thrown OF
the shores of the Northern Atlantic)
has often been presented as showing
how an exclusive fish diet is prone t.
induce disease. A recent article in
Btdck7C0Od gives a description of these
unfortunate people, with their skin dis
eases and physical weakness. " Dis
eases of the skin are said to be more
common among those who live contin-
ually on fish than among those who alb
stain from it, writes a leading authori-
ty; " but this probably arises from their
use being unaccompanied by proper
quantity of fresh vegetables or fruit,
both OF which are scarcer than further
inland" The same rule seems to hold
good in regard TO making any one arti-
Gle OF food en- exclusive diet. If there
are no external evidences of disease the
vital energies are in certain measure
impaired. We are prone TO look rather
at the physical disturbances than to OBJ
serve those of a mental character. The
rlce-eaters of India may present. as far
as limits 60, fair average of physical
conformation, but it is in the brain
power that they are wanting. One
point often overlooked by those who
study these particular topics as to food
is the adaptability of the race to
change of locality. OF course
1t is exceptional when the rice-eater is
taken away from his own country. In
the localities in which he was bred,
born and fed he may be fully able to
withstand the calls made on him to
support himself by tilling the soil; but
take him away from his country, subject
him to changes of climate, and his
physique, improperly nourished, lacks
apparently just those things which al
low better or more variedlv fed man
to resist disturbing effects. Indian ma
tive soldiers caught in a cold climate, if
they happen to belong to those peculiar
castles which are exclusively vegetable
or grain feeders, succumb at once, like
insects, under the effects of a falling
temperature. 1t is to be regretted that
the powers of endurance of those in
habitants of South America who live
entirely on meat should not have been
better studied. Ifit cannot be asserted
that if they were forced to change their
locality they would lose strength, still,
the natural law of the necessity of
change in food as producing improved
physical and mental powers seems to
follow. Somebody, years ago, who
wrote in violent opposition to vegetari-
ans, insisted 90 that half a century of
graham bread and beans, if it would
not render the American people idiots,
would at least arrest their mental de-
velopment." We are not writing against
egetable-feeders. but tracing back such
early references as anthropology can
give us, some curious speculations arise.
1t seems rational to suppose that man
was rather carnivOrOus at first than
graminivorous. 1t does not look very
probable that our cave man or drift
man could find fruit or seeds suffi-
cient to support his life. Quite pos
sibly, as with all savage tribes, the
provision of food he took at one
time was very large, for he was not
very certain when the next repast
would be forthcoming. The fish of the
sea, first, then, would have fed him,
with the animals. Whether the teeth
of early man show him to have been
more of meat-eater than vegetable
feeder we are not prepared to state.
There have been however some curious
theories evolved on these subjects. If
man was entirely a meat feeder he
would have in time developed sharp
fangs in his mouth. Flat molars fit for
grinding might have had their use.
Still to tear the flesh his teeth would
have to be sharp. Why, then, asks an
anthropologist, do some savage ma
tions file their teeth to a point?n Be
cause in olden times their teeth were
more sharp pointed and fitted for the
flesh which they ate. With succeeding
centuries, animals having decreased as
population increased, these savages still
endeavored artifcially to shape their
dental processes into primeval forms.
Now on the other hand, in process of
evolution it is asserted that some Of the |
teeth have become flattened. Early
man, if he ate seeds, must have found /
them difficult of mastication. Even if he |
possessed some crude method of pound
ing his grain, whether such grain was
natural or cultivated, he must have fed |
on a very coarse substance. TThe neces
sitg then arose that his grinding teeth |
should have broader surfaces, better /
adapted for trituration. This is all. of |
course, merely speculative, and we give
it for what it is worth. Still, all points |
to this one main fact, that it is in varie- |
ty of food that health and strength, and |
physical vigor arise. Returning to fish
there is some idea prevalent that sea
fish is more nutritious than fresh water
fish. Nothing can be more contrary to
actual experiment than this, as they are
both equally nutritious. Where sea
fish, however. generally but not ALWAYS
differ from fresh water fish is in the
fact of the larger quantity of fats or oils
which some salt water fish contain.
Much has been written in these col .
umns in regard to varying the general
menu. Housekeepers have been told
time and time again that at the rail-
road speed we live in the United States
the mental strain men are put to re-
quires that they should have not only
good food but that variety is a necessi-
ty. It is not very certain that it is
more expensive to prepare a dinner of
five Or six different kinds of food than
if oriy three were used. 1t is more
certainly, but the advan-
tage tc be derived from such extra
pains cannot be calculated. Y.
Times.
Perils OF Dentistry.