The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-29

II is readily aSsimilated by the blood. Pro-
fessor Pfuhl found that after long and
fatiguing walks the soldiers recuperated in
from fifteen minutes to half an hour if
they were given several Jumps of sugar.
These appeared to remove all feelings of
and to restore the muscles to
their original elastic condition.
Starch forms a considerable portion of
our diet In one form or another, and all
has to be converted into sugar by
the saliva and intestinal juices before it
can be assimilated. The action of these
breaks IL UP into simpler chem
zeal compounds, so that it finally reaches
the blood and muscles as dextrose, a form
of sugar which can be burned to yield heat
and muscular energy. The change required
In sugar for its assimilation is very Slight
compared with that required for the d.
gestion of starch. 1t will thus be seen that
the process Of manufacturing sugar from
it's vegetable containers results in a product
That for digestive purposes is comparable
to partially digested starch, so that it is
the substitution of sugar for starch
is OF advantage to the digestive system,
since it does not burden the digestive tract
and less force is required for it's digestion
and assimilation. Unfortunately, however,
VIII not tolerate mans attempt to
present concentrated chemically separated
pure foods all ready for assimilation, ex-
cept In limited amounts. and this is true
of sugar, as of peptones, partially-digested
meats and similar foods.
ITS VALUE CLEARLY SHOWN.
Sugar now forms part of the rations of
the soldiers of all the principal nations,
the makeup of which, as is we'll known,
is scientifically proportioned to supply the
necessary amount of muscular energy,
heat and vitality of the soldier. Profess
sor Mosso, an Italian investigator, as early
as 1893 called attention to the influence of
cane sugar in lessening fatigue. Last year
the Prussian government took up the ques-
ton and made thorough and complete ex
periments with the ergograph, an instru-
ment which measured the amount of work
done by the persons under test. The sub
Ject OF each experiment was entirely ignor.
ant of its nature, and the instrument which
registered the amount of work perform
ed was hidden from view, so that imag-
nation could not affect the results. In
ADDITION 10 MS ordinary diet he was given
about six ounces of a sweet fluid. On GER
tain days this was a solution of sugar. and
on other days was only water sweetened
with dulcin, a sweet-tasting m hav-
ing no food value. When only ordinary
muscular work was performed the effect
OF the sugar in the diet was not very
marked. but when exhausting work was re-
CURED of the subject of the experiment
the difference in the effect of dulcin and
sugar became very apparent, the latter
restoring TO some extent the efficiency of the
tired muscle, while dulcin did not" This is
believed to be due to the fact that with
ordinary eXertion a little more or less
sugar in the blood does not make any
special difference. but when the muscles
are heavily drawn upon the rapid assimila-
ton Of this sugar proves of great advant-
age.
Continuing these successful experiments
the German army officials put them to
practical test during their late maneuvers,
the observations extending over thirtv-
el2nf 0aVS. "A nllmhar nf man t,,.-
ten Jumps, about one-sixth of a pound, of
sugar daily, and were compared i'm various
ways with the men performing the same
amount of work in marching and drilling.
but whose food contained little or no sugar.
The sugar was relished during the whole
time, and proved of decided advantage to
the men using 1t. On long marches 1t ap-
peased hunger and mitigated thirst: a feel
ing of refreshment followed, which helped
the tired man on his way, and lone of the
soldiers allowed sugar were at any time
overcome by exhaustion. Both their pulse
rate and breathing was less affected by ex-
ertion than was the case with men having
no sugar allowance.
RECOGNIZED BY SWISS GUIDES.
The Swiss guides, it is asserted. fully
appreciate the value Of sugar as a stimu-
liant. and always carry it in their kits, pre-
ferring lump sugar or highly sweetened
chocolate. The muscular lumbermen of
oAAot OhStAhC III UNFAIRLY ldIRe
amount of sugar during the season in the
woods, taking it in the form of molasses.
They sweeten their milkless tea with it,
make cakes with it, and even add it to their
fried salt pork, which is the only meat they
get during the time they are in the woods
cutting lumber, and this is practically half
the year. In the ''black belt of Alabama
the staple articles of diet are also molasses.
salt pork and corn meal. These simple ar
ticles form the diet day in and day out,
year about, and yet the negroes appear TO
thrive on them. But 1t is on the sugar
cane plantations, perhaps, where the value
of sugar as an article of diet Is most ap-
parent. A pamphlet entitled Sugar as
Food" recently issued by the Department
of Agriculture, referring to this fact, says:
For months the chief food of the negro
laborers on the plantations is said to be
sugar cane, and they are seen to grow
strong and fat as the season advances.
They go through the hard labor of harvest
ing the crop anu come out in fine condition,
although they began it weak and half
starved"
1t should be added, however. that the en-
plete food than sugar, containing, as ii
does. other food constituents besides carbo-
hydrates.
with the Christmas season approaching
with its accompanying candies, a great
many people would like to be assured as to
just what can be said for and against eat
liz sugar, lUdt IL, Cdilul. IHllUTt0 nave a
natural craving for sweet things, and the
sugar of milk, which makes up from 4 to 6
per- cent. of IL, forms an important part of
baby's first nutriment, taking the place of
starch until the child's stomach is able to
assimilate It: so that a two-year-old child
drinking two quarts of milk a day. con-
sumes, in this way, about three ounces of
sugar. Owing to its ease of digestion, and
the fact that It supplies heat and energy
to the body, sugar would seem to be a nat
ural food for children, and is far more
acceptable to most children than fat.
which usually supplies heat and energy to
adults. The question whether the use of
too much sugar by children does not per-
vert their tastes from less highly-iavored
and nutritious foods has 10 be taken into
consideration.
ANTISEPTIC AND GERMICIDE.
Too much sugar is apt to interfere with
and retard the digestive processes. Ex-
periments made on the stomachs OF dogs
have shown that 81 per cent. solution red
dened the mucous membranes; a 10 per
cent. solution made 1t dark red. Indicating
great irritation. and a 20 per cent. solution
caused the dog such distress that the ex-
pertinent was carried no further. Much
sugar has a laxative effect. Strong sirup
acts as antiseptics and germicides. as we
see In the preservation Of fruits In syrup,