The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-13
SUGAR As FOOD.
Nutritious and Stimulating. II Increases the
Capacity for Endurance.
From the Philadelphia Record.

Nutritious and Stimulating. u Increases the
Capacity for Endurance.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Prof. Pfull. head Of the physiological labora-
tory az the German Army. last week concluded
a series of elaborate experiments which have
confirmed the results Of previous investlRa-
tons. namely. that sugar Is a valuable article
OF diet, particularly for persons called upon
to perform a large amount Of muscular exer-
ton, one Of It's salient points Of merit being
that il is readily assimilated by the blood
Prof. Pfuhl found that after long and
fatiguing walks the soldiers recnperated IN
from fifteen minutes 10 half an hour II they
were given several humps of sugar These
appeared to remove all feelings Of lassitide
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 starch mas
TO be converted into sugar by the sahva ana
intestinal Juices before II can be assimlla'ed
Tie action Of these fermertS breaks II up INTO
simpler chemical compounds. so that II finally
reaches the blood and muscles as deStrose' a
form Of sugar which can be burned 10 yield
heat and muscular energy. The change re-
CURED in sugar for its assimilation is very slight
compared with that required for the digestion
of starch. II will thus be seen that the process
Of manufacturing sugar from us vegetable
containers results in a product that Tor digestive
starch. so that it is evident the substitution
of sugar for starch is Of advantage 10 the o.
gestlye system. since II does not puiueh ,ne
digestive tract and less force Is required Tor
itS digestion and assimilation. Cntortinateiy
however, nature Will not tolerate man = attennpt
TO present concentrated chemically separated
pure foods all ready for assimilation. except
Ia limited amounts, and this Is true OF sugar,
as Of p%eptQnes, partially dlsested meats ana
similar foods.
Sugar now forms part OF the %rations Of the
soldiers OF all the principal nations. the makeup
of which, a. is well known. is sclentifcaily pro,
portioned TO supply the necessary amount 9'
muscular energy, heat and vitality OF the SOL
dier. Prof, Mosso, an Italian investigator,
a. early as 1893 called attention 10 the influence
OF cane sugar in lesspnlng fatigue Last year
the Prussiau Government took mp the question
and made thorough and complete experiments
with The ergosraph, an Instrument, when en-
the persons under test, The subject OF each
experiment was entirely ignorant OF It's nature,
and the instrument which registered the amount
of work performed was hidden from view. 30
that imagination could not affect the results.
In addition 10 his ordinary diet he was given
days tins was n solution oil sugar; and on other
days was only water sweetened with dulcln,
a sweet-tastng chemical having 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 required Of the subject Of the eS-
pertinent the difference in the effect OF dulcin
and sugar became very apparent. the latter
restoring 10 some extent the efficiency. Of the
tired muscle, while dulcin did not This is
believed to be- due 10 the fact that with ordinary
exertion a little more or less sugar in the blood
does not make any special difference out When
the muscles are heavily drawn upon the rapid
assimilation of this sugar proves OF great
advantage.
the German army officials put them TO practical
test during their GATE manGlvres. the ~ooserva-
ton. extending 'over thirty-eieht days 4
number of men We're given ten Jumps, about
one-siNth Of a pound, of sugar daily, and were
compared in various ways with the men PER-
forming the same amount Of work IN march,
ing and drilling. but whose food contained
little or no sugar. The sugar was relished dur
ing the whole time. aud proved OF decided ad-
vantage to the men using H. On long marches
il Appeased hunger and mitigated. thirst a
feeling Of re'reshment followed. which helped
the tired man on his way, and none OF the SOL
rome by exhaustion, Both their pulse rate
and breathing was less affected by ~e1ertion than
was the ces- with men having no sugar,
The Swiss guides. II il asserted. fully ap-
rreciate The value Of sugar as a siimulant and
always carry II IN their kits. preferring lump
sugar or highly sweetened chocolate. The
extraordinarily larR" amount OF sugar during
the season in the woods. taking II II. the form
OF nolasses They swee,er their miIkless tea
with IT, make cakes with il, and even add IL
to their fried salt pork. which is the only meat
they get during the time lhev are in the woods
f ih. nsar "''n IN fi;e 9 @SIar IH'I bell p Of tIsSama mr. Ia
rtaule articles OF diet are also molasses, salt
PORK and corn meal These simple articles fern
YET The negroes appear to thrive on them.
But II ia on the sugar cane plantations. ppr-
hans. where the value Of sugar az. an article
OF diet is most apparent A pamphlet entitled
Sugar az Food" recently issued hy the De-
partinent OF Agriculture. referring TO this fact
saws, For months the chief food Of the ne
gro laborers on the plantations is said to be
sugar cane. aud they are seen 10 grow strong
and fat a. the season advances They 20
through the hard labor Of harvesting the crop
and come ont IN fine condition. although they
began IL weak and half starved.
II should be added, however, that the EN-
IRE l'llce Of rirened cane i more complete food
constituents besides carbohydrates.
Children have a natural craving for sweet
things, and the sugar Of milk. which makes
up from Z 10 0 Der cent of II. forms an imDor-
tant part Of babv'- first nutrim.nt. taking
the, place Of starch until the child's stomach
- able 10 assimllate It. so that o two-year-old
child drinking two quarts Of milk n day, con-
snmes in this way. about three ounces Of sugar.
Owing 20 its ease OF digestion, and the feet that
it supplies heat and energy TO the body, sugar
would seem 10 be a natural food for children
and j. far more acceptable TO most children
than FAT which usually supplies heat and energy
to adults The question whether the use Of
their tastes from less highly-favored and nu-
tritions foods has to be considered.
A lump OF sugar contains as much nutrition
as an ounce Of potato and is far more easily as
simulated. In times OF great ~exertion. "a are
likely 70 occur in army life. this feature is par
,iG,larlN valuable In warn countries sugar
fruits, as dates, figs. nc. are eaten in large
Quantities in tropical climates As a source Of
muscular energy sugar is ranidly becoming
tines made 10 include large Quantities of II.
a., for instance in the rowing clubs OF Holland.
PEACOCKS.
IT.. nu,u. nrlAs HL..- .-A -.