The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-02

| burned to yield neat anu muscular eneT-
gy The change required in sugar for
it's assimilation is very slight compared
with that required for the digestion of
starch 1t will thus be seen that the
process Of manufacturing sugar from
| its vegetable containers results in a pro-
| duct that for digestive purposes is COM
parable to partially digested starch, so
| that it is evident the substitution of SUI
gar for starch Is of advantage to the di-
gestive system since it does not burden
| the digestive tract and less force is re-
quired for it's digestion and assimilation.
Unfortunately, however, nature will not
tolerate mans attempt to present con-
contracted chemically separated pure
foods all ready for assimilation, except
in limited amounts, and this is true Of
sugar, as of peptones, partially digest
ed meats and similar foods.
Sugar now forms part of the rations
of the soldiers of all the principal ma
tiQns, the makeup of which, as is well
known. is scientifically proportional to
supply the necessary amount of muscu-
lar energy, heat and vitality of the SOL
der. Professor Mosso, an italian inves-
tigator, as early as 1898 called attention
to the influence Of cane sugar in lessen
ing fatigue. Last year the Prussian
government took up the question and
made thorough and complete expert
ments with the erograph, an instru-
ment which measured the amount of
work done by the persons under test.
The subject of each experiment was
entirely ignorant of its nature, and the
instrument which registered the amount
Of work performed was hidden from
view SO that Imagination could not af-
feet the results. In addition to his or
binary diet he was given about six
ounces of sweet fluid. On certain
days this was a sulution of sugar, and
on other days was only water sweet
ened with dulcin, a sweet-tasting chem
ical 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
experiment the difference in the effect
Of dulcin and sugar became very appa-
rent, 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 eX-
ertion a little more or less sugar in the
blood does not make any special differ
ence, but when the muscles are heavily
drawn upon the rapid assimilation of
this sugar proves of great advantage.
Continuing these successful expert
ments the German army officials put
them to practical test during their late
tnanoeuvres. the observations extending
over thirty-eight days. number of
men were given ten Jumps, about one
sixth of pound, of sugar daily, and
We're compared in 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 re1ished during the
whole time, and proved of decided adj
vantage to the men using it. On long
marches 1t appeased hunger and miti-
gated thirst; feeling of refreshment
followed, which helped the tired man on
his way, and none of the soldiers al
lowed 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 hav-
Ing no sugar.
appreciate the value of sugar as slim
ulant, and always. carry it in their kits,
preferring lump sugar or highly sweet
ened chocolate. The muscular lumber
men of Canada consume an extraordina-
ry large amount ofssugar during the
season in the woods taking 1t in the
form Of molasses. They sweeten their
milkless tea with 1t, make cakes with 1t,
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 mo-
lasses, salt pork and corn meal. These
simple articles form the diet day in and
day out, year about, and yet the negroes
appear to thrive on them. but it is on
the sugar cane plantations, perhaps
where the value of sugar as an article
of diet is most apparent. A pamphlet
entitled Sugar as Food recently is
sued by the Department of Agriculture.
referring to this fact says: For
the chief food of the negro la
borers 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 har-
vesting the crop and come out in fine
although they began 1t weak
and half starved"
1t should be added however, that the |
entire juice of rpened cane Is more |
complete food than sugar, containing, |
as it does, other food constituents be-
sides carbohydrates
Children have n natural craving for
sweet things, and the sugar of milk,
which makes up from four to six per
'ent, of It, forms an important part of
oaby's first nutriment, taking the place
If starck until the childs stomach Is
able to assimilate it; so that two
1ear-old child drinking two quarts of
milk day, consumes in this way, about
hree ounces of sugar. Owing to its
'ase Of digestion, and the fact that it
supplies heat and energy to the body, |,
sugar would seem to be a natural food
or children and is far more acceptable
o 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-
'ert their tastes from less highly-ha-
'ored and nutritious foods has to be
considered.
A lump of sugar contains as much
,utrition as an ounce of potato and is
ar more easily assimllated In times of
great exertion. as are likely to occur in
lrmy life this feature is particrlIarly