Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-30
FOOD AND HEALTH.
Value Of the knowledge of Dietetics
or the Regulation Of Diet.

or the Regulation of Diet.
From the Medical Brief.
The Century dictionary informs us that
"dietetics is that department OF medicine
which relates to the regulation of diet"
Following this definition with an extract
from Herbert Spencer to the effect that
at must not be supposed the whole OF
dietetics lies in determining whether or
not bread Is more nutritive than potatoes"
leads us to the conclusion that dietetics
cover far larger field In the world Of
science than the first definition implies.
The apostle Of the Simple Life might
have taken a step further in his explora-
lions and entered this field of knowledge
with vast profits to the people; admitting
that the health and morals Of the indi-
yidual depend largely on the quality OF the
| food he eats. and the kind Of home he in
habits, does not the prosperity or adver-
| sity of the nation take Its vice from the
| health and morals OF the individual?
Our lives are short at the best, three
score years and ten (shall we quote well-s
known authority for only two score years
OF really capable lifeD The world is
| teeming with glorious possibilities ready to
| be taken up by the man or woman possess
| ing good mental and physical caliber. and
we cannot afford to miss even one day out
| OF our short lives by eating food which
| may render us unfit for the worlds work;
herein lies the great Importance OF
knowledge OF dietettcs in health, as well as
| disease
Our ancestors-in the good old days
had to work hard. physically, for their
daily food; from the turning UP of the
| soil to the Widespread table all prepara-
lions were accomplished by hard labor.
chiefly in the open air; hence, their appe-
| titles were healthy. therefore easily salts
| fed their food simple. therefore easily d.
gested; their digestion good. therefore many
| of the modern diseases were unknown and
| there was no need for practical dletetics,
| especial diet lists etc.
| Today our living Is Tar more artificial.
Much of our food Is manufactured and
brought to our doors ready for the table.
Mental effort has largely taken the place
| of physical labor: indoor, the place of out
door life, and overweight nerves are a
force to be reckoned with in every part of
our being. Diets have been formulated for
all diseases; especially prepared foods are
advertised everywhere, and. as In the case
OF all the best modern improvements. are.
by some. carried to the extreme. giving rise
to the diet habit"
1 visited a home once where every MEM
Der OF the family was taking a different
course Of diet. and the dinner table daily
took on the appearance of a restaurant,
each plate surrounded by an array OF es-
pecial dishes.
SO much for the extreme side Of the ques-
ton; on the other hand. we recognize fully
the inestimabie value Of the study of die
tetics. There are few things, even In this
wonderful twentieth century, necessary
to our mental and physical well being
The fuel value OF food has become
important subject, and the many expert
ments along these lines have demonstrated
the value Of the proper kind OF food to
suit various organisms. The terms, womb
calorfmeter," respiration calorimeter,"
Oxidation of foods" measurement of
respiration" heat of body" "applica-
ton Of results to prove true value of food"
effects Of pTeservatives on health and d.
gestion." etc. etc, ad infinitum. conveyed
no more meaning to our forefathers than
the technicalities of modern electric appara-
tus are familiar to the student OF dfetetics
and domestic economy.
In a modern cook book we find six re-
eipes for ''Hygienic Griddle Cakes" where
as the word, "hygienic'' was rarely to be
found in the vocabulary of our great
grandmothers.
Twenty years ago a well-known writer
said that the time was ripe for system of
dietetics and domestic economy which
might be applied to the family life: today.
We have a well-established method OF
teaching this branch of science in the pub
lie schools and institutions. SO that the
rising generation may have no excuse for
ignorance on the value of food In relation
to the health and morals of the commun-
ity.
Our ideas. in regard to diet In disease
have undergone even more marvellous
changes in the last few years. We no
longer feed cold and starve fever"
irrespective OF the condition OF the patient.
but are learning the Importance OF STERILE
xati0n Of food. predigested albumin, med
icSt6d FOOD. vSeetabIs diet. relative values