Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-03-28
AVERAGE MAN OVEREATS.
This Is Shown by Scientific Expert
ments at Yale with Different
Glasses of Men.

A series of experiments has recently
been concluded under the auspices of
the Sheffield scientific school of Yale
to determine the point as to whether
the average human being does not eat
too much. Prof. Russell H. Chitten-
den, the director of the school, who
conducted the experiments, read a pa
per on the subject before the National
Academy of Sciences at Washington,
in which he reported that as a result
of the investigations the conclusion
had been reached that the average
healthy man eats from two to three
times as much as he needs to keep
him in perfect physical health and
vigor
The experiments were made on three
classes of men, several professors of
the school, some students and squad
of United States soldiers. In nearly
all the tests meat was gradually re-
duced, with little if any increase in
starch and other foods. No fixed
regimen was required in any case, the
endeavor being to satisfy the appetite
of each subject.
The experiments, which lasted a
| period of from six months to nearly a
| year, ended short time ago when,
| according to Prof. Chittenden, all his
| subjects were in the best of health.
| Their weight in some cases was al
most exactly the same as when the ex-
| periments were begun and in some
slightly lower Their bodily vigor was
| greater and their strength was much
| greater, partially owing to their regu-
lar physical exercises during the ex-
periments and partially due, Prof.
Chittenden believes, to the smaller
| amount of food eaten. The daily con-
sumption of food at the close of the
experiments was much less than the
| recognized standard and from third
| to half as much as the average man
| eats
1t is undoubtedly true that overeat-
ing is distinctly harmful to health.
Some hold that more persons are in
jured by overlooking than by overin-
diligence in alcoholic stimulants. Fur
Their, the statement is incontrovertibIe
that certain class of the population
of the world eat in a manner which is
decidedly prejudicial to their physical
and mental well-being. In the higher
or richer classes such an individual
is termed a gormand, while in the
more vulgar language of the working
classes the gross feeder is styled a
glutton. The ordinary healthy person
may also eat in excess of his real need,
and would probably do equally we'll
if he curbed his appetite for food
within more stringently narrow limits.
Such instances, however, occur
mainly among those who can afford to
eat whatever they may desire. Their
| number, however, is not SO large as
some would have us believe, even in
these days of vaunted prosperity
Overeating is principally prevalent
among that class who have the money
to spend on self-indulgence and who
frequently fall into the habit Of liter
ally gorging themselves. The major
ity of the inhabitants of the world
who can earn their bread by the sweat
of their brow cannot spare out of their
wages sufficient to enable them to
crafty their eating propensities, but
are compelled to live frugally. Many
of these do not consume enough
nourishing food, and it would be to
their physical and mental advantage
if they partook Of a more generous
diet.
Again, good cooking, suitable food
and avoidance of monotony in diet are
just as important factors in the preser-
walton of "the sound mind in the
sound body" as is the quantity of food
consumed. Variety is the spice of life
and without the SAVIOR of change food
does not work the good expected of it.
At the same time the diet should be
wholesome and plain and the canned
and preserved foods which are SO
prominent features in the cuisine OF
modern civilization should be avoided
as far as possible.
In the United States and in Great
Britain the population do not require
to be warned so much against the ILL
effects of overeating as against non
nutritive and deleterious food and bad
cooking.
The conclusions reached by Prof.
Chittenden are interesting, but prove
nothing definitely. If he is of the
opinion that the deductions to be
drawn from the investigation are that
the daily rations of the average per-
son should be cut down, experience
would seem to be against his point of
view. Underfed nations have never
been in the forefront of civilization,
but have always been the easy prey
Of those peoples who have been able
to satisfy thoroughly the cravings of
their stomachs.
The problem Of what to eat and how
to cook food is of greater moment
than the question of overeating. An
editorial in the British Medical Jour-
| nal of a recent date states the situa-
ton aptly in the following words
What to eat and what to drink will
| always be decided by national Gus
tom and individual preference. so far
| as the public is concerned, but both
| may be Influenced in the right direc-
ton by the guidance Of skilled med
ical opinion"
| She Knew It.
Senator Nelson w. A1drich was trav-
cling from Providence to his summer