The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-01-17
COLLAPSE OF A FUNDAMENTAL
........RALLACY IN DIET T.........
FROM CURRENT LITERATURE.

this country. and perhaps in the
world. on the subject OF the nutri-
tion OF man. The result Of his work
is 10 throw an entirely new light
upon that constituent in human diet
known as 'proteid" We desire that
our readers learn how 10 acquaint
themselves with the latest researches
In the matter of food and diet.
Liebig. who ranks among chem
lists as Hannibal ranks among gen.
erals and as Dante ranks among
poets, taught that muscular energy
is derived from the assimilation OF
proteid foods The organic food
stuffs. it must be remembered, are
OF three distinct types. DR.. Russell
II. Chittenden. the famous physio-
logical chemist Of Yale, classifies all
digestibie forms OF nutrition into
proteids or albuminous foodstuffs.
carbohydrates and fats. "All animal
and vegetable foods, whatever their
nature and whatever their origin. are
composed simply OF representatives
OF one or more Of these three classes
OF food principles" Now proteld
substances, regarded with such an
appreciatiye eye by Liebig, have the
special characteristic OF containing
about sixteen per cent of nitrogen.
In addition, they contain on an aver
age fifty-twO per cent. of carbon,
seven per cent. OF hydrogen. twenty
three per cent. of oxygen, and a slight
percentage Of sulphur" Proteid or
albuminOus substances constitute the
chemical basis Of all living cells,
whether animal or vegetable. This
means. expressed i'm different Ian
guage, that the organic substance Of
all organs and tissues, whether Of
animals or plants. is made up prin-
cipally OF protcid matter" Thus
proteid substances occupy a special
importance in human diet, OF ami
NAL diet generally, in t2ct.
To say as the scientific press is
now practically saying. that the
effect of Or. Chittendans work on
the nutrition OF man is to prove the
proposition that energy is more ade-
quately derived from vegetable foods
than from proteids, is 10 herald the
diet. THE great weight of Liebig's
authority" says London Science, in
nuenced PSYCHOLOGISTS. even when
Flick and WisliCenus in 1865 made an
ascent OF the Faulhorn on diet
which was free from nitrogen. and
were able to show that vigorous and
even severe muscular work does not
necessarily increase the decomposi-
tion OF proteid material" The source
of muscular energy has been in dis
pute from that day until the ap-
pearance OF Or. Chitteuden's work.
a study which. as the authorities
agree. settles the question against
Liebig. "Dr. Chittendons expert
ments compel u.s." writes a we'll
known authority on diet in the Lon
don Athenaeum, a paper whose scien-
tific judgment carries great weight,
ITO reject Liebig's teaching and to
accept the more difficult proposition
chat nitrogenous tissue change in the
body is fairly constant under all con-
ditiOus, and that nitrogen equilibrium
can easily be maintained on an
amount Of proteid food. which is not
more than one-third Of the minimum
usually considered necessary" To
the same effect writes the Paris Re-
vue ScientifQue, not TO mention the
London Lancet and medical organs
of equal celebrity
The upshot Of Dr.. Chittenden's
work is that, in any diet worthy Of
the name. vegetable foods, containing
relatively little nitrogen, should pre-
vail. Animal foods, with their
higher nitrogen values. must be
greatly subordinate. if the nitrogen
or proteid assimilation is to be main
tained at level commensurate with
true physiological requirements.
The practice Of eating more than
enough Is thus represented as the
predominant dietetic sin" But
with the contemporary standards of
diet. As fixed by the astronomical
habits OF everyday existence, there
is reason TO fear that the predomi-
nant dietetic sin of this age will be
INDUCED in throughout a somewhat
indefinite future
Underfeeding has its perils, but Il
is comparatively rare" Not that
Doctor Chittenden advocates any par
ticular diet. He says the adoption
of dietary habits that aim to accord
with the physiological requirements
of the body need not entail "a cruci-
Tying of the flesh" or a disregard
OF personal likes and dislikes. A
reasonable intelligence combined
with a disposition TO exercise the
same degree of judgment and care in
the nutrition of the body as is ex-
pended on other matters Of no great
er Importance pertaining to the indi-
vidual, 20 the household or TO bust
ness interests, are all that is needed
10 bring about harmony between
everyday dietary habits and the nu-
tritive requirements of the body
There is no occasion. unless one finds
pleasure and satisfaction in so doing.
10 rpe0rf IN a lip,f4od dfrfgrr- - ,,.,4-