Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-19
HYGIENE And SANITATION.
V-THE FOOD PROBLEM.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

BY Frederic
Since the medical world has penetrated
The mysteries Of many OF the germ-pfo-
duced diseases to which human flesh Is
heir. and has found methods of controlling
them which need only the cooperation OF
the people to become emcient as the
embargo against yellow fever at Panama
laboratory experts are turning their at
,entton more and more to other problems,
principal among these the question OF FOOD
and fealth While the spread OF action
producing intelligence concerning methods
Of combating and overcoming serm-pro-
duced disease has resulted in most re-
markable decline in the number OF deaths
from those diseases, it has been noted
through vital statistics that chron c ois-
eases and those that are not serm-pro-
duced are on the increase, and that whiie
their increasing frequency does not coun-
terbalance the results of hygienic work IL
does in a measure keep the total number
of deaths from being cut down as rapldiy
as would be the case if they were not 10
be reckoned with.
That food has much to do with the m
creasing frequency of chronic diseases:
such as rheumatism, brights disease ana
the like, is we'll recognized. when taken
in connection with the use of intoxicants
and tobacco large majority of the
chronic ailments may be traced directi!
or indirectly to- the things that enter the
stomach Diets too rich In protein dis
order the alimentary system. Diets show
ing an ovcrsupply of fats are likewise i'll
suited 10 health. 4 balanced ration Is re-
sarded as half the battle in defending
the race from chronic diseases.
OF ONLY are the chronic diseases pro-
duced by foods, but many case of germ
pro u &C ed
Typhoid Epidemic Traced disease has
to One Dairy Farm. thst route
as we'll In fact. a large percentage OF the
contagious and infectious diseases hho
Judgment in the human system through the
mouth. Typhoid fever is almost wholly
disease carried to a victim through milk
and water and food A single instance VIII
serve for thousands that might be cited
showing how positive is the evidence tnat
milk is a great carrier OF typhoid, and that
even above-the-average cleanliness VIII
not suffice to prevent the germs from 90
ing great harm. In August. 1909. there
was an outbreak of $50 cases of typhoid
which were traced to one dairy farm'
which is described by the health authori-
ties as exceptionally clean and well kept
The owner had typhoid fever during Tue
civil war, and he has been a germt ha
rier ever since Six cases of fever mad
occurred on his farm between 1913 ana
1903 When his milk supply was sup
pressed the epidemic ceased
water is the most frequent carrier Of
typhoid germs. and the old proverb that
when II runs over seven stones 1t Is puri-
fled Is not borne out by experience BE-
fore Chicago built its drainage canal ty-
phoid fever was an ever-present disease.
IT is estimated that the building or that
waterway has saved Cnieaso neasS i
40 lives since the beginning of the pres
emit century. The changing from river
water to mountain water In some OF the
cities of Germany in some instances mas
reduced the number of cases or t!phoio /
nv three-fourths No city in the world
that has improved it's water supply and
regulated It's milk supply has failed to re-
duce its typhoid to a remarkable degree.
Few people pause to think of the germs
that lurk in vegetables which come from
the gree
Harmful Germs Carried grocer. Thou.
sands of
by Green Vegetables. cases have
been recorded where harmful germs, such
as those of typhoid. Turk on lettuce ana
celery. on radishes and on watercress
Careful washing IT has been shown, re-
duces the danger. but the most eareIui
housekeeper does not wash her vesetaDies
clean enough to insure freedom from
germs There is a movement In some
quarters to restrict the sale OF these veg
eta bles to such places as can snow lree-
dom from soil pollution.
In its study of food hygiene the Inter
national Congress of Hygiene and Demoe-
raphy will consider many interesting
questions 1t has long been known Ds
the laboratory expert that the most hu
tritious foods are not always the most
costly ones. DIR. Langworthy OF the De-
partment of Agriculture Will snow AT Ine
congress Just how far this is true lie
will show how Boston beans are lnnn1teiy
cheaper than Chicago beef. and yet more
nutritious and equally palatable-t you
think so. There are many ways or pre-
pairing cheese that make 1t as paiataoie
as meat and it has higher 1000 value
than beef that costs one-haif more anu
las twice as much waste
People who live well do not realize what
hardships the high cost OF fooos mas en-
tailed upon the waEe-earners or the low
black who has little stand In front OF
one of the leading financial institutions
of the nations capital, and right across
the street from the national Treasury.
finds II hard work to get enough money
10 eat meat once a week under the pres
cnt reign of high prices.
America never vet has come to the
tight pinch where dogs and cats have
had to be
Dog, Horse. Mule and used as food,
Donkey Meat Eaten Euroue the
high prices of meat have forced the use
OF dogs for this purpose. In a number
Of European cities. including Bresau.
Dresden and Leipzig. dogs are slaughter
cd extensively for food and are regularly
inspected at the slaughter house. The
meat Is served as roast dog, while in
many parts of Saxony IT is eaten raw.
being highly seasoned. In Paris the an
nual slaughter of horses. mules and DON
keys reaches thirty million pounds OF
dressed meat. over sixty thousand ami
male being slaughtered. 1t is said that
the better cuts of horse meat bring about
~ cents a pound.
The adulteration of sausage has long
been the most dangerous form OF foo6
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