Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-11-06
WHAT THE viTAMINEs TEACH US.

We have done much to drive down
the death rate in the way OF Detter'ns
sanitation and such things, out IN
spite Of all this our death rate ior
persons over forty is increasing,
writes DR.. Charles F. Bolduan. oi-
rector of the New York health depart
ment's bureau of public health. ana
attention is called to the fact tnaN
overindulgence in proteins ttnehts'
eggs, fish and the. like) is big tac'or
in this increase in the death rate oi
persons over forty years of age
Such statements are frequently
seized with ayidity by persons OF iho'o
than average intelligence ana passeo
from individual to individual, shsntiy
embellished with each repetition. un'h
they may become strong inoorse
ments of one or more OF the many So
called diet systems that every so otten
sweep over the country leaving tFaii
of invalids in their wake. 1t must Do
remembered that any marked cuahso
In diet or in cooking is certain 10 pro
duce some result, and change hsei
is often benefit; but diet which au-
mirably suits one person who lives ia
a certain location and does q certain
kind of work may not be adapted 10
another individual living under diner
ent conditions and doing diherene
kind of work. The truth OF the mat
ter is that man 8 chances of health are
best when he eats with moderation a
diet made up of clean. wholesome
aII
usual ways. Such a diet should IN
clude some articles to be cooked ana
others to be eaten raw, such as bread
cereals. fruits. vegetables, meat. nsh,
milk, butter. cheese and eggs. All
these articles should be Of good quail
ity and free from all dirt, either yisi-
BILE or invisible, should contain no
adulterations nor be deprived OF any
constituent part in the course OF prep
aration for eating.
Apart from overeating Of proteins
probably the greater part OF our
troubles comes from the loss OF i'm
portant elements from our foods In
preparing or preserving them. These
losses have been due to the fact that
either we do not know the elements
are present or we assume the very
minute quantities to be of no conse-
quence. We are only just beginning
to grasp the real truth through study
OF the engines, the catalyzers. the Wit
amines. the hormones and the action
of the ductless glands in the body.
And possibly We get the most signinf-
cant hints as to what these actions
are through an understanding of the
reactions in the simpler forms Of life.
II We pass beam OF light through
prism the white light is split into
the six prominent hues of the spec
trum, supplemented by a multitude OF
subordinate ones. Each of these hues
corresponds with one definite wave
length of light and each produces
some definite molecular reaction in
everything 1t strikes.
This world is adjusted to operate un-
der the driving power of full sunlight.
We have noted that Indian corn. for
example, grew within a certain period
to 25 inches under white glass and in
the same period OF time only IS inches
under red glass. eight inches under
green glass and six inches under blue
glass. The several glasses used in
these experiments checked aud held
back part OF the sun energy, as can
easily be demonstrated by holding a
sheet of white and OF colored glass in
the hand ont in sunlight-the colored
glass will become sensibly warmer
than the white glass. 1t Is very evil
dent that abstracting from white light
a part OF the waves produces material
changes in plant life. We know that
plants cannot thrive and grow without
light, and that II is only in the light
with a supply of the atmospheric gases
and OF water. and with the green
chlorophyl bodies in a healthy condi-
ton. that the manufacture OF food can
go on. We also know as the result
Of simple experiments that certain
solutions of mineral matter must be
present to enable the plant to manu-
facture food. Seedlings can be grown
In glass jars. some In distilled water
which is devoid OF any minerals, 9TH
ers In distilled water with one or two
or all of the necessary salts in solu-
ton, in order to prove the general
facts of nutrition and draw very close
analosies between life in that plane
and life on our own plane.
Let US consider what is perhaps the
most fatal disease that can overtake .
plant-chlorosis. or the lack OF color
ing matter. This disease in all ita es-
sentials is very similar In anemia in
the human being. Chlorosis is an OBJ
scure disease. but in most cases it ap-
pears TO be caused by lack OF iron.
without iron the human blood ia not
red nor are plant granules green. Gen
orally the seedlings attacked by tho
disease die out very early. but some
times sickly Whitish leayed specimens
nj ri,r pla n lany for n liffla whIla Tha