The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
PELLAGRA PREvENTION


A FAULTY or restricted diet at this
season of the year is the chief factor
IN the production of pellagra Mea-
sures to prevent the development of
the disease should be instituted dur
ing the early spring months, accord
ing to circular of information issued
recently by the United States public
health service. While the manifesto
tons of pellaSra are in most cases not
IN evidence until June or July the COLI
dltion invariably dates from a faulty
diet of earlier months. Therefore, if
due precautions are exercised by in
dividuals at the present time the havoc
wrought by this scourge may be great
ly lessened, if not entirely eliminated.
The report further calls attention to
certain danger signals which should be
recognized by those who reside in
pellagrous districts or those who have
had previous attacks of the disease.
Among such warning symptoms are
extreme nervousness or change in the
mental characteristics of the indi-
viduaI Weakness or debility, a disin-
clination to undertake the ordinary
daily tasks, and unexplained digestive
symptoms may all be premonitory
signs. These symptoms do not, of
course, necessarily mean the develop
ment of pellagra, but taken in connec-
ton with the history of a one-sided,
monotonous diet, they serve as a
definite warning of the possibilities of
its onset. The diet recommended by
the health service for the prevention
of peliagra will not produce results if
followed for. week or ten days only,
but if conscientiously and consistently
used, under circumstances similar to
it's administration in the various in
situations where the experimental
tests have been performed, it will pro-
tect the individual against the devel-
opment of the disease. Necessarily, a
rigid UNMARRIED diet is wholly undesir
able and the menu recommended s
only to indicate in a general way the
character of the food to be prescribed.
The breakfast, for example, should
consist of oatmeal and cream, with
out sugar, with either ham or break
fast bacon and two eggs. Not more
than two thin slices of whole wheat
bread should be taken, preferably I'M
toasted. Hot bread or biscuits are in
advisable. A glass of fresh milk is
to accompany the breakfast and either
oranges or grapefruit may be the
initial course The dinner should con-
sist of either pea or bean soup, pre-
pared from dried peas or beans, with
a meat stock. The meat may be beef,
pork, ham, chicken, veal or mutton,
prepared in whatever manner is the
most appetizing, preference being CIV
en- to roasting or broiling rather than
frying. Hamburger steak, meat hash
or fish may be substituted to afford
variety. Care should be exercised hat
the meats are not overdone. OF eg-
etables, Irish potatoes, boiled in the
jacket or baked, cabbage, turnip or
mustard green's, collards and lettuce
are to be recommended. For dessert,
stewed. fresh or dried fruit will prove
sufficient The dinner should be ac-
companied by not more than two thin
slices of whole wheat bread and a
glass of buttermilk. The supper
should consist of pork and beans, or
baked beans properly seasoned, the
usual amount of bread and a glass of
buttermilk. If p eferred. eggs, scram-
bled or otherwise prepared, may be
substituted for the more substantial
| ingredient of the meal. A diet such
as the above is not prohibitive as to
cost, at least to but few of the resi-
dents of the country, affords a suffi-
J cient number of heat units, if taken
in reasonable quantity and will eff
fectually prevent the development of
disease which alone caused 5000
deaths in the United States during tn
past year