The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-03-31
PELLAGRA PREVENTION
Spring Diet Determines the Summer
Symptoms.
BY the United States
Public Health Service

BuDllc litdIlu otIN ICc
A faulty or restricted diet at this
season OF the year is the chief fac
tor in the production of pellagra.
Measures to prevent the development
of the disease should be instituted
during the early spring months, ac-
cording to a circular of information
issued today by the United States
Public Health Service. While the
manifestations of pellagra are in most
cases not in evidence until June or
July, the condition invariably dates
from a faulty diet of earlier months.
Therefore, if due precautions are eX-
ercised by individuals at the present
time. the havoc wrought by this
scourge may be greatly lessened, if
not entirely eliminated.
Danger Signals.
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 Characters
tics of the individual Weakness or
debility, disinclination to undertake
the ordinary daily tasks, and unex-
planned digestive symptoms may all
be premonitory signs. These symp-
toms do not, of course, necessarily
mean the development of pellagra,
| but take in connection with the his
| tory of a onesided, monotonous diet,
they serve as a definite warning of
the possibilities of its onset.
Spring Diet.
The diet recommended by the
health service for the prevention of
pellagra will not produce results if
| followed for a week or ten days only.
but if continuously and consistently
used, under circumstances similar to
its administration in the various in
| stitutions where the experimental
tests have been performed, it will
protect the individual against the de-
| velopment of the disease. Necessar-
| lily, a rigid. UNMARRIED diet is wholly
undesirable and the menu recon-
mended is only to indicate in a gem
eral way the character of the food to
be prescribed. Frequently tho ele-
ment of poverty, inaccessibill'v to
market supplies, or even personal id'o'
syncrasy, may require some modiiica-
! ton of the diet table, so that strict
adherence to its componentS may not
! in all respects be practicable. The
object of the diet as submitted is to
minimize the consumption o. the car
: bo-hydrate Cstarchy and sweet foods
and to increase the amount of fresh
animal protein and of fresh legumes
! (peas and beans).
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
untoasted. Hot bread or biscuits are
inadvisable. A glass of fresh mix
is to accompany the breakfast and
either oranges or grape fruit may be
the initial course. The dinner should
consist of either pea or bean soup
prepared from dried peas or beans
!. with a meat stock. The meat may
be beef, pork, ham, chicken, veal OF
mutton. prepared in whatever man
ner is the most appetizing, preference
being given to roasting or broiling
rather than frying. Hamburger steak
meat hash, or fish may be substituted
TO afford variety care should be
exercised that the meats are not over
done. OF vegetables. Irish potatoes
boiled in the jacket or baked, CAP
haze turnip or mustard greens, col
lards and lettuce, are to be recon
mended. For dessert, stewed, fresI
or dried fruit will prove sufficient
The dinner should be accompanied
by not more than two thin slices o.
whole wheat bread and a glass o
buttermilk. The supper should con
sist of pork and beans, or baKeC