Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-04-07
PELLAGRA PREVENTION.

A faulty or restricted diet at this
season of the year is the chief factor
in the production of pellagra. Meas
ures to prevent the development of
the dease should be instituted during
the early spring months, according
to circular of information issued
today, by the United States Public
Health Service. While the manifesto
tons of pellagra are in most cases
not IN evidence until June or july.
the condition invariably dates from
a faulty diet of earlier months. There
fore, If due precautions are exer-
clsed by individuals at the present
time the havoc by this scourgc NAV
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 re-
side in pellagrous districts or those
who have had previous attacks of
the disease. Among such warnings
symptoms are extreme nervousness
or change in the mental character
istics of the individual Weakness or
debility, n Discrimination to under
take the ordinary daily tasks, and UNI
explained digestive symptoms may
all be premonitory signs. These sym
toms do not, Of course, necessarily
mean the development Of pellagra, but
taken i'll connection with the history
of n one-sided, monotonous, diet, they
serve as definite warning of the
possibilities of it's onset.
Spring Diet.
The diet recommended by the health
service for the prevention of pellagra
will not produce results if followed
for week or ten days only, but if
continuously and consistently used,
under circumstances similar to it's adj
mlnistration in various institutions
where the experimental tests have
been performed, it will protect the
Individual against the development of
The disease. Necessarily, rigid I'M
varied diet is wholly undesirable and
and the menu recommended is only TO
indicate in general way the charac-
ter of food to be prescribed Ere
quently the element of poverty. mac
feasibility to market supplies, or even
personal idiosyncrasy, may require
some modification Of the diet table. SO
that strict adherence to it's compon-
cntS may not in all respects be prac-
ticable. The object of diet as submit
ted is to minimize the consumption of
the -hydrate (starchy and sweet)
foods and to increase the amount of
fresh animal protein and fresh lc-
gumes (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 egs. Not more
than two slices of whole wheat bread
should be taken, preferably untoast-
ed. Hot bread or biscuits are inadvis-
able. A glass of fresh milk is to ac-
company breakfast and either oranges
or grapefruit NAV be the initial
course. The dinner should consist OF
either pea or bean soup, prepared
from dried peas or beans, with n
meat stock. Tht meat may be beef.
pork, ham, chicken, veal or mutton.
prepared in whatever manner is the
most appetizing, preference being
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 overdone. OF
vegetables, Irish potatoes, boiled in
the jacket or baked, cabbage, turnip
or mustard greens, collartls and let
tuce, are to be recommended For
dessert, stewed, fresh or dried fruit
will be sufficient. The dinner
should be accompanied by not more
than two slices of whole wheat bread
and glass of buttermilk The sup
per should consist of pork and beans,
or baked beans properly seasoned,
the usual amount of bread and glass
of buttermilk. If preferred, eggs,
scrambled or otherwis prepared,
may be substituted for the more sub
stantial ingredient of the meal
Diet Cheap and Ample.
A diet such as the above is not
prohibitivc as to cost, at least to
but few of the residents of the coun-
try, affords n sufficient number of
heat units, if taken in reasonable
quantity, and will effectually prevent
the development of disease which
alone caused 5000 deaths in the Unit
ed States during the past year.