The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-03-13
WAR DIET CUTS
DOWN FAT men
Adipose Partisan More Normal as
Result of Rationing.
Simpler Life and Curtailment o.
Drink Having Beneficial Effect
Forcing People to Walk More
Causes Improvement In Health
Deaths From tuberculosis Decreas
ing, According to Statistics.

1
Deaths From tuberculosis Decreas.
ing, According to Statistics.
1t took war and restriction In the
! consumption of food to demonstrate
that Paris was too fat and ate too
much, writes Milton v. Snyder in the
New York Sun. That formerly II
! pampered its stomach to such an ex-
tent that isS health was affected and
its death rate swollen is shown by the
| figures published in the Weekly Bull
letin of Municipal Statistics. Un-
doubtedly the same conditions apply to
all France, TO lesser degree, however,
as the provinces have not been as
greatly affected by restrictions on
meat and flour, being nearer the
sources of production. But the health
of the capital has distinctly improved
under the war regulations affecting
diet and habits of life.
The figures In the Bulletin are Of
fetal and show that for the month of
June the deaths in Paris numbered
505, compared with an average of 9O3
for July, 562, compared with SIS; for
August, $50, compared with 706; for
September, 5S7, compared with 68S.
In the winter the number OF deaths
will more nearly approach the aver
age, owing to winter maladies which
are less affected by food conditions.
Population Not Decreased.
| ha
diately: Does not this decrease In the
, total number of deaths simply mean
that Paris now has fewer people? The
municipal statistical service, although
an exact census of the actual pOpula-
tion of Paris, fixed and floating, is i'm
possible, says no, for the following rea-
sons: First, in the FIVE preceding years
from which the average figures were
J computed there were two and half
years of war; second, in place of the
men gone to the front Paris now has
thousands of refugees, foreigners and
workmen from the provinces. Be
sides, the men sent to the front repre-
sent the healthiest portion Of the popu-
lation, while the proportion of those
|
and old persons, to say nothing Of ref
ugees, often much weakened, has been
increased.
There are also certain restrictions
not of an alimentary nature that must
be considered in accounting for the
betterment of the general health. The
decrease in means Of locomotion, fe"-
H. N,-g, nKrtn
i buses and street cars has made peo-
pie walk more. The reduction In
a street lighting and the closing Of the
s restaurants and cafes at $50 have
o been responsible for more home life,
e which means that much less time spent
Y in cafes, theaters and less going out
!. at night, consequently to other places
: which with some persons leads to al
: coholic excesses and for others offers
: numerous chances of contracting con-
e tagious diseases such as grippe and
: pneumonia.
j, More Daylight Benefit
d Finally the putting back Of the clock
one hour during more than half Of the
: year has he'd the most beneficial ef-
: fects. People have stayed longer out
6 In the sunlight-the great purifier OF
o the air of cities and the destroyer OF
noxious germs, which work best In
shadow and darkness.
The direct results of the food re-
strictions, which have affected nearlS
Y every one, were due to the following
causes: The rise In the price of
y cOmestibles, the decrease in the con-
sumption of bread. principally because
Q the first war bread was unpalatable,
!. and the rationing of sugar, meat and
fish.
A curious effect, visible to every one,
. was that many people grew thinner.
p Outside Of the general decrease In the
usual amount of food because Of In.
creased cost this loss Of fat can be
e logically attributed to the lessened
y consumption Of the foodstuffs which
= are the principal factors In putting on
fat-bread and sugar and pastry,
which last unites the combined effects
Of sugar and flour. This loss Of fat
will benefit the health of a city, as
those thus affected compose that part
Of the population which each year fur
nishes the greatest percentage OF
deaths attributed to diabetes, arterio
!. sclerosis, heart and kidney troubles.
r Plenty Of Food for All.
o At the same time there Is plenty OF
s food for all, the only hardships i'm.
a posed by the restrictions being felt by
e persons In delicate health who are de.
l. prived Of delicacies. Persons with nor
: NAL appetites are not affected by the
q restrictions. The general result has
\ been an Improvement i9 the general
health. .----- -