Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-29
DR.. ALEXANDER 3. ARTHUR

NUTRITION, both from the standpoint
~ of present welfare and the future of the
race, is one of the most important and
least understood subjects that concern the
average person, according to DR.. Alexander
b. Arthur, director of the nutrition class
Of the Children's Homeopathic Hospital.
'In a day when we try to save and i'm
prove every life, no matter how humble,
said DR.. Arthur, ''it is vital that we at least
have every child possible in a normal.
healthy condition.
"A clinic like that at the Children's
Homeopathic Hospital undertakes that
problem and makes it possible for many
children to grow to splendid manhood or
womanhood who would otherwise be handi-
capped by mental or physical defects or
suCCumb TO the ravages of tuberculosis or
other diseases which, If discovered in the
incipient stage, could have been cured.
Environment y Important
1.-THE question of environment is an i'm
portant one in considering the case OF the
under nourished child. Cleanliness of mind
and body, both in the child and its en-
yironment Is vital thing. In fact. one
cannot stress too strongly the psychology of
the clean mind. More than casual OBJ
very big part in It's effect on the child's
digestive apparatus. its disposition and other
elements that GO to affect the question of
taking nOurishmcnt.
Right at the start, In the infancy Of
the child, many mothers make vital mis-
takes through ignorance, indifference or
lack of realization Of their responsibilities
and obligations.
Thus in recent years there has been
tendency on the part of mothers to get away
from the task of feeding the infant them.
selves. Nothing really takes the place Of
.the mothers nursing in the early months
of the child's life, yet because of disinclina-
tiOn to give the time and attention to this
highly important detail many mothers leave
this matter to be solved by milk ,prepara-
tions or dilutiOnS or prepared foods.
Even as it is, they generally make the
mistake of over feeding, and consequently
under -nOurishing the child ! have never
personally seen a starved child. but have
seen untold numbers dying of starvation be-
cause the stomach and intestines. unable to
digest the excessive amount of food, nour-
iShing or otherwise, ingested, rebel and
empty themselves as fast as the irritating
foods are forced into them.
Has Effect Upon Future
"One thing that must be remembered is
the fact that the child Is father of the
man As it grows to maturity its whole
status will probably be affected by the
months. Future generations in turn will
be affected, and SO the whole question Of
race development is at stake.
1--WE have n tendency to 60 in for eff =
cheney, to regulate our lives on Il machine
like basis, which is well enough except that
we must remember that we are human beings
and are always likely to manifest that fact
So when we go in to regulate the diet of
children we must bear that fact In mind and
try first 10 win their confidence. The child
very often will not obey its parent in these
matters, because the parent has often been
wrong, the child senses 1t and has lost that
confidence so essential to proper response.
"As It Is, our lives are so artificial that
il Is difficult to lay out any system Of diet =
ing or feeding that will be likely to be per-
fecty applied. Generally speaking light
breakfast, fairly good lunch and not too
large dinner in the evening would be ideal
| They should also be at regular hours with
| rest periods, especially after the two latter
| meals. But as this Is impossible in the
lives Of many of us, we amble along as best
we may, which in some cases is not good
We would all be better off physically il it
were possible to return to the simple life
Put TO return to the subject of the child.
While we handle them in groups, It must be
| remembered that no two are alike, and indi
| vdual treatment is necessary.
"The success OF tho nutrition work de
pends largely on the worker. We are for
! tunate in having one of appealing per-
| RonalItv TO children, one who is. moreover.
| and her subject we'll Mrs Ethel Shaw She
| post graduate of the Lying In Hospital OF
| New York.
| when the children enter the hospital
age and weight arc taken and their normal