The Washington times., 1935-11-30
nerica Are Demanding Different Elements in Fashions
Health
Infants Need
Vitan7in D

By LOGAN CLENDENING, M D.
The chemical substance known
as Vitamin D Is absolutely neces-
sary for the health Of babies and
children.
We obtain most Of the vitamins
in our food. Yesterday we spoke
of the lack Of Vitamin D in CON-
mon foods, especially in the win
ter time, and the problem re-
quires a little further considera-
ton and planning on the part Of
parents.
Whether adults need Vitamin
D or not is q question. But there
is no question that the growing
organism in infancy and child.
hood does need it. It's function
in the body is to assist In the
growth Of the bones and teeth by
helping the deposit Of calcium
and phosphorus, of which these
structures are mainly composed.
Main Source
II the supply Of Vitamin D
fails there is no doubt that a dis
ease Of the bones called "rickets"
will result. Under circumstances
in which Vitamin D is not sup
piled to the body, "rickets" appears
in the spring months, following
at the end Of the winter period
Of inadequate supply.
Sunlight produces Vitamin D
in the body and this is the main
source Of the body's stores. 1t is
natural that in summer, with the
large proportionate amount Of
sunlight, the bunkers Of the body
should be well filled. 1t is also
natural that in the winter, with
the short days, as well as the
cloudy days, the amount Of ex.
posure to sunlight is necessarily
cut down, which calls for supply
from a different source.
1t was an early observation that
the children Of races with dark
skins suffered from ricketS more
than their light-Skinned brethren,
because the pigment in the skin
filtered the sun ray out. It have
been told by q physician who
visited South and Central Ameri-
can countries that in spite Of the
amount of sunshine which they
enjoy all the year round, it was
easy to spot ricketts, frequently in
children of that darker skinned
race.
The only sensible thing to do,
therefore, is to give the baby q
proper supply Of Vitamin D in the
form Of cod liver oil or other fish
liver, such as halibut or salmon.
These preparations are obtainable
everywhere through druggists, and
are carefully tested by the manu-
facturer before being put on sale
to prove the Vitamin D potency
Of the preparation.
This is old advice, but ap-
parently has to be repeated fire.
quently.
Increase Dose
Uu-to-date physicians instruct
mothers nowadays to add cod
liver oil to the baby's regular
feeding at q very early age. A
mother who regularly exposes her
skin to sunlight in the open air
will probably have Vitamin D
in her milk, but even this may
fail in the winter, because so
small a part of the skin is ever
exposed to sunlight.
The objection that large
amounts of cod liver oil impair
the appetite, cause vomiting or
nausea, or for any reason are
not well tolerated, can hardly be
valid when the use is confined
to one dose a day, which is
probably sufficient. or the use of
the concentrate which is Suffi-
cent in 5 to 10 drop doses.
At the age of one month Is
drops a day of cod liver oil is
the dose. This must be gradu-
ally increased until at the age of
three months 11a teaspoons are
taken.
Editors note: Six pamphlets by
DR.. Clendening can now be OBJ
tanned by sending 10 cents in
coin, for each, and a Self-ad-
dressed envelope stamped with a
three-cent stamp, to DR.. Logan
Clendening, in care of this paper.
The pamphlets are: indigestion
and Constipation" Reducing
and Gaining" Infant Feeding"
Instructions for the Treatment
Of Diabetes" Feminine Hygi-
enc" and THE Care of the Hair
and Skin"