The Washington times., 1935-09-11

5fNS& PAONAAN Az w
aA the body are
Ur. Clendenins naturally,
first, the animal foodS-meat,
milk and eggs; vegetables, how
ever, contain protein, some
more than wheat, cer-
eals, beans, peas and nuts.
The controversy has long
ragged as to whether or not life
could be maintained on vege-
table protein alone, the vegeta-
rians contend not only that it
can, but that it is a far health
ier diet than one containing
animal protein.
Scientific Basis
A Qualification of the scien-
tific basis for these arguments
has been the work of Osborne
and Mendel and Hopkins. They
pointed out that the chemical
composition of any protein
is very complex, and consists
Of a combination Of amino
acids. In digestion the protein
is broken down, and it Is
these amino. acids that are
absorbed and utilized by the
body tissues. The various
amino-acids differ considerably
in chemical structure. Some
of them are convertible into
each other and so need not
individually be furnished by
the food proteins. But sev-
eral individual amino-acidS con-
tain chemical groupings which
the body cannot obtain from
other sources. Proteins which
contain these amino-acids are
called essential. Those which
do not contain them are "in-
complete" Gelatin and one of
the proteins of maize belong in
this group" (Sherman.)
Animal proteinS, without ex-
ception, contain the essential
groupings. Vegetable proteins,
unless carefully selected, are
much less certain to be COM
plete. Most vegetarians save
themselves from deficient
diet by using milk and eggs.
AS to just how efficient an
exclusively vegetarian diet is,
has been the subject of some
recent experiment by a Chinese
investigator, WI, at Peiping
Union Medical College. The
diet of these Chinese people
is largely vegetarian, which
fact prompted the interest of
such an investigation in that
locale.
The experimental animal was
the rat, which for nutritional
and digestive purposes closely
resembles man. What the in
vestigators wanted to deter.
mine was what effect an ex-
elusive vegetarian diet from
birth has upon successive gen.
erations. It is plain that If
an animal gets through the
first stages of life with head
start on growth from an ami.
NAL protein diet, it is impos-
Sible to calculate the effect of
his subsequent vegetarian diet.
Conclusion
The important thing that WI
and his coworkers found was
that the animals on a vegeta-
rian ration grew slower than
others. This was accentuated
in successive generations. There
was no difference in length of
life or of fertility. The general
health of the animals, even
after several generations Of vege-
table diet, was good.
These reports will probably be
received with acclaim both by
the vegetarians and the carni-
vores. The vegetarians will say
that their position that life and
good health may be maintained
on a purely vegetable diet has
been upheld. The animal fra
ternity will feel justified in say.
ing that while life on a vegeta-
BILE diet can be maintained, it is
not thoroughly satisfactory or
economic diet.
The extreme position which,
unfortunately, both sides have
defended, must be modified.
1t should be remembered that
no human vegetarian ever lives
a strictly vegetarian life from
birth. Mothers milk must Ger.
tainly still be considered a nat.
ural food.
Editors Note: Six pamphlets
by DR.. Clendening can now be
obtained by sending 10 cents
in coin, for each, and a self
addressed 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" I'm.
fant Feeding" Instructions for
the Treatment of Diabetes"
Feminine Hygiene" and "The
Care of the Hair and Shin -