The guardian., 1940-02-17

The PEOPLES HEALTH
By Samuel 9. Pavlo, MD.
MILK AS A FOOD


Schools" quoting DR.. James A. keenan,,
school physician, to the effect that free
milk should be given to school children
who are underweight. Incidentally, he
found that 10 percent of the school
children are undernourished. At the
same time, according to the above news
papers, a number of Civic organiza-
tions in Boston, including the LaboTs
Non-Partisan League, were planning to
hold a protest meeting against raising
the price of milk. 1t would seem that
people are beginning to realize how
important a factor milk is in our diet
and how essential it is in the children's
menu.
Because milk is the most easily di-
gested food it is widely used and pres
cribed by physicians to people of all
ages and in most illnesses. 1t has the
most important elements for tissue
growth, repair and energy. Even a
superficial analysis of the composition
of milk will explain this.
Sc percent of milk is water, one of
the greatest life factors in nature. Milk
contains about 4 percent of protein, a
substance which is used by nature for
growth, muscle and repair Of the body.
Without protein a child could not
grow What is still more important,
the protein in milk is easily digestible.
Infants bear witness to this.
There is about four percent of sugar
in milk. Sugar gives heat to the body
and energy to play. Without energy
the child would become inactive, phleg-
matte and sleepy. He would not exer-
else, his circulation would become poor
and growth would be retarded. In
stead of grown up healthy men and
women, the human race would become
feeble, small, dwarfy. The fat (cream)
in the milk plays the same role as
sugar. The amount Of it in the milk
is about the same as sugar, depending
upon the richness of the milk. A rich
milk has more fat (cream) and un-
scrupulous concerns not infrequently
remove some of the cream in violation
of the law
Milk contains two important min
erals for building of bones and teeth
calcium and phosphorus. Without
these minerals the bones are not solid,
they are cartilagenous. They are soft,
bend and break with the slightest effort.
The teeth are soft and decay easily.
One can readily see what an important
function milk performs to the young
sters, whose growth depends so much
on these minerals.
Medical science has lately discovered
a number of vitamins in different foods
and has shown how important these
are for the well being of the individual.
While I can not at this time go into a
complete discussion of vitamin values,
1 shall cite only few functions of one
of them,-vitamin A-which milk con-
tains in abundance.
1t was shown that a deficiency in
vitamin A will result in:
l. Failure to Gain Weight. Young
rats were fed with food lacking in vita
min A. Their skeletal growth was
normal, but they failed to gain weight.
1t is now well accepted among scien-
fists that vitamin A has a specific
growth promoting element.
2. Disorders of Skin and Mucous
Membrane. The skin and mucous mem
branes become dry and easily infected.
3. Infamatory Eye Conditions. The
eyes become infamed and tear easily.
Ulcers form in the eyes and impair
ment of vision follows.
4. Night Blindness. The persons
vision becomes poor in dim light and
some are practically blind at night.
5. Susceptibility to Infection. 1t
was proven that animals who are fed
with food lacking vitamin A are af-
fiicted with assesses, develp sinuse
trouble and become easy prey to nose,
ear, throat and respiratory infections.
The same manifestations are found in
men whose food lacks in vitamin A.
Milk contains fair amount of vita
min A, B, and G so essential for growth
and health!
One quart a milk daily for a child,
the same amount for a pregnant woman
and pint for adults should be the
regular requirement of balanced diet.