Evening star., 1941-12-22
ScurvyCanBe
Very Serious
Vitamin c. in Diet
Will Ward Off
The Disease
Bv Leffice Lee Street,

II y LSttJNC LtC obt
In the long ago, before scientists
discovered those minute constitu-
ents of food called vitamins, chill
dren and adults alike not uncom-
monty suffered from certain painful
deficiency diseases. This type OF
illness is directly due to an insuffi-
cient and unbalanced diet, and one
of them is called scurvy. Fortu-
nately, this malady is no longer
common in this country, and 1t Is
seldom seen among educated peoples
who have learned which are the
proper foods to eat to maintain
health.
The popularly named American
breakfast" which consists of orange
Juice. egg, toast and coffee, Is one Of
the most wholesome habits of our
country because vitamin G. which
prevents scurvy, is found in orange
Juice, as well as in other fresh fruits
and green vegetables.
Scurvy can be a very serious con-
dition. child suffering from it in
the advanced state will show these
symptoms, among others: Peevlsh-
ness, fixed eyeballs, restlessneSs,
sleeplessness, loss Of appetite. color
and muscle tone, the arms and legs
NAV become swollen and show dark,
bruiselike spots and there is tend
ency for the gums and nose to bleed,
as we'll as the skin. The pain Is
considerable, and an afflicted infant
will hardly move about at all but
will lie rigidly, moaning with dis
comfort.
Early symptoms include fretful-
ness, loss of appetite and the baby
will look psllid. If mother OBJ
serves such signs in her infant she
should report them to her doctor at
once, and if he finds that scurvy Is
indicated he will order additional
orange and tomato juice to be given
at stated intervals during the day in
considerably larger quantities. Re-
sponse to proper treatment Is al
most immediate, and mother need
have no fear that scurvy will return
so long as her child eats the correct
foods daily.
In the classified food table that
we have prepared for you you may
see at a glance which foods are
high in vitamin c. If you hang
this chart in your kitchen it will not
only suggest a variety of foods to
you from which to arrange your
menus but also by consulting 1t you
may plan balanced meals for your
entire family. You, yourself, need
vitamin C. Some doctors believe
that the occasional aches and pains
that adults feel may be due to a
vitamin c deficiency, and in fact
they may even indicate slight
form of scurvy. Congenital scurvy
may occur If the expectant mother
does not receive a sufficient guam
tity of this vitamin during her preg-
nancy.
Young babies who have not been
given additional foods, particularly
orange Juice, will be apt to show
signs Of scurvy between the 9th
and 18th months This dangerous
and painful disease may absolutely
be prevented If mothers will follow
the instructions about feeding their
babies given to them by their doc
tors.
Some mothers may believe that II
baby drinks milk that he will be
getting enough vitamin c, particu-
larly If he is breast fed. This is
erroneous because although moth
er's milk does contain this vitamin
it is not in sufficient quantities. A
cows milk formula contains even
less than mothers milk because
the vitamin c content found in it is
notably diminished when the milk
Is heated.
We have compiled q CLASSI-
FLED FOOD TABLE Of Average
Foods Suitable for Young Chill
dren which will be sent to YOU
upon request sent TO the Wcm-
ans Department, care Of The
Evening Star. Inclose your ad-
dress and . Sc stamp.