The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-02


his column.
endeavor 10 answer q very simple
question, which is How many
American people are suffering
from vitamin deficiency
Fifteen years ago | was talking
about Eitamins to the American
public and ] had to explain what
the word meant, | realize that the
great field Of usefulness about the
vitamins is in prevention-to keep
people eating properly so that they
do not develop vitamin deficiencies.
| did not say then that many
people had vitamin deficiencies;
in all these years it was my judg-
ment that very few Americans
actually had avitaminosis.
Collects Statistics
As | say, last fall | put this 10
the test by collecting statistics
from hospitals and, with the help
of DR.. J. G. Schnedorf, by exam
lining 800 employees in an indus
trial plant. DR.. Schnedorf found
no vitamin deficiency evident after
a careful examination, which in
cluded a blood examination, in the
1900 men in this industrial plant.
And the figures that were given
me from a hospital showed that
less than 0.2qo of the patients of
the poorer class in large charity
hospital in a large city were dag
nosed as having vitamin deficiency.
Then was accused of being
against the vitamins. |, who
have been one of the oldest adher-
ents of the vitafnin theory. l was
told that Mr.. A was very depressed,
took vitamins and now is all right.
was told that the government
said forty million Americans were
suffering from vitamin deficiency.
To all my critics, l point to the ad-
dress by DR.. A. J. Carlson, Pro-
fessor Of Physiology at the Uni
versity Of Chicago, recently pub
lished.
DIR. Parran's Statement
DR.. Carlson quoted a statement
Of DR.. Thomas Parran, Chief Of
he United States Public Health
Service: Studies of family diets
by the Department Of Agriculture
in all income groups Of the nation
show that one-third Of our people
are getting food inadequate to
maintain good health and less
than one-fourth of US are getting
good diet
what are the facts?" asked DR..
Carlson. 81 have been accused of
always asking for evidence, and l
am asking for the evidence from
my distinguished friend, DR..
Thomas Parran.
"The Honorable Paul v. NC
Mutt, Administrator of the Public
Health Service, said Stamina, in
telligence, judgment, will, stabil-
ity may have their roots in vitamin
unbalanced diets, and can be
treated through clinically deter
minable doses Of synthetic vita
Minis"
Comments DR.. Carlson: at
pains me TO say that this is a
mouthful Of administrative medi-
cine and political science from a
public official trained in the law.
These are tragic things, because
it is said by government leaders in
our field. They will Brighten our
fellow citizens.
at is regrettable that a physi-
clan. with the standing and re-
sponsibilities of DR.. Thomas Par
ran, should take the absence Of
knowledge as the basis for the
statement that less than 25Ge Of
the population Of these United
States eats adequately or eats
right, when we do not even know
what is the optimum diet for man
through the changing periods of
his life"
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
R. II. T.:-"My feet perspire
so much. Please advise me what
to do"
Answer: Formalin is an excel
lent deodorant and perspiration
reducer, especially well adapted
for use on the feet. 1t is too
strong to use full strength. Put a
teaspoonful in a quart Of water
and soak the feet morning and