DAIRY MEETING. 165 



will consider it a favor bestowed upon themselves to be allowed 

 to incorporate this work into their yearly program. 



The topic for this evening is "An Essential to Well-Being." 

 Possibly some of you have been puzzling over the problem as 

 to which essential was to be singled out. It is true there are 

 a number. Even in the field of domestic science or home 

 economics there are many. Still, one seems to be paramount, 

 to be of vital importance to each and every person. It is the 

 subject of food. It is a large topic, and far too comprehensive 

 to be considered in one evening, even one phase of it. There- 

 fore we will take a bird's-eye view of it addressed to some 

 points that will stand out with great vividness. 



Let us deal with this subject under three heads. First, food 

 principles and their significance, second, the cost of food, and 

 third, the preservation of this food after it has been purchased. 



First, as to the food principles. Dr. Langworth of the 

 United States Department has recently published 15 food charts 

 which are a wondetful aid in the study of the subject. These 

 charts will be shown later on. 



To develop this subject in a logical manner we should begin 

 with the constituents of the food. What are its component 

 parts? The chemists have determined that there are between 

 15 and 20 elements that comprise the body, and those 15 or 20 

 elements are found in the foods that man commonly uses. The 

 principal elements are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. 

 Then, besides these four constituents, we find sulphur to be a 

 very important element, and phosphorus, the sixth being found 

 the most important of the food principles. Nature has shown 

 how well she provides for man's benefit as these same elements 

 that are required in the body are found in the common foods 

 that we prepare each day. 



To speak briefly about some of these elements, we know that 

 oxygen is present in the air. It is also present in water, form- 

 ing the principal part, and in the earth's crust, as well. We 

 find that it is necessary in the body for the production of heat, 

 just as it is necessary outside the body for the production of 

 heat. With regard to carbon, that is contained in all living 

 things. It is burned in the body to produce heat and energy. 

 Hydrogen is another constituent that we find in the air to a great 

 extent. It is also another constituent of water; we have the 



