NUTRITION 103 



a large part of the prevention, even of infectious diseases, is dependent 

 upon physical stamina, which in turn is partially dependent upon nutri- 

 tion. The medical profession, because of this public attitude, is made up 

 of trouble-shooters." I suggest that this is a reasonable criticism, both of 

 the public and of very many, and perhaps a majority, of the members of 

 my profession. Well people have not taken to the idea, said to have been 

 prevalent in China, of paying doctors to keep them well and I think it is 

 true that the average doctor in the private practice of medicine is not 

 conspicuous for social-mindedness. However, there are thousands of ex- 

 ceptions. It must not be forgotten that promotion of most of our health 

 legislation has been effected largely through the efforts of organized 

 medicine. 



The task which today confronts those of us who are interested in the 

 public health differs in many respects from that which was accomplished 

 so successfully by our fathers and grandfathers. It was possible to provide 

 by legislation for protection against infectious disease and the number of 

 people that needed to be educated about sanitation were relatively few. In 

 matters pertaining to diet, legislation can help much less and progress 

 must depend on universal education. Unfortunately, most people will 

 never read "Man, Bread and Destiny" or Sherman's monograph on "The 

 Chemistry of Food and Nutrition," or any of the many other authorita- 

 tive treatises available on the subject of nutrition. Most people, I am sad 

 to say, cannot even distinguish between authority and quackery. Most of 

 them, so long as we retain the present system of economics, will get most 

 of what information they ever receive from commercial advertising, which 

 by its very nature cannot be disinterested. 



To meet the problem of mass education in matters of nutrition, the 

 Council on Foods was organized. At first it was called the "Committee 

 on Foods of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American 

 Medical Association." The pages of popular magazines and newspapers 

 were filled with advertisements of food products. The growers, producers 

 and distributors of such products had learned the value of the health appeal. 

 Great campaigns were promoted by co-operative organizations in favor 

 of meat, of flour, of vegetables and other natural foods, as well as of 

 packaged and prepared foods, with or without additions of minerals and 

 vitamins. Copywriters were especially alert to dramatize the interest in 

 vitamins, but proteins also received attention, as well as calories "for 

 energy" iodin to "prevent goiter," iron to "combat anemia" and other 

 minerals for other purposes. It seemed that some authoritative body was 

 needed which could pass judgment on food products and food advertising 

 in the same way that the Association's Council on Pharmacy and Chem- 

 istry had functioned so effectively in the field of drugs, and that thereby 

 the mass education effected by advertising could be guided so that truth- 

 ful information would be disseminated. The power of advertising is ter- 



