486 SYMPOSIUM ON FOOD PROBLEMS 



both physically and intellectually, with no obvious reduction in 

 stamina. No words can express their exact condition at the end of 

 these tests so clearly as a short section of motion-picture film, show- 

 ing the general agihty, spirit, and physical ability of these men. 



The great objection to making practical deductions from labora- 

 tory experiments is usually that such researches are carried out on 

 the lower animals, or if men are studied but one or at the most two 

 men are used. With a group of twenty-five men, such as was 

 studied in this research, one is justified, if ever, in drawing deduc- 

 tions or making recommendations. In addition to the fact that we 

 have experimental evidence based upon twenty-five men from which 

 to draw conclusions, we have also the fact that this is a period of 

 stress, a period of innovation, a period for trial, for experimenta- 

 tion, for " taking chances," if you will. These combined factors 

 are based, first, upon the large human experience of enforced diet 

 restriction in Germany, second, upon the psychological set of the 

 patriot and, third, upon the moral obligation laid upon us all to 

 contribute to the vast project of food conservation. We cannot 

 then be charged with faddism or irrational propaganda if we are led 

 to make certain definite recommendations — recommendations that 

 admittedly we would never make in peace times and that admittedly 

 may have serious faults. These recommendations are primarily 

 a war measure. In time of peace and plenty, the physician would 

 rightly caution against an undue adjustment of the diet or funda- 

 mental alteration in dietetic habits. Still, when millions of our alhes 

 and hundreds of thousands of our own people are jeopardizing their 

 very existence, it is not the time to talk about the possible dangers 

 of moderate or even considerable changes in diet. With a large 

 number of individuals it may be of real psychological benefit to 

 realize that they may, by personal diet restrictions, introduce an 

 element of hazard into their lives, slight though it may be. No one 

 could look at those vigorous young men, carrying out their college 

 work, examinations, and physical activities in competition with their 

 classmates, and not be impressed by the fact that the danger, if any 

 exist, must be extremely distant. 



As an index to the rather remote probability of danger one 

 should be reminded that the modern treatment of severe diabetes is 



