210 Kansas Academy of Science. 



cow's milk and human milk calculated on the same dry basis as the 

 proprietary foods. In the physiological fu'el value, the results are ex- 

 pressed in large calories per 100 grams of the sample. The factors used 

 were fat 9, protein 4, and carbohydrates 4, these being the physiological 

 fuel values of food constituents. The nutritive ratio is, according to 

 Sherman's formula : 



Carbohydrates + 2 ^4 X (fat) 



proteins 



In studying this chart one cannot help but realize that the only known 

 substitute for human milk in this country is cow's milk, especially in its 

 physiological fuel value. Dr. Joseph W. Schereschewsky, formerly of the 

 United States Public Health Service, "says that cow's milk is the only 

 food supply, apart from mother's milk, that is available in this country, 

 from a practical standpoint, for the nourishment of infants under one 

 year of age. 



In a study of the analyses of these proprietary foods as listed, and 

 as analyzed by American, Canadian and English chemists, the objection 

 to the nonstarchy proprietary baby foods is that they are either deficient 

 in fat or in available salts or mineral matter, or both. The objection to 

 the others is that they contain too much starch. Stewart says that the 

 frequent connection between rickets and deficiency in fat is an un- 

 deniable clinical fact. Doctor Schereschewsky says that the proprietary 

 infant foods and condensed milk, which are anything but rich in fat and 

 available mineral matter, are themselves the most prolific causes of 

 infantile scurvy. Cantley's conclusions in regard to proprietary baby 

 foods which contain a high per cent of starch are that, first, a diastasic 

 ferment is secreted by the salivary glands and pancreas of new-born 

 infants; this salivary secretion, however, is scanty in young infants and 

 rarely appreciable before the age of two months. Second, barley water 

 contains about 2 per cent of starch; mixtures containing this per cent of 

 starch are not injurious, but may be beneficial for the growth of lactic 

 acid bacilli, and the formation of lactic acid bacilli are thereby en- 

 couraged. These organisms are of undoubted advantage in the pre- 

 vention of the growth of proteolytic bacteria. Third, the evil-effects 

 of starch in early life are due to, (a) excess, (6) its administration in 

 the form of a more or less insoluble emulsion instead of a soluble starch, 

 (c) the substitution of starch for the necessary protein, fat and salts. 

 From Cantley's conclusions it is self-evident that the majority of pro- 

 prietary foods for infants which contain large amounts of starch, even 

 when they are diluted for use, are harmful. From various analyses of 

 American, English and Canadian analysts, the following contain great 

 excesses of starch : 



