SYNTHETIC VITAMINS — MAJOR 



275 



Fortunately for the enrichment program and also for our Jewish 

 friends, it was determined to be kosher. 



Some may wonder why an effort is being made to enrich white 

 flour rather than to encourage more widespread use of whole wheat 

 flour. That is too long a story to discuss here, but the following 

 quotation from Oscar Wilde's "De Profundis" may prove interesting. 

 In describing a man who had been in jail for some time, he wrote: 



Some six weeks ago I was allowed by the doctor to have white bread to eat 

 instead of the coarse black or brown bread of ordinary prison fare. It is a 

 great delicacy. It will sound strange that dry bread could possibly be a delicacy 

 to anyone. To me it is so much so that at the close of each meal I carefully 

 eat whatever crumbs may be left on my tin plate. 



IS34 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 



FiGDBE 1. — Vitamin C. 



The Army and Navy have specified that the bread baked for the 

 soldiers and sailors must all be enriched. South Carolina has re- 

 cently passed a law that requires the enrichment of all white flour 

 used in the state. 



Vitamin Bi became available only in very recent years. Figure 2 

 illustrates the remarkable decrease in price that has occurred as the 

 use of vitamin Bi has grown. In 1935 when natural vitamin Bi be- 

 came available, it cost about $300 per gram. In 1937 when the syn- 

 thetic vitamin was first sold, the price dropped to $7.50. The drop 

 has continued until it is now being sold for $0.53 per gram. It is 

 reliably stated vitamin Bi will soon be made in this country at the 

 rate of 25 to 30 tons annually. 



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