174 Journal of the Mitchell Society [February 



Consequently, the physiological value can be determined in 

 the present state of our knowledge only by long continued ob- 

 servations of the reactions of the feed on animals." 



In designing a complete ration for man one finds that the 

 food elements fall naturally into three great groups, or classes : 

 The proteins, carbo-hydrates and fats, and inseparably asso' 

 ciated with them, the inorganic salts or ash of the food. Of 

 these various constituents, the only dispensible one is the 

 fats. One cannot indefinitely omit the carbo-hydrates por- 

 tion without serious pathological consequences, and, even- 

 tually, death. Though the fats are a normal and 



important portion of the daily food intake of all classes 

 of men, they are, theoretically, dispensible and practi- 

 cally, can be less regarded than any other constituent. 

 As regards the mineral portion, or the inorganic elements, there 

 are certain chemical elements like sodium, potassium, chlorine, 

 sulphuric acid, the phosphates, etc., which could be considerably 

 reduced, but as a whole class of bodies they are fundamentally 

 and absolutely indispensable. 



Generally speaking, there are as many dietaries as there 

 are kinds and races of men. For example: There is the 

 diet of the Japanese coolie, the peasant of Europe, 

 the soldiers of the various armies, the American col- 

 lege man, the American athletes, European and American vege- 

 tarians, California fruitarians, et cetra, to infinity. All are 

 living, all are active and healthy, and no one of them has fallen 

 into any special classification of greater activity of mind or 

 body, nor of greater life period. Each of these classes has been 

 the subject of special study during long periods and more or less 

 standards of diet have been the results. The standards of the 

 various armies and classes of people of the world, have con- 

 tained a fuel value ranging from 3000 to 5000 calories, and 

 a protein allotment of from 30 to 180 grams, daily. Dr. Arnold, 

 in his recent Atlantic City address, suggested the establishment 

 of four standard diets for hospitals. He recommended the 

 proportion of 100 grams protein, 80 grams fats and 300 grams 

 of carbo-hydrates, and that these be arranged in such quantity 



