348 Singing Valleys 



better fed for the task they were engaged upon than if they 

 had stuffed themselves with beef, chile, and baccalao. 



A supply of carbohydrate is essential to the diet. It is na- 

 ture's insurance against fatigue and exhaustion from prolonged 

 physical effort. More than 65 percent of the total calories we 

 require to maintain life are supplied by the oxidation of 

 carbohydrate. The surplus of this energy food is stored as fat, 

 giving the body a corn-fed contour; which brings us back to 

 the premise that Nature seems to have made corn for a people 

 she expected to do things. 



Corn is low in protein. Also it lacks several of the important 

 amino acids. But the oil in its germ is the richest known source 

 of vitamin F lineolic acid equivalent to linoleic acid. This 

 vitamin, which is also found in lard, in eggs and in linseed 

 oil, is essential for cell respiration, secretion of insulin and the 

 proper development of the skin and hair. It is a precious 

 constituent of breast milk, which is lacking in cow's milk. 

 Hence the value of corn oil as a food for some infants. 



Glucose, which is corn syrup, and dextrose are used in medi- 

 cine to supply immediate energy to the body. It is the dextrose 

 in orange juice and in all other ripe fruits which makes these 

 foods refreshing when you are tired. Dextrose, being pre- 

 digested sugar, is available to the blood stream at once. This 

 gives it its medicinal value. A five-pound baby boy was de- 

 livered by a Caesarean operation eight minutes after his 

 mother had died. After administration of oxygen, the child 

 was fed dextrose solution through a medicine dropper for 

 twenty-four hours. At the end of that time he was ready to take 

 breast milk. Ten days later he was put on a formula of cow's 

 milk and corn oil. 



This young American literally owes his life to corn. 



In view of these facts it would seem that there is little 

 likelihood that this country will ever cease to grow corn. The 

 grain has not only supplied us with our national history, it 

 promises our future. That we are aware of this, even though 

 subconsciously, was shown by the nationwide alarm when the 



