420 



ISIDOR GEEE^WALD 



TABLE VIII SYMOND'S TABLE OF HEIGHT AND WEIGHT FOR WOMEN AT DIFFERENT AGES BASED ON 

 58,855 ACCEPTED APPLICANTS FOR LIFE INSURANCE 



From a study of the records of the relation of weight to height and 

 of the mortality records, Symonds concluded that, below the age of about 

 30 years, those slightly above the average weight were the more likely to 

 survive but that beyond this age those slightly under the average in weight 

 showed the greatest vitality. But the optimum was very near the average. 

 So that, apparently, the average weight of the people of this country is 

 just about the "normal" in both senses of the word. 



The relation of weight to height as calculated by Symonds is, of course, 

 a rather crude measure of the state of nutrition or "degree of fatness" 

 as Sherman calls it. Attempts have been made to devise others (Oppen- 

 heimer, Oeder) but these have not met with general acceptance. 



Conclusion 



From what has preceded, it is evident that it is impossible to fix defi- 

 nitely a "normal" diet. It is clear that its nature will depend upon 

 geographical location, economic status, degree of muscular activity, habit, 

 etc. Any diet that will maintain, or, rather, that has maintained normal 

 health for generations must be considered to be a normal diet. 



Judging by the experience of the race, checked by observations under 

 laboratory conditions, or conditions approaching those of the laboratory, 

 and by experiments upon animals, such a diet, if of European or American 

 food materials, will furnish the man of 70 kilos engaged at moderate work 

 3000 calories and will contain from 75 to 120 grams of protein, at least 0.4 

 gram calcium and 0.8 gram phosphorus and will include a considerable 

 amount of fruits and vegetables to furnish "roughage," vitamins, etc. 



Success in maintaining individuals upon exceptional diets for even 

 long-continued periods cannot be accepted as a criterion of the adequacy 

 of a diet. Failure is piroof that the diet is not satisfactory but success can 

 only be taken to indicate exactly what was observed, which is merely that 



