22 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 342 



the amount of sugar in any one specimen may be less because of the increased 

 volume but the total sugar output for the day may be the same or actually 

 increased. The spectacular testimonials which usually accompany such 

 products are written either by the promoter himself or by some innocent 

 victim whose death notice may have been published even before the cure 

 testimonial appeared. The following phrases are characteristic of quack dia- 

 betic cure advertising: "Relief guaranteed," "Sugar free in 48 hours," "Sugar 

 removed in easy nature's way," "Patients treat themselves," "Pleasant, easy, 

 very successful." Notices of judgment have been published or other federal 

 action has been taken against the following products: 



Alberty's Anti-Diabetic Vegetable Compound (N.J. 21220) 



Dia-Bet (N.J. 24660) 



Diabeticine 41 



Diano for Diabetes (N.J. 20555) 



Healthagain (a food medicine of vegetable origin) (N.J. 22025) 



Warner's Safe Diabetes Remedy (N.J. 20901) 



(c) Diabetic Foods. Not all diabetic foods are fraudulent or misrepresented. 

 There are a number of reliable commercial companies producing special purpose 

 foods useful for diabetics. These may be fruits canned without added sugar, 

 products sweetened with saccharine, or breads and crackers of low carbo- 

 hydrate content. Such ethical products are sold with a complete and accurate 

 analysis on the label and may be incorporated according to their nutritive value 

 as a welcome variety in the diabetic menu. They are not recommended as safe 

 for diabetics in unlimited quantities nor are they a necessary part of a dia- 

 betic diet. 



Criticism is aimed, however, at advertisers of so-called diabetic foods who 

 give the erroneous impression that the flour or bread in question has remedial 

 action and may be eaten by diabetics in unrestricted amounts. Unwarranted 

 therapeutic claims have been made regarding several diabetic foods 42 chiefly 

 of the gluten or legume flour type. 



3. ARTHRITIS 



The widespread and growing interest in arthritis is not difficult to under- 

 stand when one considers the prevalence of the disease. Most cases of arthritis, 

 no matter which type, are still baffling to the medical profession and there is 

 no known cure or wholly successful therapeutic diet to be recommended. 

 Published reports of clinical experience with various dietary regimes are con- 

 flicting. The following have been tried and found wanting: 



1. Omission of so-called acid fruits and vegetables. 



2. Use of only one type of food constituent at a meal 

 (protein, fat, or carbohydrate). 



3. Alteration of the acid-base balance of the diet. 



4. Restriction to a low protein diet. 



5. Reduction of caloric intake. 



6. Restriction of carbohydrate in the diet. 



A well-balanced, adequate, high-vitamin diet is now generally recommended 

 by arthritis specialists. In view of the present state of knowledge regarding 

 the treatment of arthritis it is futile to put one's faith in any regime or nostrum 



41 Bur. Inv. J. A.M. A. 105, 218, 1935. 



42 Committee on Foods. J. A.M. A. lOt, 538. 1934; 10i, 563, 1935; 705,1270,1346,1431,1772, 

 1935. 



