258 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
diet of highly refined and cold storage foods soon brings 
about rapid decay. 
Cases of abnormal and deformed dentition in young 
animals are reported on vitamine free rations and evi- 
dence indicates very strongly that many of the troubles 
which beset the teeth of our children today could be 
largely eliminated if proper attention were paid to the 
vitamine content of their diets. 
And what of the practical application of all these 
recently accumulated facts? Are they of chief impor- 
tance as weapons to ward off xeropthalmia, beri-beri, and 
scurvy? Certainly not, for these disturbances are already 
very rare among us locally. This newer knowledge of 
nutrition is of great importance to us, however, in its rela- 
tion to growth, vigor, efficiency, general tone and resis- 
tance to disease. 
Civilization has made some very dangerous changes 
in its food products and dietetic habits. Meat, cereals 
and especially sugar have been introduced in their pres- 
ent large quantities at the expense of vegetables, nuts and 
other natural products. The changes which have been 
introduced in the methods of milling cereals since earlier 
days, call especially for thoughtful planning of the new 
diet. Not only do the outer seed coats and the germ (which 
are so carefully and completely discarded as fit only 
for the lower animals) contain practically all of the vit- 
amines of the seeds, but most of the mineral salts as well. 
Of course, both of these losses can be made good from 
other sources if care is taken. To accomplish this, how- 
ever, will necessitate the adoption of a diet containing 
larger amounts of dairy products, eggs, vegetables— 
especially the leafy varieties—and raw fruits and veget- 
ables than is now customary in many Cases. 
Fortunately as these various changes found place in 
the diet, man also became a dairy farmer and is thereby 
producing a very valuable supplement for the factors 
which these other changes crowded out. 
Especially is a knowledge of vitamines necessary for 
those who supervise the growth and development of 
children. Adults also frequently develop a narrow appe- 
tite because of dislikes for certain classes of foods. The 
