FLESH-FORMING FOODS. 
145 
flesh-forming foods had nitrogen in them, as well 
as carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.” 
2. “ Yes,” replied May, “ but you did not tell me 
what nitrogen is.” 
“Did I not? Well, there is always plenty of it 
around you although you cannot see it. It is a 
gas which is in the air we breathe. Nitrogen is 
also present, combined with other substances, in 
many of our foods and in our bodies.” 
3. “Will you tell me what to eat to form flesh, 
please? for you know that I want to grow and 
become a strong woman.” 
“ If you learn what some of the nitrogen foods 
are, you will be the better able to judge what to 
eat,” was the reply. “ Sit down and read this 
passage to me.” And Miss Brooks put an open 
book into May’s hands. 
4 . Then May read : — 
“ ‘ There are several flesh- formers, or nitrogen 
foods. Perhaps the most important of them all 
is albumen, which you already know well, though 
not by this name. It is the jelly-like substance 
found in the white of eggs. 
5 . “ ‘ Another flesh-former is called casein, and is 
the cheesy, curd-like matter found in milk. 
“ ‘ Another is called fibrin. You may see it 
forming in a solid state in blood that has drained 
from any animal. 
6 . “ ‘ There is something very much like it, called 
( M 387 ) K 
