ABSTRACT
The subject of food is of perennial interest, and it has been the happy hunting ground of faddists for many years. Twenty years ago the value of a dietary would have been regarded as satisfactorily stated in terms of calories, but it is now known that a diet fulfilling caloric conditions can be devised which, owing to the absence of certain accessory food factors, is incompetent to maintain life. It is becoming clear that protracted dietary deficiencies which are only slight, if continued over a long period are especially injurious. In prosperous circumstances, and even for the poor with judicious selection of food, the variety of the dietary may suffice to prevent an actual deficiency disease. The special association of the food deficiencies with the supply of vitamins may lead to the subject being viewed out of perspective. The conditions of life should be such as will supply all the necessary elements of nutrition from natural foods.
