this food was raised.
In the course of my studies in physiological chemistry and biology,
which have extended over a period of more than thirty years, I have been
led to grappel with problems in agriculture, in horticulture, and in
aviculture, for the purpose of finding solutions to problems in human
nutrition. Very early in my studies I learned the value of the mineral
elements in our foodstuffs. I was led to attempt to augment the quantity
of mineral salts in various foods, and my efforts were crowned with
success. But this is not the point, however, to enter into a detailed
discussion of that aspect of the subject.
It may be wise for the sake of clearness to divide this statement into
two parts, as follows:
1. A brief summary of the function of minerals in the human economy.
2. A short argument showing how we can and why it is imperative that we
should augment the mineral content of our vegetables, small fruits and
eggs.
In the case of eggs, for example, I am able to increase their iron
content 300 or 400 per cent. More than that, I can multiply every item
in their mineral content several times, thus producing specific eggs for
those suffering for lack of any mineral. In other words I am able to
produce special eggs for a given tissue degeneration as, for instance,
haemoglobin eggs for degenerate blood; lecithin eggs for the nerves;
calcareous eggs for the bones, and kaliated eggs for the muscle.
So much by way of preface.
I.
The following explanations are made for the purpose of showing you that
I have made extensive studies along these lines, and are not, naturally,
intended to be taken as a lesson to you personally.
There are sixteen chemical elements absolutely essential to healthy
human life, which are classified by physiological chemistry as the
elements of organic life. In the composition of vital tissues we
constantly find these basal elements: Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen,
nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, chlorine, potassium, sodium, magnesium,
calcium, iron, manganese, fluorine, silicon, and iodine. The function of
these elements will be discussed in a moment.
I would here lay stress upon the fact that the absence of the tiniest
ingredient necessary to the growth and functioning of an organ will,
according to the Law of the Minimum as laid down by Justus von Liebig,
result in disease, improper functioning and degeneration of that organ
or tissue.
Although the chemical salts constitute
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