rom a lifetime of poor health.

Dr. Pirquet has arranged a scale (Pelidisi Chart) showing the state of
nutrition in children, based upon the sitting height (in centimeters),
to weight (in kilograms). See appendix.

PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS

There is never a period in life in which protein is not needed. During
the early years it is essential that the proteins, or at least a
goodly portion of them, be obtained from animal sources, milk and eggs
in particular; when cereals and legumes (beans and peas) are used to
provide for the protein requirements, they must be supplemented by
milk or eggs (or both), in order that the growth and development of
the child may proceed at a normal rate.

Adults require protein for the repair of old tissues and to furnish
material for the building of new cells, and again it is believed
advisable to have at least a portion of this protein from animal
sources, milk, meat or eggs.

MINERAL REQUIREMENTS

Just as energy foods and proteins must be adjusted in the dietary to
safeguard the health of the body, so the mineral salts must be
adjusted for a like purpose. Studies made of the dietaries of a number
of families brought to light the fact that the children more often
suffered from a deficiency of calcium, phosphorus and iron in their
diets than they did from too little protein,[25] proving that it is
quite as essential to adjust the mineral salts in the diet as it is
that of the organic constituents.

According to Sherman the diet of an adult should contain each day per
pound of body weight:

Protein 0.5 gram or more
Phosphorus 0.01 gram or more
Calcium 0.005 gram or more
Iron 0.0001 gram or more

These averages, while covering the needs of the mature body, do not
furnish the necessary amount of protein, or mineral salts to support
the growth and development of the child. Hence, it has been deemed
advisable to reckon the requirements of the latter per thousand
calories, instead of per pound of body weight, in this way obviating
some of the danger of protein and mineral deficiencies.

McCollum, Simmonds and Pitz have shown that a deficiency in the
inorganic content of a diet may result in a retarding or suspension of
growth. This result has been overcome on the introduction of the
proper mineral salts into the diet. This salt mixture is such as to
make the total ash, approximate that found in the composition of