In order to convey a better understanding of these nutritive
compositions, I deem it necessary to outline and explain more
emphatically and in greater detail their wonderful scope and
possibilities, in perhaps a more impressive manner, by giving the reader
the benefit of an article entitled:
"The functions of minerals in our food
How they may be greatly increased"
Of these I have sent some 560 copies to all our Senators and
Congressmen, as well as to our chief Government Physicians, for their
information and disposition, with the intention of placing my knowledge
and equipment freely at the disposal of the United States Government. I
have made this purely disinterested proposal at this critical and trying
juncture, in the interest, first, of our war-worn soldiers; next, of our
women, enervated by unaccustomed labour and restricted means; and
lastly, of the children, born, and yet to be born of them--the future
Citizens of the Republic--all, in short, who, under stress of injury,
strain and hardship abroad, or the sometimes equally strenuous
privations of war conditions at home, may, in their respective degrees,
be suffering from nervous breakdown or depleted vitality and the various
disorders which my proffered remedial measures are so admirably fitted
to successfully overcome, bearing, as they must untold relief, comfort
and renewed health to thousands.
I have not spared expense in putting this matter fairly and fully before
the Authorities--and indeed the initial cost of so doing has already
absorbed some $300 or more. That is merely a detail. But the main point
is this: That I have offered this valuable knowledge--(practically the
work of a lifetime)--to the Nation, together with the prescriptions of
my compositions, free of cost, as an earnest of my sympathy and
goodwill; and had the Government, seen fit to accept my proposal, the
immediate effect would have been that these compounds, which at present,
through reduced manufacture and the consequent great scarcity of
chemicals (necessarily of the finest description and purity) are very
costly, would have been brought by extensive and organized production
within the reach of every citizen, removing at once that paramount
difficulty of my system, so far as the general public is concerned;
namely, the expense.
I append hereto a copy of the article referred to, together with copy of
an accompanying letter.
My dear Senator:
The disarrangement of the habits of life of our civilian
population, and the physical needs of our boys who will return from
Europe wounded and crippled, prompts me to offer my services to the
Government for the development of specially enriched foodstuffs to
maintain the health of our people under the strain of the war, but
particularly to aid in the speedy recovery of our boys who return
shattered from the trenches. I have spent more than thirty years in
the study of physiological chemistry and biology, and this study
has been devoted to the application of scientific principles in the
treatment of various diseases.
Hitherto our food experts and medical men have been satisfied with
a ration properly balanced as regards protein, carbohydrates and
fat, but the mineral salts in our food have been given little if
any serious consideration. Indeed, they have usually been dismissed
as "ash." As a matter of fact, however, as the statement I am
sending you under separate cover will show clearly, even to a
layman, mineral salts perform an important function in keeping the
body strong and healthy.
I am prepared to demonstrate that the quantity of essential
minerals in vegetables, small fruit and eggs can be multiplied
several times by scientific fertilization and nutrition. If I can
do this (and I am prepared to prove that I can) the Government
should be willing to arrange for the production of such foods in
connection with every military hospital and convalescent camp, both
here at home and behind the lines in Europe. Moreover, given a
central experimental station with proper equipment, it would be an
easy matter to train men to teach this knowledge to soldiers at
every reconstruction camp.
The statement is made by Dr. Mae H. Cardwell, of Portland, Oregon,
one of the investigators for the Federal Children's Bureau that
millions of children are suffering from lack of sufficient food and
from improper feeding, and she adds that not only the parents but
the doctors, in many cases, need education with respect to what
constitutes proper feeding for children. I think that when you have
read and digested my statement of the function of the mineral salts
in the human economy, you will agree with me that the need for just
what I am asking the government to give me an opportunity of doing
is very great indeed.
I trust that I may count upon your co-operation, not only in
getting this matter before the proper officials, but also in seeing
that an opportunity for a fair demonstration is accorded me.
The dissemination of this knowledge and the production of such
foods would make America the ALMA MATER of the world in scientific
nutrition, thanks to the application of physiological chemistry. As
things are now done in agriculture and in aviculture, however, very
little can be expected along this line.
I will give you two concrete illustrations of what can be done in
the way of augmenting the mineral content of food, and then I will
point out the significance of that fact. We will consider eggs:
ordinarily 100 grams of egg yolk contains from 10 to 20 milligrams
of iron, but eggs laid by hens fed by my method yield from 30 to 80
milligrams of iron per 100 grams of dried yolk. This is an
increase, as you see, of between 300 and 400 per cent. Such eggs
might be justly classed as haemoglobin eggs, and they would be a
godsend to our boys suffering from anaemia due to wounds or
operations. At the same time, my method of handling chickens
greatly enriches the lecithin, or nerve substance, in the eggs, and
they are, therefore, of special value in dealing with cases of
shell shock and nerve exhaustion.
What is true in the case of iron and lecithin content of eggs
produced by my method, is equally true with respect to their
content of all the other essential mineral elements; they are all
multiplied several times.
This is made possible of accomplishment by the application of the
principles of physiological chemistry to the breeding and feeding
of the poultry.
Needless to say, I am prepared to submit to the test of scientific
examination of my claims. No, not merely a theoretical examination
of myself, but, rather, to submit the claim I make for eggs
produced under my direction to the test of chemical analysis. It is
a very easy matter to determine thereby whether my claims are well
founded.
I cannot state my desire to serve the government in this way too
strongly; as I have spent more than thirty years of my life in the
study of biology and physiological chemistry, I feel that it is my
duty to offer to the Government the benefits of my knowledge and
experience. All that I can ask in this connection is to be given an
opportunity to prove that my claims are sound and practical.
I believe that you will realize the full value of such a course of
action as outlined, if it can be proven practicable. The
opportunity of offering proof under direction of the proper branch
of government is, I repeat, all that I ask at the moment, as the
results will tell their own story far more eloquently than mere
words.
Thanking you for giving this matter your attention, and trusting
that my hope of serving in the ranks of those seeking to rebuild
our boys will not prove vain, I am, Sir,
Yours truly,