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 milk ash. The following diagram illustrates this point. | 240 +----------+----------+----------+----------+--+ | | | | | | | | | | _| | | | | _/ | | | | _/| | | | | | _/ | 200 +----------+----------+----------+----_/----+--| W | | | | _/ | / e | | | |_/ | /| i | | | / |/ g | | | Normal_/| / | h | | | _/ | /| t 160 +----------+----------+----_/----+--------/-+--| | | | _/ | / | i | | | |_/ | / | | n | | | _/ | / | |<---Period I--->|<-/------Period II--/------> | G | | |_/ | | _/ | r 120 +----------+---_/|----+----------+_/--------+--| a | | _/ | | _/ | m | _/ | | _/ | | | s | /| | | _/ | | | / | | | _/ | | | | / | | | _/ | | 80 +------/---+-----|----+/---------+----------+--| | / | | /Effect of | | | _/ | | /|added Salt| | | | _/ | | / |Mixture | | |/ | | / | | | | X__________|_____|/ | | | 40 +----------+-----|----+----------+----------+--+ 0 1 2 3 4 Time in Months Effect upon growth of adding to a diet otherwise adequate a salt mixture of such composition as to make the composition of the total ash similar to that of milk ash; immediate resumption after entire suspension of growth. Courtesy of Dr. E. V. McCollum. The following outline will serve as a guide in making the estimates for the food requirements of children: THE DIET OF A CHILD SHOULD CONTAIN FOR EVERY 1000 CALORIES FURNISHED BY THE FOODSTUFFS, ================================== Protein 25.00 grams or more Phosphorus 0.48 gram or more Calcium 0.25 gram or more Iron 0.005 gram or more ==================================