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Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1933, Page 4

Cof.hlct nutrition, said Dr Leslie Harris at the conference of the British Medical Association, could not be left to instinct, or to the use of “natural unspoilt foods,” or to a varied diet, or to a process of free selection. Decent official reports showed that no less than gO to 90 per cent cf the elementarc school population in London gave evidence of having had some degree of rickets, notwithstanding the decreasing severity of the disease as now met with. Statistical data had been collected to show that under .Britsli elliptic conditions rickets was almost inevitable if special prophylactic measures

were not taken, no common footstuff containing sufficiently large amounts of the anti-rickets vitamin. Cod-liver oil had proved a sterling remedy in the past, Imt had the disadvantage that it might he impracticable to give enough to ensure full protection in every case, Experience showed that the most certain remedy was irradiated ergostcrol. From a practical standpoint, however, it was sometimes an advantage to use a fooa, for example a proprietary dried milk preparation, in which the requisite quantity of irradiated ergosterol had already been incorporated by tile manufacturers. Ultra-violet therapy had also given good results, but it presented practical difficulties in the administration direction for “wholesale” prophylaxis. Vitamin A could not he regarded as a general anti-infective agent. Although they had no evidence of any widespread deficiency of it in Britain in any way comma ruble to that of vitamin I), it was still advisable to ensure that diets were adequately provided with it. The offspring received but a moderate 'amount pre-natally aand in the milk. The effect of extra vitamin B added to the infant’s diet required further study. It was essential that all infants should lie dosed with adequate vitamin 0 (as orange juice). This Was destroyed to a greater or less extent during pasteurisation of milk, which, however, was never a very active source. Adequate nutrition was not possible for certain sections of the community under existing economic conditions; and much scientific knowledge of nutrition already won failed to gain sufficiently wide recognition or practical, application.