THIS IS STARVATION

Lake County Mail, Issue 43, 31 March 1948, Page 4

THIS IS STARVATION

Starvation takes a long time to cure. The starving millions of Europe win not recover their normal physical and mental capacities until their diets reach 2,500 calories a day and remain above this figure for very many months. Even if it were possible immediately to double food supplies to the famine areas, recovery would be exceedingly slow.

There are the first conclusions from experiments on starvation and its treatment recently conducted at the University of Minnesota. Thirty-six healthy young men volunteered to starve themselves for six months. Their starvation diet was 1,650 calories a day, which is hundreds of calories more than some Europeans are living on with the help of UNRRA. Nevertheless, these men lost an average of 37 pounds, or 25 per cent, of their body weight, and besides a loss of physical energy they showed a marked change in mentality. As the months of the experiment wore bn the men lost three-quarters of their ability to work, and, incidentally, they felt extremely cold in the height of summer. Their minds became obsessed with the idea of food, and they developed anti-social and neurotic tendencies. They became angry and irrational without provocation-. Near the end of the experiment they could not concentrate, except perhaps on food, and were generally apathetic. After six months the men’s diets were increased by varying amounts so that their recovery could be studied. Men placed on 2,500 calories a day and doing light work showed little improvement during many months; those on 3,000 calories a day took several months to throw off the effects of the period of semi-starvation. An interesting aspect of the recovery period was the change in the men’s attitude towards life. The first change was from apathy to greater general activity, but this revived activity was at first marked by irritation and unco-operative behaviour. Gradually this irritation disappeared and they became once moic normally sociable and co-operative men. This experiment indicates only mildly what millions of Europeans are suffering

at the moment. But it indicates very forcefully that rehabilitation of the starving people in the world will be a long job. In addition, the experiment shows that the mental condition of starving people is a very important factor to be considered, and that they will require assistance long after the time when they reach apparent physical health. It is obvious that starving people can do little to help themselves until their diets reach 2,500 calories a day, and in many cases they are nowhere near this mark yet. There are about 11 million -orphans under 18 in the cities of Europe, where the famine is at its worst. Some of these children have found foster homes and a few are cared for in institutions, but many of them wander about desperately seeking food, without moral guidance, education or direction. Adults are reluctant to add these children to their, responsibilities because they cannot cope with their existing family burdens. After many years of starvation and being frustrated in their efforts*to overcome their hunger, it is not surprising that these people do not know how to go about organising themselves into a productive force, nor is it surprising that they have lost the will to try. The food supplies of the United Nations have enabled these starving people to keep alive, but it will take considerably more food from the rest of the world to restore them to a position where they can help themselves.