HEALTH AND NUTRITION

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 2, 1 March 1946, Page 7

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Something of a controversy is going on in health enthusiast circles as to whether wholemeal bread is all that is vometimes claimed for it. The w’riter had the privilege of hearing a very interesting story the other day, and ir the interests of those who are anxious t j do what is best for their families in the matter of diet, pa>>cs it on.

Some time ago at the Auckland Zoo disease manifested itself among some of the captive animals. Tuberculosis, blindness, and skin troubles of a very serious nature were among the many manifestations of something being wrong. Several animals had to be destroyed. The Zoo was closed for some time while investigations were made. A little bear, blind, his skin in a very bad state w’ith sores, and without any hair at all on his body, was put under close care and observation. Previously the animals had been given a good deal of stale white bread to eat. This was now’ replaced for them all with stale wholemeal bread. In the ca>e of the little hear, the bread was smeared with codliver oil. In one month the sores had dried up on the

skin. In tw’o months Master Bruin had begun to see enough to be able to find his food when it was thrown to him, and in six months he was able to see as well as any other animal or human. He had grown a good coat of fur; and now stood on his hind legs and caught the food w’hen it was thrown to him in traditional bear fashion. Other animals not too far gone reacted similarlv and the trouble was pretty well remedied. Browm, unpolished rice, now unobtainable, was also a great part of the little bear’s diet. 1 ‘‘if! “So what ?”