Milk and its Importance

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 4

Milk and its Importance

(To the Editor.) Sir, —This subject comes up quite often. It is remarkable what little is known about milk. It is the most nutritious and health-giving food, known to the civilised world. Milk contains vitamins A, B, C, and D; these vitamins are indispensable to life. When vitamin A is lacking in the diet of the young, growing ceases just as soon as the reserve supply of it stored in the body is exhausted. Milk furnishes a piotein which seems to be just what the body needs to build and repair its tissues. Then there is milk sugar that efficiently stops the growth of bacteria and prevents putrefaction or poisoning of the system. In New Zealand, where the cow has the green pasture most of the year, vitamin D, which has proved a great assistance to th<j growth and health of children, prevents rickets. This vitamin is formed t>y the action of the ultra-violet rays of the sun shining upon the animal or upon the feed. In the United States the milk is radioted with ultra-violet rays, with a lamp equipment, which makes vitamin D more potent, The milk is pasteurised first as the heat takes some of the strength out of this vitamin. And radioted milk is supplied to school children in all parts of the United tSatcs. The campaign was carried out liy the United States Government Veterinary Department. Mnk also contains sodium chlorine and calcium, which build up the skeleton and blood. The milk from tested herds should be also splendid for children, as all the vitamins and proteins would be. intact. I believe all' milk for children is pasteurised in the United States. Pasteurised milk destroys all bacteria, making milk a pure food, is it. is not always easy to pick the cow with health disturbance. What a different citizen the child would turn out to bo by getting pure milk supplementary to its diet; more perfectly developed in mind and body, with a sound foundation. There is no fiction about this; it is fact. Read about t.io state of health of the masses in tho big cities of Europe—one in ten unfit for any industry. Give the children milk and raise a sound future citizen. —I am, etc.,

E. F. MURPHY, Associate U.S. Government Veterinary

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