Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

1 86 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTbut it simply would not work in the held. Armies itd onit promptly showed signs of nitrogen starvation; aid,about thirty years later, up came our physiologists withthe belated explanation that, though zein was a rightenoughprotein in composition and chemical structure, onlyabout a third of it could be utilized in the human body."Even the purely Oriental nations — the Japanese, Chineseand Hindus — born and brought up on rice, haveformally abandoned it in their army ration and have endeavoredto substitute wheat for it, though expense and theinborn prejudices of their soldiers have proved considerableobstacles. Troops or nations fed on rice are subjectto beriberi and are cured by a diet rich in protein^either vegetable or animal, wheat or meat. Meat andwheat in the ration have wiped out four-fifths of the beriberiin the Japanese army and navy. Those fed on cornbecome subject to pellagra, which is ravaging our SouthernStates to-day." As for the northern grains, barley, rye and oats,which also contain some gluten, these are all Inferior towheat — rye and barley on account of their low proteincontent and considerable bulk of innutritions, gelatinousand gummy materials, which disturb the digestion; andoats on account of the irritating bitter extractives withwhich their high percentage of protein is combined. Nobodybut a Scotchman can live on oatmeal as his solebreadstuff; and it has taken generations of training andgallons of whisky on the side to enable him to dc it."This is not saying that the grains here condemnedare not good and proper food when used in the rightcombination with other nutrients; but it is sayingthat neither of them is fit for continuous use as themainstay of one's rations.Food Components.— Let us now consider thematerial of field rations, item by item.Bacon.— Good old breakfast bacon worthily headsthe list, for it is the campaigner's stand-by. Itkeeps well in any climate, and demands no specialcare in packing. It is easy to cook, combines wellwith almost anything, is handier than lard to frythings with, does just as well to shorten bread orbiscuits, Is very nutritious, and nearly everybodylikes it. Take It with you from home, for you canseldom buy it away from railroad towns. Get theboneless, in 5 to 8-lb. flitches. Let canned bacon—