Sugar found in combination with other natural substances is a valuable and necessary food. All other sweets must be regarded in a different light.

Sugar is one of the carbohydrate foods as well as being a luxury and is burned in the system for energy. Nature supplies it in small amounts in nearly every kind of product, besides all starch being converted into sugar, hence if an unlimited amount of artificial sugar or candy is eaten, too much inter. nal energy and heat is created causing restlessness, nervousness, and abnormal craving and desires of all kinds. The natural action of the liver is soon destroyed, resulting in chronic constipation and irregular appetite. Children who indulge in sweets to excess are peevish and fretful. Edward Smith in his work on food says: "Ten grains of sugar when burnt in the system produce a heat sufficient to raise 8.51 pounds of water 1 degree F., which is equal to lifting 6.649 pounds one foot high. Its action was rapid, commencing in ten minutes after being eaten and disappearing in two hours." Such experiments show that sugar is a food, but that its action is so rapid it is not reliable. It has not one particle of tissue building element. The fat it produces is not like body tissue - or working cells. Nuts and cereals in the same proportion afford more energy, lasting longer, besides supplying a large amount of proteid and other elements at the same time. As nature provides sufficient saccharine in combination with other food the manufactured sugar should be looked upon as a luxury and as a convenience to be used with good judgment. The aim should be to use as little as possible. The greatest pleasure of any luxury is lost as soon as it becomes common, while the necessities of life afford greatest pleasure under constant use. This law of happiness should be impressed upon the mind of every child. It will not be accepted at first, but every experience in life will verify it, adding greatly in cultivating judgment, to decide the place of "greatest good" in all things. As long as the child believes that the more he can get of sweets the happier he will be, he makes himself miserable by fretting when deprived of them, hence the necessity of direct education regarding their use and dangers from infancy. The taste for candy should not be acquired as long as it is possible to prevent it. From this time regulation should be carefully cultivated by giving a small amount at the close of dinner, with the suggestion that "a little will make you happier than a large amount." The warning will seem to do no good, as at the first opportunity the appetite will be indulged to the fullest extent. This is seemingly a necessary part of the education and for some time afterwards plates of candy and sweetmeats should be kept about the house. Finally, the law of regulation is accepted, even though, for a time, the effect of sugar is similar to that of alcohol - the more one takes the more he wants, until the system rebels against it, in some form of sickness. A little candy occasionally affords pleasure without harm. It may be served once a week at the close of dinner, thus overcoming the present inclination to eat it between meals. The same may be said of ices and sweetened drinks. Health would be better if such things were not used. The universal habit of indulging ice cream and sweet sodas causes fermentation in the stomach and intestines, resulting in irritation and catarrhal diseases, hence regulation at least is essential.

When children are supplied nourishing food and natural sweets at regular meals the appetite is more normal and does not crave abnormal mixtures.

Sweet juicy fruit, and dates, raisins, figs, prunes, etc, among the dry fruits, with honey, cane and maple syrup, afford plenty of sweet food for daily use; even these should be used in moderation.