Diet in Pregnancy

IN the Far East I learnt the truth o-t the adage " there is nothing new under the sun." For proof of its veracity I propose to go back over the centuries to an era 3,000 years B.C. At that time there reigned in China Emperor Shen Xung (circa 28382698 B.c.), the father of Chinese Medicine, who wrote a treatise on dietetics and compiled a pharmacopoeia. He noticed that the people became sick when they were left to themselves to gather anything to eat; he discovered what was edible and taught his subjects to cultivate cereals. I would like to introduce you to this great man of medicine, the first nutritionist. Here he is (Fig. I) on the left of Emperor Fu-hsi, the founder of the Chinese nation. On the right is Emperor Huang-ti, the author of the nation. On the right is Emperor Huang-ti, the author of the Canon of Medicine. Above this woodcut is a photograph of the temple of ancient physicians in the College of Imperial Physicians in Peking. The Chinese have deified their celebrated physicians, and so you see before you the three main medical deities of that ancient land. Shen Nung was a most versatiIe person. He invented the plough and was made a god of agriculture. In his writings is the first record of soya-bean, one of the oldest cro'p grown by man. Thus did this remarkable man bring about the marriage of agriculture and public health-& state of affairs that we in this country are only now striving to obtain. Passing to the Chou dynasty a department of dietetics was established which ranked first in the organization of the state. Medical, surgical and veterinary departments followed in that BY