Salt eating

by Herbert Shelton

Of all the substances added to our foods, salt (chloride of sodium) is the only one that is said to be indispensable. Many reasons are given for the use of salt and I shall discuss the most important of these in this chapter; but the two basic reasons for its use are commonly stated about as follows: 1. Salt is highly essential to animal life; and 2. Animals recognize its necessity by going to "salt-licks" for their periodic supply. I shall discuss these two basic assumptions first, after which, I consider some of the minor reasons for its use.