Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
CURE OF CORPULENCE.
The Ebstein System.

To many people corpulence is so serious an
inconvenience that the appearance of Dr. Eb-
STEMS Observation-Disclosures on the cause and
cure of obesity may revive hopes which the
practical failure of other systems had almost
to say so. Mr. Bantings dietary, though irksome,
was ~"t ascetic. but to many patients it was so
weakening IT,. tut iG- one who has been relieved
by it a dozen have .'~nec ienced actual injury.
1t is easy to become thin by NJ. 'aAilg sumclent
food to supply the waste which is L,"lhuaiiy
going on, though in this case the cure is ,'"rse
than the disease. Professor Ebstein scorns all
such treatment. He will have nothing in the
shape of starvatOn-remedies, because while We
are starving we sacrifice albumen as we'll as fat
and the loss of fat during famine causes anRma
which demands compensation in the shape of q
more plentiful diet, in itself likely to lead to
still greater accumulation of the very substance
of which it is desired to get rid. Equally use
less and inadequate in his opinion are the va
rious drink cures be they hot or cold. Professor
Ebstein agrees with Mr.. Banting in advocating
regimen alone as the only safe cure for an incon-
venience which most frequently results from too
much food. But he adopts dietary widely
different from that prescribed by Mr.. Banting
or rather by DR.. Harvey, the practitioner whose
maXims that gentlemen enlarged and made his
own.
The crucial difference is on the question OF
eating fat. Fat is the sheet-anchor of DR.. Eb-
stein. So far from making one fatter 1t is able.
by combining with the albuminous materials
and the carbohydrates" each in due proper
ton, to operate effectively against obesity. the
removal of which resolves itself rather into q
question of permanent change of habits based
on physiological principles than of mere cure
in the ordinary acceptation of the term. No
one need expect to become thin in few weeks,
nor will a permanent improvement in figure be
Mt, n6 fho irnon 10 mot nd 70 fOr
the remainder of the patients life. hamilton
must be avoided, and the tat taken to satisfy the
cravings of appetite must be Of unceptionabe
quality. No dyspetic, we are assured, need fear
fat so long as he does not take too much and.
indeed. so admirable is that substance, long
dreaded by delicate stOmachs, that, by checking
heterogeneous waste, it appeases thirst as well as
hunger-a fact, In part at least, known even by
HippOcrates.
Mr.. Bantng permitted any fish. except sal
mon; but DR.. Ebstein encourages his patients
to enjoy I'm moderation. OF course, not only
this dish, but pate de fOie gras and similar deli
cies which go far to reconcile the cOrpulent
gourmet to the exclusion Of carbohydrates.
carbohydrates" are indeed his sole detesta-
ton. Sugar is tabooed, as well as sweets of all
kinds. and potatoes in every form he torbids I'M
conditonaly. Three to three and halt ounces
OF bread per day are permitted; and OF vegeta-
bles, asparagus. spinach, cabbage, and the va
rious egumes rich in albumen are allowed.
or meats he excludes none. and. it is needless
to add that, SO tar from wishing the fat
people to avoid the fat in the flesh,
he begs them to pick out all that they
can get. IL permit" writes this liberal-minded
opponent of the starving doctors" "bacon
fat, fat roast pork and mutton, kidney fat. and
when no other fat Is at hand, l recommend
marrow be added to the soups. l allow the
sauces as well as the vegetables to be made
juicy, as did Hipprocrates. only for his sesam
oil substitute butter" Fat is his stronghold.
On this he depends not as medicament. but as
a food it has, in his opinion been much ma
1igned article of diet. and, though he by no
means recommends the men of full body to con-
sumo third of what the German soldier is al
lowe in war time. he is convinced that even
with two to three and half ounces the patient
need not eat more than three-tifths of the meat
which Is requisite under Mr.. Banting's system.
His dietary. it may be remembered, is calcu-
lated for the meridian of Hanover, and hence
three meals-breakfasJ. dinner and supper-are
allowed On no condition must there be an
afternoon tea" or other ''smacks between
meals" Alcoholic drinks are permitted to the
extent of two or three glasses of light wine at
dinner but beer is barred. unless. indeed, 1.-The
permitted carbohydrates be cOrrespondingly re-
strcted," though even the ale. accepted as an
equivalent. must be extremely moderate in
amount. The diet of cured patient was some
thing like the following For breakfast large
cup Uf O,aCk tea, without milk sugar, and
two ounces OF bread, with plenty of butter. at
half-past seven in winter. at six OF halfpast six
in summer. For dinner. between two and three
o'clock. soup, 'often with marrow" four to six
and half ounces of roast or boiled meat. yere-
tables in moderation. but no patOtOes. and al
most no saccbarine turnps- After dinner a lit
tic fresh fruit. or salad. or stewed fruit with
out sugar with two or three glasses of light
wine. followed by large cupOt black tea. with
out milk or sugar. Supper OF black tea. fat
roast meat, or eggs. or some ham with fat bO-
logna sausage. smoked or fresh fish, and little
bread well buttered, with cheese and fresh fruit
formed the concluding meal at the hour of seven
or eight.