Evening star., 1886-11-06
The Dangers OF Corpulency.

| From the St Louis Globe Democrat.
Intemperance in diet indulgence in the ex-
cessive use of alcoholic drinks too little bodily
exercise in the open air-these are the more
important of the causes which bring on corpu-
lence. The modes in which these causes act to
bring about an excessive dexosit of fat have
been sufficiently indicated in the Introductory
portion OF this paper. AS muscular exercise in
creases the production of flesh inaction leads to
an excessive deposit of fat. Alcohol acts in q
manner precisely similar to that Of fats sugars
and starches. Itinterferes with the destruction
or combustion OF the fat-prOducing materials,
prevents them from undergoing combustion, as
it is more easily destroyed by oxygen than they
are. Certain diseases, such as any interference
with the formation or development of the real
blood corpuscleS, the oxygen carriers. increase
the disposition to the deposit of fat. The oxy-
gen may enter the lungs. but without these
carriers it is unable to reach the tissues where
combustion ordinarily takes place.
The dangers OF corpulence are many fold:
to follow an unusually malignant course in fat
persons. The heat developed in these affections
cannot be readily lost by radiation con-
duction as in the lean. The cold bath, the cold
pack and all forms of cooling measures fail to
really reduce the temperature, and the fever is,
in itself, a serious source OF danger. The skin
is constantly bathed in perspiration slight
exertion or when the external temperature
rises, rises Hence SKIN diseases are common ana
The breathing is interiered with by the accu-
mulated fat, so breathlessness on eXertion is
common among them. The frequency of per-
spirations leaves the surface exposed to chilling
Influences which cause coughs, colds, bronchitis
ana pneumonia. The overlooking of the heart
with fat interferes with its action, that pal
pitations and sudden faintness from partial
failure of this organ to do its duty are not in
frequent. The extra weight that has to he car
ried entails muscular exhaustion on exertion
such as is not Ielt by the thin person. The dis
comforts and dangers OF obesity would fill a
much larger catalogue, but it is not necessary
to enumerate them all here.
The treatment o! corpuience must vary with
the cause. No rigid rules can be framed that
iS
hereditary tendency to it, a radical cure can
not be eXpected-only an improvement can be
promised, and even this cannot always be Sc
cured. The prevention of it should be under
taken when young person shows strong
tendency to put on an excessive amount OF adj
pose tissue. One of the first things to be done
III this direction is to regulate the diet. I'm
moderate indulgence at table must be rigidly
forbidden, yet the food must be in sutficieht
amount to secure all that the body requires
tor its needs. No starvation should be coun-
tenanced Fatal weakness of the heart or per-
from irrational restrictions of diet. The
temporary thinning is usually followed
beyond what existed betore m the IN. ranner plans
was adopted. A much better plan is to avoid
exciting the appetite by too great variety of
food. Prince Bismarcks physician succeeded
in curing his patient by the very simple plan
of making the meal consist OF only one Kind of
food, OF which be should eat as much as he
pleased, and no drink of any kind to be taken
at meals or until two hours afterward By this
means no unnatural appetite was encouraged,
and the patient ate only what the necessities of
the system really demanded. The diet should
contain an abundance OF albumen, little fat,
and still less starch or sugar, when an earnest
effort is being made to reduce cOrpulence or
provide against its making its appearance.
Some fats have to be taken, or the albumen
foods will not be digested or appropriated by
the system. If signs of disorded digestion APP.
pear, the diet must be modified from time 10
time by the addition of articles which are usu.
ally forbidden. 1t is better to incur some of the
prospective discOmtorts or even danger OF obe-
slty than to ruin the digestion in the attempt 10
avoid them.