Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-07
The Anti.Drug Treatment Idea.


Aside from the absolute use!eSSneSs OF many
drugs In the treatment OF disease the harmtuness
or Others and the doubtful utility OF Others, 1t
was not long in being observed that there were
powerful means OF modifying the body and its
functions with which drugs Of any kind had moth
ing 20 DO. one OF these most striking In effect
was 10 Increase decrease, or change the Kind OF
food introduced for the noUrishment or the
human 1rane this Includes dleteIics IN all its rela-
tiuns-the kind OF food frou chemical standpoint
as well as the different methods OF preparing 1t lCr
the table, restrictions as 10 quantity being as In
pcrtant AS the notifications as to quality. The
amount Of exercise OF both body and mind become
the object OF profound study, and this point was
round 10 be worthy OF All the research which could
lie expended upon ft-of more Importance than
any mere drug Treatment III many instances The
effects Of baths, OF exposure To different degrees
OF temperature. &C., Ia TACT, all kinds OF physical
Influences in addition 10 materials taken into the
system, all or which are properly Included under
hygiene. are necessarily To Ue studied in relation
to the cure OF disease without the Use OF drugs.
RESTRICTION or DIET.
The almost immediate and extremely powerful
effects OF starvation upon both body and mind
were naturally calculated to render notifications
OF diet matter OF great interest in the treatment
OF disease. The fact that the appetite Is curously
modified in many affections was thought at an
early date 10 furnish important Indications as
10 the way the case should be treated. some
thought they saw In loss Of appetite a notice that
nature repelled nourishment and that food would
surely 90 no harm. Others thought that this was
exactly what nature did net intend to be UNDER
stood as SAYING As matter OF fact. each case has
20 be studied ana treated on It's individual merits
In feyers where the and destruc-
ton Of The body IS going on at q rrightIul degree
OF rapidly, there can be nOQueSton at the present
day as 10 the value Of systematic feeding. In
many chronic affections, especially those 1nvolv-
ing the liver and kidneys, there can be as little
question as TO the utlty-nay, neceSsity-of limit
Ing the diet. especially regarding certain foods.
THE REMARKABLE EFFECTS OF FASTING
upon the nervous system are among the reasons
for Its employment as a substitute for drugs IL
is well known that If any Individual will aostafn
from all food for comparatively limited period
say three TO six days and Enthusiastically II 10
the fasting Is added loss OF sleep vigiD the
become the subject OF the most extraordinary de-
ceptionS- Visions are seen and communications
from the world beyond the tomb are heard, while
manifestations still more extraordinary are re-
ported by those who have undergone repeated
vigils and Hastings. 1t Is only those OF the most
most extraordinary OF these.
Among the most ancient OF the methods OF treat
ing disease by special modes or diet Is the sOcalled
grape cure, which may be traced In history since
the days OF Moses. In the time OF Nero the cura-
tive virtues OF grapes were highly lauded by OF
the best medical writers whose works have come
down TO us. But grapes were not the only fruits
given with view TO their medicinal effects. In
the Middle Ages We find mention or maniacS cured
By diet OF cherries, while Strawberries are cred
tied with hlying effected many wonderful cures
Later, In the course OF our own civil war; diet OF
ripe peaches has often succeeded after all medica.
tOn mad failed 10 cure the obstinate bowel trou-
bleS so common among the volunteer soldiers.