Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-04
age in good healt


ing that man will wear. He may exceed
the weight by Z per cent, without affecting
his vital capacity, but beyond this amount
his respiration becomes diminished.
Discussing the dietaries that have gained
prominence or favor, DR.. Davies says
taking Mr.. Banting's system first, the
diet for reducing corpulency advocated by
him is now considered to have been wrong,
for it threw too much work upon the kid
neys and starved the system elsewhere
Banting and his ideas have passed into
well-merited oblivion. The Ebstein form
ula, which has many adherents in Ger
many, consists in very much restricting
the food eaten, giving large portion of
fat, and curtailing those articles of diet
that contain sugar and starch, his theory
being that fat assists the body, by its
transformation into heat, in eliminating
other materials. 1t is not believed now
that fat creates fat. 1t is believed that
by its combustion in the economy it keeps
up heat, and at the same time oxidizes
were railway engine, the blast of air acts
on the fuel used in stocking. The system
of diet advocated by Oertel not only pro-
vides for the gradual increase of fat, but
also prevents its REORGANIZATION, and at
the same time restores tone to the heart,
muscular and nervous systems, which ex-
cessive corpulency much impairs.
"Oertel draws two distinctions of obesity,
namely, the slight form, in which the
organs of circulation are unaffected and
where exercise is possible, and the more
serious form, in which fat is deposited in
the muscles of the heart, which Is thereby
dangerously weakened, and, as corollary,
the health action of all the other organs
of the body is interfered with"
Farinaceous food and sugar are the great
offenders in contributing to the accumu-
lation of fat. They belong to the nom
nitrogenous group of foods The fats and
starches, sugars and alcohol that keep up
the heat of the body generate power, and
when not consumed or eliminated by the
system are stored up as fat. Their func-
tions show their necessity in the internal
economy. heterogeneous food, which con-
sists of meat, gelatine, eggs, milk and GER
tain constituents of vegetables, such as
gluten, vegetable ibrine, and caseine, sup
ply the bone, muscles, nerves and all the
machinery of the human system in which
the power obtained from the non-nitro-
genous source finds play. 1t will be seen,
therefore, that both classes of food have
their virtues and uses. Neither must be
ignored in formulating diet. The eondi-
tons under which the proportions of these
foods may be administered vary. Hard
work calls for a greater amount of fuel
than rest or light employments. An in
stance of this kind is furnished. In max
ing the railway from Paris to Rouen it
was found that two English were equal to
three French navvies. An examination
of the cause disclosed the fact that the
former men fed on large quantities of
meat, while the latter ate chiefly soup and
lentils. The diet of the Frenchmen was
altered to the English standard, with the
result that the inequality soon disap-
peared. Seasons and climates also inha-
ence the amount and kind of food neces-
sary. The Esquimaux eat fat as we do
bread. Sir John Ross says an Esqui-
maux eats perhaps twenty pounds of fiesh
and oil daily" The Arctic baby wants
blubber, not candy. 1t sustains the heat
of the body. 1t also acts as storehouse of
fuel, to draw upon when required for the
operations of life. But it will not alone sas-
tain life. Dr. Davies cites few expeE-
nents, which show what part the different
constituents of food play in the economy:
"a couple of rats which had been nearly
brought to the verge of death by restric-
ton to starchy matter and fat, were fed
with bread and meat for four days,
and then with bread alone. A week
after commencing the meat their united
weight was s ounces II drachns, and three
weeks later 10 ounces draehm. Being
now placed on diet of meat with nom
nitrogenous food starch and fat, notable
improvement occurred, for in three days
time they weighed IL ounces; four days
later, "A ounces 2 drachms, and week
later still IA ounces drachms.
"In another experiment two rats, weigh
ing y ounces, were placed on an exclusive
diet of lean meat and water. They re-
manned healthy in appearance, but stead
lily lost weight and in a months time
weighed only 81 ounces. They we're now
placed on miscellaneous diet, and in
weeks time weighed 12l ounces.
an third experiment two rats, weigh
ing II ounces drachms, were kept upon
meat diet exclusively. On the thirteenth
day one of the rats died, the weight of the