Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-04
HOW TO GROW THIN.
A Prominent Physicians Interesting
Lecture on Obesity.
THE FOOD THAT MAKES ONE FAT.
A Very Easy Method of Getting Rid Of
Superfuous Flesh,
WITHOUT FASTING Or USING DRUGS.

NEW YORK, March Sat a meeting OF
the New York Academy of Medicine the
paper of the evening was read by DR.. Walter
Mendelson. His subject was "The Physi-
illogical Treatment of Obesity" The most
recent investigations show clearly that the
albumen in the food is the principal source
of the fat formed in the body. This albu-
men, after it has reached the cells of the
tissues, undergoes certain chemical changes
by which part of it is converted into fat and
part goes to the nutriment of the tissue cells.
Many experiments have been made which
prove this conclusively. Thus dogs fed on
lean meat accumulated considerable fat.
One fed on lean meat and palm oil, which
contains no stearic acid, stored up fat, hav-
ing the usual amount of stearic acid normal
to dogs fat.
1t is not asserted that all fat deposited is
formed from Albumen. A certain amount
of that taken as food is stored up. But the
increase of body fat occurring after eating
much fat, though in part direct result. is
chiefly brought about indirectly, the food
fat shielding from oxidation that which has
previously been formed from the albumen.
q
ton suet the dog gets fat, not because the
mutton suet is changed into dogs fat or is
deposited as suet, but because the oxidation
of the suet prevents the fat proper to the
animals tissues from being destroyed by
the various activities of the animal.
FOOD THAT MAKES FAT.
1t is in the same way the starches and
sugars act. They are not ordinarily con-
verted into fat, but are so converted only
when taken with the ordinary food, they are
more easily oxidized than the proper fat OF
the body, and so the proper fat accumulates
instead of wasting.
The sources of fat in the body were found
to be three: First, the splitting up of the
albumen of the food; second, the transfer of
that fat ingested as food; and third, fat
formed from starches taken in too large
quantities. A man need not be glutton to
grow stout. A slight excess will gradually
load up the body with fat. An excess is not
even necessary if certain contributory causes
become operative. Thus any one of the
causes that tend to diminish the powers of
the ceIls-a too free use of alcohol life in a
hot, close room-will promote the accumu-
lation of fat, even though the quantity of
food consumed daily be diminished. The
tendency to become obese is also very often
inherited.
In treating obesity, the individuality
must be kept in the mind, but in general
the aim must be to make the consumption
of fat exceed the production. In the great
majority of cases, in spite of what fat people
say, the cause of the lat is the eating of
either too much food or food of an improper
quality, combined with lack of exercise.
1t remains, therefore, suitably to regulate
the diet and exercise, bearing in mind that
the change must be gradual to be benef-
cent, and that anything approaching to
starvation must be avoided.
DIET FOR THE OBESE.
1t must be general plan to give much
albumen and relatively little fats and
sweets. This is done in order that the cells,
from the abundance of nourishment brought
to them, shall be capable of great chemical
and further, that the tissue fat
formed from the albumen shall not be pre-
served from oxidation by the presence ofthe
more readily oxidizable fats and starches.
For diet list for corpulent person the
doctor recommended the following:
Breakfast-One cup (6 ounces) tea or coffee.
with milk and sugar; 2 OF slices (215 ounces) of
bread; butter, half ounce;l egg, or ~ ounces
meat.
Dinner-Meat or fish, z ounces; green vegeta-
bles. such spinach, cabbage, string beans.
asparagus. tomatoes. beat tops, etc. ounces;
farinaceous dishes. such as potatoes. hominy,
rice, maccaroni, etc., 81 ounces, or these may
be omitted and a corresponding amount of
green vegetables substituted: salad with plain
dressing, ounce; fruit, 81 ounces; water spar
lngly.
Supper or Luncheon-Two eggs or lean meat,
ounces; salad. three-quarters of an ounce;
bread, / slice; fruit, 80 ounces; ounces of
bread q slces) may be substituted for the fruit;
tea or coffee, ounces; no beer, ale, cider,
sweet wines, or hard liquors must
be taken, but claret and hook are permitted in
milk. save as an addition to tea or
coffee, must be taken rarely,
sToUTNESs EASILY CURED.
1t is important to remember that as the
fat becomes reduced the diet must be modi-
fed somewhat, giving more of the sweets and
fats, lest the albumen, as we'll as the fat of
the body, be consumed. Under proper
diet the patient feels better instead of weak |
Or in anv way worse. A feeling of lassitude |
is all indication that the muscular tissues,
as we'll as the fat, are being reduced. 1t is
imperative that the patient should not be |
impatient or in a hurry to get lean. 1t is
oniv by slow degrees that the cells can be |
habituated to mode of action In harmony |
with the welfare of the whole system.
In the discussion that followed the read |
ing of the paper DR.. S. Baruch called at |
tention to the value of cold baths for over |
fat people. A simple cold bath was not |
sufficient. A swim in cold water was the |
best method of application, but douche
from which the water was impinged under |
pressure of two or three atmospheres on the |
flesh was nearly as good. A vapor bath |
was better than either. 1t had been DEM
by actual experiment that the in
crease of temperature incident to a vapor |
bath promoted tissue metamorphosis to a |
very marked degree. The vapor bath fol-
lowed by the cold douche would afford re-
suits that could be secured in no other way.
1t was commonly agreed that with a |
proper regulation of the diet and the ap-
pIication of cold baths with friction after, |
and the avoidance at all times of the sorts |
Of liquors objected to by DR.. Mendelson,
he rednntinn of sunerfluouS fat was certain