Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-01-21
THE BODY AND ITS HEALTH


that fat split up in the body aud that the
free carbon combined with the oxvren
taken in IN respiration TO produce car
bouic acid, and that it was bv the act of
respiratory combustion that the body
heat was maintained. Fatty foods were
hence considered necessary as heat pro-
ducers. Recent Investigations. however.
show that though fat is split up and
combined with oxygen in the production
Of heat, especially during muscular ex-
ercise, the process is effected in the it's
sues 10y the action of the cells, and not
IN the lungs, as formerly taught The
use of the fat is now regarded as three.
fold: |, To maintain the body heat. In
cold ATTITUDES, where the body is subject
to rapid cooling, fatty foods become
necessity, so that the carbon may be easily
supplied for combination with oxygen
in consumption. Hence the Green
lander consumes large quantities of
blubber and oil. ,. To pro-
duce force. A muscular tissue is
only produced at the cost of oxidation
in the tissues fat is rapidly burned off
during exercise. If absent the tissues
themselves would be wasted 3. TO pre-
vent the use Of albumen A purely albu-
minous diet is wastetul, 1t has been
proven eXperimentally that small
amount of meat food taken in consider
alton with bread and fat sufiices to main
tain the albuminous structures of the body
better than exclusively lean meat diet.
Fat stored in the body as adipose tissue
is a bank on which the body may draw
for supplies of energy and heat when re-
quired. 1t is stated that in the Franco
German war of 1870 the German Elape-
ror, acting on the strongly expressed
opinion of Ebstein that muscular fatigue
could best be supported on fat, gave
orders that each soldier should have
served out to him $50 grammes of fat
bacon 1t is also well known fact that
fat animals bear deprivation of food bet
ter than thin ones.
NERVOUSNESS AND Irs CJRE. DR.
Bllsinger in an article on the cure of
neurasthenia, or modern nervousness,
which is pervading all classes of society
in an increasing degree, insists that each
individual has the means, to certain ex-
tent, in his own hands, of alleviating
by rational mode of life the general
harm to which modern man is exposed
under the influences which contribute to
nervousness. But the majority of peo-
pie seem to prefer to remain ignorant,
and more or less gradually impair their
nervous systems by certain special in
dulgenccs, abuse of stimulants, too early
and excessive use of tobacco smoke, etc.
Among the early symptoms of derange-
ment from these causes are Crossuess, a
tendency to be overcome by tritles OF a
sensibilility to nervous disturbances
But even in apparently critical cases, a
surprisingly favorable result may be
reached by the exercise Of little patience
combined with proper and intelligent
ly directed general hygiene. Nervous
patients must school themselves religious
ly to avoid, as much as possible, all
drug remedies. Benumbing narcotics
should especially be forsworn,
no matter how seductive they
may appear at first, for in the end they
to a certainty do more harm than good
OF immensely greater value than drugs
to nervous patients are the natural fac
tors of pure air, light, water, quiet and
exercise. Fresh air, and especially
mountain air, is invaluable and can be
INDUCED in without fear of excess. The
same, however, cannot be said of water
This most sovereign of all remedies has
come into dscrcdit in nervous diseases
because of its fragrant abuse. A too in
discriminate application Of water is a
double poison to nervous patients On
the other hand, combined with the air
cure and certain respiratory and muscu-
lar exercises, as we'll as massage it is Of
the greatest benefit Gardening is one
of the best and simplest cures for disor-
dered nerves, and an arm and chest
strengthened, which expands the chest and
regulates the activity Of the heart and
strengthens the muscles, can be used
with great advantage, provided the ex
ercise is taken in weI-aircd room The
diet should be light, slightly stimulating,
and frequently changed; strong soup,
fruit, green vegetables and milk and
grain dishes are recommended A suit
able mental treatment should 60 hand in
hand with hygicnic and dietetic meas
ures, and above everything, patience and
rest must be insisted upon.
CLIMATE INDOORS AND 0UT-The
winter has barely begun, says the 7rj-
blt1le, yet many complaints are already
heard of the facilitating influences Of
the climate Americans live in over
heated houses and are unconscious of tho
degree to which they are pampering and
enfeebling their bodies by furnace air.
BY the middle of October the fires were
kindled Two months have passed and
lassitude and depression arc already felt.
1t IL the climate indoors that eneryates
rather than the climate outdoors Men
become accustomed during the winter to
living and sleeping in overhcatcd houses
and to working by day with steam adia-
tors aud furnace tlucs in full blast.
Physically they are weakened BY this
artificial atmosphere They go about
with plaintiye outerics against the sud
den changes in "the worst climate on the
face Of the earth They seem wholly
unconscious Of the fact that the -harpest
changes are those which are arliticially
produced between the climate in-
doors and the climate outside over
heated houses aud offices arr NOT anly
promoting pulmonary disease and phtsl
II