The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-16
DISLIKE FOR GOOD THINGS
Strange Revulsion Which Some
People Have for Food.
CAN'T EAT STRAWBERRIES
A Man Who Was Always Made Ill by
Milk - Apples are Most Abhor-
rent to Others, as Are
Also Pickles.

If the statement should be made that
a majority of human beings, can or do
have a distinct toxic or poisonous ef-
feet on man or woman the statement
would be met with grins of incredulity
and derision. To say that the eating
of eggs. drinking of milk, consumption
or honey would in certain cases pro-
duce effects similar to those produced
by well-known poisons is to court the
contumely Of the general public. But
the statement can be made in all seri-
BUSINESS and be backed up by incontro-
vertible evidence. To be sure, the med
ical profession is unable, except in
cases of marked heredity, to assign any
clearly defined reason for this state of
affairs.
Idiosyncrasies of the nature men
toned are by no means uncommon. Nor
is the list of absolute incapacity to con-
sumo articles Of diet well approved
limited to those already named. By
these idiosyncrasies is meant active re-
volt of the system to the introduction of
the particular food or substance. Mere
matters of prejudice growing out of
gluttony or ill-advised efforts at eating
anything, resulting in revulsion, is not
under discussion. Many an article once
| loved of the particular subject becomes
in time absolutely revolving. This is
due to changes in habit of life, environ
ment, age and the usual happenings of
nature. 1t is gradual in many cases,
and is of no moment to the person.
But in the cases of idiosyncrasies the
revulsion mentioned rarely exists UNI
less, indeed, 1t be in the nature of
birth mark. In most instances the suf-
ferer would prefer the interdicted food
to anything else. But indulgence is
Immediately followed by deadly illness
and acute suffering. Persons so affect
ed are extremely unfortunate. They are
denied the pleasure of eating food
harmless to others and are regarded
with suspicion by their friends. For
what is a real, ever-present affection
which has no remedy is scornfully re-
garded as mere affectation. Friends
will not stop to reflect that no person
will deliberately go through intense suf-
fering merely to show Off" This re-
Election is never made. The result is
that persons SO affected are subjected
to all manner of tricks to induce them
to partake of something they would
never dream of eating II they knew II
was part of the dish.
Many of the articles of food which
must never be eaten by certain per-
sons are regarded with extreme favor
by the men of medicine because of their
digestibility. Some of them are DIM
cult of digestion to molety ot the
people, such as lobster, for instance,
but the great bulk of articles SO inter-
dicted are easily assimilated. Mutton
is looked upon as the acme OF deslr-
ability in the training of athletes ne
cause of all meats it is the most easily
reduced to blood and muscle. 1t IS
nutritious, strengthening and will not
disturb the most delicate stomach not
possessed of an idiosyncrasy which
bars it. Yet more than one case is on
record where mutton could not be eaten
without intense suffering as the imme-
date and certain result.
Few people will decline dish of
luscious strawberries. Fewer still Will
do this because the fruit itself Is un-
palatable. Yet Chicago has fair citi-
zen who cannot eat them. She cannot
even handle them and experiences a
faintness when they are placed on the
table, The result is that her husband
eats Strawberries at luncheon or not at
all. Yet this young woman Graves the
fruit with strong craving. But expe-
rience in the past, oft repeated, mas
taught her to avoid them For years
her friends played all manner of
pranks on the supposition that she was
feigning. They have ceased to do this,
for ,ne suffering is too real to ADMIT OF
foolishness which becomes cruelty
Whenever this lady eats strawberries
she is afflicted with rash. 1t appears
within a short time after the meal,
grows worse and even forms in minute
pustules which exude serum ana
which are intensely painful. III she
handles the berries and acquires some
small portion of the fruit by capillary
attraction the result is the same, Al
though not so marked. If she sits AT
a table where the fruit Is exposed she
is overcome with a species of fainting
and is forced however unwillingly, 10
retire from the board. Yet she hankers
for the fruit with a powerful banker
ing. Why it should so AFFECT her is
matter medical men are unable TO set
tie to their satisfaction. Even those
who have reached decision are I'M
able to apply a remedy that VIII
probably as singular a case as can
he quoted is that of the young woman
who was poisoned by ivy several years
ago. There is nothing strange IN the
fact that she suffered from contact
with the ivy of the poisonous variety,
for thousands of summer resorters SUI
fer from the same cause. But in her
case the singular part is that with the
recurrence of the time OF the year
when the first infection smote her the
rash and its attendant annoyances re-
turn. She may remain at home and
sedulously avoid the woods where ivy
or any other creeping thing grows,
but it makes no differenence. The out
break is Just as clearly defined as IL
a renewed infection had happened.
Milk is good for children, but unfit
for strong men, is an adage which has
come down the ages. Yet the love for
good, rich milk never leaves a great
many persons. In after years, If en-
gagged in sedentary pursuits milk in
any quantity is apt to produce disturb
ances, but these disturbances are ac-
counted for on scientific principles.
But that a man should be marked"
with a love for milk and certainty
of acute and long prolonged collie after
taking it is not so easily accounted for.
Yet here is a case in point where a
we'll defined idosyncrasy existed for
something more than so years.
When last seen the victim was a hale
old man Of correct habits and excep-