The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16
BANTING SECRETS.
Something About the Science of VAST
ing Away.

London Mail.
1t does not pay to be lethargic in these
days. for all the plums of success go to
those who are several hours in advance of
their fellow-men. Therefore it stands to
reason that no man who means to Ego far
can afford to be fat
The subject of "banting" is a very deli
cate one. Though fat people proverb-
tally supposed to be good-natured those
who are training themselves TO be thin
appear to be particularly quarrelsome and
terribly self-opinionated. The apostle of
drugs will swear that the hydropathc cure
has nothing in it: the hydropathist will
aver that the diet cure is sheer starva-
ton, and so one advocate hurtleS cOndem-
nation at another until the bewidered vic
tim of superfiuous flesh decides to let mat
tiers be. lest worst befall him.
The very system that created for the
English language the verb to bant is now
laughed at by scientists as an unnecessarily
cruel one, though William Banting, the
London undertaken who inaugurated ii, had
for the nucleus of his remedy the one that
is now considered the most common sense,
namely, the reduction of fat by system
atized diet
Obesity as a disease is one that affects
wealthy people more commonly than poor
ones. for hard work and plain living do not
favor the growth of superfiuous flesh. 1t
has its origin mainly not SO much in over
feeding as in luxurious diet.
Then the custom of drinking wines satu-
rated with sugar is q hurtful one, Just as
in Germany the national taste for beer is
provocative of excessive fat. There is
famous fat-reducing system inaugurated
by a German doctor, Professor Schwen-
niger, which has for its salient feature a
limit set on the amount or fluid drunk dur
ing the day, but especially during meals
a drastic cure. according to English ideas
Obesity cures there are that crop up
from time to time and become positive
crazes in society. There was a few years
ago a great furore for the thyroid extract
cure, substance procured from the thy
Rod gland of the sheep. In many instances
1t produced remarkable effects IN the right
direction, but new craze set it aside, and
now it is much less heard of than it used
to he.
Many persons who have undergone fat
cures with success have invariably found
the treatment at German watering places
very efficacious for this and other ills, and
particularly for govt, which has been aptly
called the twin brother of obesity" The
latest spa that has received public appro-
baton is Marienbad, the waters of which
place are supposed to be particularly ef-
ficacious in cases of embonpoint.
1t is generally accepted now that the
correction and limitation of diet is better
form of cure than any amount of drug
taking. But dieting is now so usual
cure for other diseases besides corpulency
that 1t is no uncommon thing at dinner
party to see course OTTER course refused
by one or more Of the guests
Yet correction of the diet for the fat
does not always mean limitation, and to
prove how generous is the diet table of
doctor who cures his corpulent patients of
their burden of flesh, here is the list of
eatables from which they may choose their
daily repasts about the present time of
the year:
Pure cold water never fattens. and in the
estimation of an expert is efficacicus as a
beverage in obesity cases. Coffee seems to
be the stimulant par excellence that the
corpulent person should patronize. In his
book, Food for the Fat" DIR. Yorke-Da-
vies says that ii has 1.-THE power of re-
lieving the sensation of hunger and fatigue
and may be used two or three times day
as a beverage.
AS for the food, the same authority rec
ommends to the fat, it is by no means re-
stricted in variety: indeed, it is the modern
theory that the process of reduction shall
be a pleasant one interfering not at all
with the ordinary pursuits and pleasures
of existence. Exercise is a great factor in
it. and bicycling IS recommended especial
". 1t should be encouraging TO those who
live under the constant fear that they
shall grow stout to know that no one need
be pound heavier than he likes. Modern
treatment is a perfect magician. 1t has
even produced wonderful soap TO reduce
fat