The sun., 1903-03-22
FASTING NATURES OWN CURE.
A LECTURE on THE SUBJECT OF
NOT EATING 50 MUCH.


Modern stomachs Overloaded. Says a.
Advocate OF Fasting-Loss OF Appe'
tite Merely Natures way Of Calling
q Hait-Increased Favor for the Fast
ing Cure Foretold by Physician
AN physicians know that fasting Is one
OF natures own cures for any number OF
COMPLAINTS said a doctor who uses no
drugs in his treatment OF diseases. Mod
ern stomaohs are overworked badly, and
within the next ten years think that the
fasting cure will take its place among the
new cures, such as systematic exercise in
the open air, deep breathing, massage and
proper sleep.
REST is natures cure-the cure for the
mind and the body. and therefore for the
stomach and all the diseases that have
their inception there. But at the first COM
plaint that a person makes about feeling
III his relatives set about preparing tempt
ing dishes for him under the impression
that this will restore him
"A person who is really Ill cannot and
will not eat, because his instinct teaches
him that he must not Another who is
merely indisposed will all up his entire day
hunting up new things to take. on the ground
out his breakfast, but by noon he will have
had clam broth. sherry and egg, beef tea,
vichy and milk and other drugstore con-
coctions containing nourishment enough
for prizefghter.
Then he will declare that he must have
luncheon, as he has eaten nothing, and
will proceed to look hungrily through bill
of fare for some item to tempt an appetite
S..l has haQn
worked.
1T Is true that the sensation OF fasting
n not altogether pleasant, for the reason
that We are creatures OF habit and become
accustomed to the stimulation Of our morn
ing coffee. fruit, eggs or whatever may
make up our breakfast. But 1t is all habit.
The fast cure is one Of the new ideas
that will become fixed in the minds of the
people. In fact, 1t is to-day very firmly
believed in by many who have adopted
more simple regimen OF food and, in some
cases where the outlay Of effort Is slight dur
ing day, have formed the habit OF omitting
one meal, either the breakfast or the lunch
con. from the usual three.
"A great many Of the ailments that hu-
manity suffers from proceed directly from
the stomach, while as many more proceed
indirectly therefrom. Apoplexy heart fail
ure and In many cases sudden deaths, can
be traced directly to the stomach, over
taxed and weak, yet pushed on TO the task
for which It is unequal. The result is
inevitable
"A restricted diet is always an aid toward
recovery, and fasting, together with the
hot water treatment, that is. cups Of hot
water drunk during the day as a tonic,
will produce remarkably quick cures in
some stomach troubles. Doctors prescribe
milk diets and other diets not so much for
the virtue OF the diet itself as to avoid the
harmful effects Of the foods 1t excludes.
To keep person on q milk diet for a week
or two means that the stomach gets a COM
plete rest.
The no-breakfast fad and tho anti
luncheon idea alike have their inception
In the rule Of lessening the amount Of food
eaten in the twenty-four hours. The
average human being who does not work
hard partakes OF twice as much food as
Is necessary and Injuries his health by
doing so.
Eating Ia not done 30 much from actual
desire or appetite as from habit People
eat when they have nothing else to do.
They eat simply because others are eating
Look at our fashionable restaurants
and observe the continual feasting that
each day. Luncheon is followed by tea
and then dinner skips closely on the heels
of the afternoon feast. which has no proper
place In American life After few hours
at the theatre supper is on.
As to the fasts one occasionally hears
Of. such a. fasts OF several weeks that have
been known 10 produce good results. they
are q matter to be regulated by the individual
constitution and could not be recommended
generally. But there In one rule that
would hurt no one. and that Is general re-
of a ms:s. That < Why the abstinence h Inc se, of
Lent is 10 benefcial
mo one need bs afraid that moderate
fasting will injI-e him in the case Of any
illness which proceeds from the stomach.
advised.
woman are by far the greatest sinners
IN this respect, although the heavy midday
luncheon of business men In nothing short
Of q crime. But women are always nibblng
and interiard their shopping tnt- and call.
with cups of tea. with Toast aud cakes and
sweets and then complain of headaches and
wonder why they never f.ssl well
AT some of the health resorts one L.
positively stunned by the continual Teasing Y
Induls~d In by invalids many ~ whom
never stir from th. sun Isarlors or their own
apartments exo-pt to ~ to tlss dlIlins rooms
Vet ~ you conver-s with them you will l..ar
Of nothing bu, their ailments Tie only
wonder is how they manage 60 remain alive
.Dyrp-p~lA e-I--ciAlly ylslds "a fasting
and light n.ais rather than dl.tinS la
digestion h only . sympion ~ sonl-i hin q
swfy sith tbs internal machinery, and ons
al tbs mosf oDnnnoa--rn-r cuI-~ is 60 fly.
,i,s sAseiansfy ra-' aud ks tlss bDdy rlsht
'bu dyspapalos 90. continually doslns
Themselves Nth dTtlss oF tTFlus tn nn1
ssussf hing tissy nan cal Nth ssisiy tsefy,
tllns dl.ASfs<. NTH us 0s.f -lsaids
alSasslon, issi ilsas sss.T s,op ioi . day 80
tso dsys ca sllos tlss sissrls to ~
= lsss oaI 81 n,any aaAs- ~ d,sl-,ls-la
~ AdslsanS fssalns ff . sialr aid flssi
Sssa,lsily hSulslifs ii,s dlsi flas HHl
s-..s.siis isi,a,sI h ,i... a.-sa. .la H.,
ssass tsAsa lnisf,aaily isaiiis al.d iass-ass
sih safsly tslias siss. inilsutt. sssiiaiiil,iiis
sssa "a as~s ~ lisi,s sisfaiiiiS
AAlAI IAlSSi x< MAJ NAN