Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-09
THE DAnaxnous srRAwBERRY.
View os Scientist as to It's Harmful
ness to Human System.

ness to Human System.
From the Medical Record
1t Is wen known that some unfortunate
individuals suffer from an idiosyncrasy In
regard to the luscious strawberry which
bars them from the enjoyment OF this earli-
est and most priced OF our small fruits. To
such we extend the assurance of our COM
miseration. and only wish. for their sake,
that some one had elaborated an anti-toxin
with which they could sprinkle their ber-
ries. and SO feast upon them during the
all too short season without fear of intes-
thai or dermie retribution. But perhaps
our pity is wasted. and it may be that they
are fortunate In their abnormality. Such at
least is the view taken by no less an au-
thority than Metchnikof. the Russian sa-
want of the Pasteur Institute. In the sec
end of the Harden lectures delivered by
him at Kings College, London. the latter
giene OF the alimentary canal, and threw
a new light what we have been wont
to regard as the benefcent process Of di-
gestion therein.
Noting that marked increase of leuco-
cytes in the blood occurred during the
course of an infectious disease, be remark
ed that similar phenomenon was observed
during the process of digestion, and the
analogy between the two cases was so
striking that he suggested the disquieting
thought that the digestion of food might
also be kind of infection. Indeed. he
asserted boldly that after each repast
certain number of microbes passed through
the intestinal walls and found their way
into the general circulation. the faithful
ieueocytes then masslng in force to repei
the invasion. These microbes might effect
their entrance into the circulation through
LESSONS in the intestinal walls made by
sharp or hard particles OF food-an argu-
ment against the practice or prescribing
bran bread and other irritating foods in
stead of gently acting laxatiyes in the
treatment of habitual constipation. But
the chief offender in this respect. he sug-
gesfed, might be the flelminths which many
il not most of us harbor in our innocence.
These worms, he said, had been shown to
be active agents In the causation of the
ever present appendicitis. GUARD had sug-
gested that they might serve to inocu-
late the mucous membrane with typhoid
bacilli and other pathogenic microbes, and
there was reason to believe that entoZoa
played a role In the causation Of certain
tumors. 1t was time, therefore, he con-
Guided, to institute an energetic campaign
against intestinal worms. 1t Is manifestly
impracticable to add vermifuges to the or
binary diet, and man must therefore, direct
his energies to the exclusion of the ova
OF those parasites by keeping careful
watch over what he puts into his mouth
And here the lecturer entered the lists
against the raw food faddists, and, indeed.
against all o. us who occasionally indulge
in salads and other comestibles which have
not been previously submitted to a tempera-
ture of PIP degrees
All food and drink, he contended, should
be boiled before being consumed. The
tasty salad is, of course, forbidden, for
washing with boiled water Is not sufficient,
and boiled salad is unthinkable. And
here we come to the saddest part Among
fruits this cibiclast, IL we may be pardoned
the term, said 1t was principally strawber
ries which introduced parasites, ova and
infectious germs into the intestinal canal.
1t was, therefore, necessary to boil them
boiled Strawberries 1t is true, he said,
strawberries might be grown under salts
factory hygienic conditions so as to per-
nit of their being consumed raw. But to
that end 1T would be necessary to watch
over the soil and manure. and to use only
irreproachable fluid for the purpose of
water jug. The conditions are too hard.
and 1t Is evident that the strawberry must
go-go to the jampot we mean. This Is
subject worthy Of one of the scare leaders
of THE Lancet, and we leave to our es-
teemed contemporary its appropriate treat
ment. IF our enlightened readers are will
ing to defy appendicitis and leucocytosis,
and even helmin thiasis. during the few re-
naming days of the strawberry season. we
have nothing more to say. Our duty 10
done in placing the facts before them.