The Colorado statesman., 1915-03-06
Copyright. 1914. by A. S. GrayJ
PROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES.


sea Clinical society of London, assert
ed that. while their origin in the body
was unknown, all the protective sub
stances which were involved in the
cure of disease were to be regarded
as produced by the internal secre-
tions." 1t should be recognized" he
added, that chronic or local infection
was a symptom of defective internal
secretions and that those secretions
could be elaborated in the body when
there was youth. strength and health
by the application of the appropriate
stimulus given in proper quantities" 3"
Naturally the mind of thinking man
tnstinctively turns to the search for
this appropriate stimulus" Other
things being equal, it is quite signifi-
cant that the highest degree of i'm
munity to infection is generally to be
found among those people most close
iy approximating primitive living con-
ditions, and 1t is among this class that
the highest number of breast-fed in
iants will be found. Also it is signifi-
cant that hay fever. neurasthenia and
the other neurotic disturbances are
more prevalent among the refined and
the educated than among the litter
ate and the poorer classes.
lnasmuch as we all begin as a sin
gle cell aud every particle of change
beyond that state must come as the
result of the absorption of external
matter, we are inevitably forced to a
consideration of the building material
out of which the body must be con-
structed as being the only logical
point of departure from the normal
state of health 1t is impossible to
build substantial and durable build
ing without sound and suitable founda-
tions, lumber, brick and mortar, and
it is impossible also to build a nor
nal, healthy human body without suit
able building material If a building
disintegrates and falls down we know
the cause must have been inferior ma
terial and workmanship. Likewise
premature physical collapse or dis.
ease or abnormal conditions in the
human body must come from the
same cause. Nature does not make
mistakes. but adjusts each thing ac
cording to its correct relationship with
everything else
In the past the value of q food has
been estimated by its contents in fats
carbohydrates and proteins. as esti.
mated by rather crude chemical analy.
sis and the caloric equivalent of the
food. The demonstration of the ne
cessity of certain inorganic salts for
the maintenance of body metabolism
proposition which is still being
strenuously fought in many quarters
marked a forward step of vast impor
tance to human health and happiness
but it fell far short of solving the
most serious problem confronting
modern civilization. Further compre
hensive efforts to reach this solution
resulted more recently in the discov
cry that individual proteids consist oi
numerous amino acids nitrogen hold
ing compounds) and that each proteid
differs in the quality and the number
of these amino acid building stones
This discovery opens our understand
Ing to comprehension that proteins
which are deficient in certain of these
amino acids will not alone suffice tC
metabolism.
The work of Hoist, of Funk and O.
the later Investigators of the differen
deficiency diseases gives to medicin,
an entirely new conception of fooC
requirements.
The discovery of these substance.
tthe yitamines) is certain to produc,
revolution in existing theories o
metabolism and of disease, because
such substances have been undreameC
OF by Psychologists and pathologists
They are the key necessary to unlocl
the doors to the unexplored region,
that the comprehensive and brlllian
work of BrownSequard, Sajous ant
numerous other keen minds have
opened to wondering humanity. TIL,
significance of the discovery is no
grasped until 'Se come to understand
that in these numerous and compli
Gated amino acid bodies we undoubt
edly have the appropriate stimulus
sought for; the mother substance,
according to Funk, out of which ar,
made the wonderfully effective "op
sonins," "hormones," or whatever w,
may choose 10 call them, the chemica
compounds manufactured by the com
plicated cooperative system of duct
less glands that have automaticall,
regulated and carried forward al
mans vital functions since the begin
ming of time. and are fully able t,
continue the operation normally ant
in accordance with the laws of tn,
universe to the end of time-providet
man acquires sufficient intelligenc,
not to interfere with the operation o
the functions.
A brilliant red card is probably al
distinct an entity as one can imagine
and yet in the light OF the sun from