Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-03-05

3! By ALBERT S. GRAY. M. D. ~
s-s-s-s.s.....s-s-s..s.s..s
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
tCopyrisht. 1914. by 4 S. Gray|
PROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES.
Sir Almroth Wright, the discoverer
of opsonins, speaking before the Chel-
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 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.
Naturally the mind Of thinking man
instinctively turns to the search for
this appropriate stimulus" Other
things being equal, 1t is quite signifi-
cant that the highest degree Of i'm.
munity to infection is generally to be
found among those, people most close.
ly approximating primitive living con-
ditions, and it is among this class that
the highest number of breasted in
fants will be found. Also it Is signif1.
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.
Inasmuch as we all begin as sim
gle cell and every particle of change
beyond that state must come as the
result of the absorption Of external
matter, we are inevitably forced to
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. It is impossible to
build substantial and durable build
ing without sound and suitable founda-
lions, lumber, brick and mortar, and
1t is impossible also to build a nor
NAL, healthy human body without suit
able building material.
In the past the value of 9 food has
been estimated by it's 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 me-
cessity of certain inorganic salts for
the maintenance of body metabolism,
a proposition which is still being
strenuously fought in many quarters.
marked a forward step of. vast impor-
lance 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 of
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 to
maintain an equilibrium of nitrogen
metabolism. -
The discovery of these substances
(the vitamines) is certain to produce
revolution In existing theories of
metabolism and of disease, because
such substances have been undreamed
Of by psychologists and pathologists.
They are the key necessary to unlock
the doors to the UNEMPLOYED regions
that the comprehensive and brilliant
work Of Brown-Sequard. Sajous and
numerous other keen minds have
opened to wondering humanity. The
significance of the discovery is not
grasped until we come to understand
that in these numerous and compli-
Gated amino acid bodies we undoubt-
eddy have the appropriate stimulus"
sought for; the mother substance"
according to Funk, out of which are
made the wonderfully effective "op-
sonins," "hormones," or whatever we
may choose to call them, the chemical
compounds manufactured by the COM
plicated cooperative system of duct
Jess glands that have, automatically
regulated and carried forward all
mans vital functions since the begin
ming of time, and are fully able to
continue the operation normally and
in accordance with the laws Of the
universe to the end of time-provided
man acquires sufficient intelligence
not to interfere with the operation OF
the functions. .-.sygr
Sajous holds that millions of in.
fants die solely because they are de-
prived of what nature provided for
them, the maternal milk, which not
only nourishes them. but protects
them against disease. Human milk,
- =