Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-25

| be induced to be a diet 700 rich in
starch and sugars, and this is more
liable to occur with a diminished al
kalinity of the blood. Permanent gly-
cosuria constitutes diabetes mellitus."
He says, in other words, that If a
temporary glycosuria can be induced
by an excessive ingestion of refined
starchy or sugary foods and such eH-
cess is contained until the temporary
glycosuria becomes permanent the net
result of such excess is diabetes.
He also declares that glucose COM
bines with certain acids and bases, as
potash and lime forming glycosates
or saccharates. and in alkaline solu-
tion has a great tendency to absorb
oxygen.
/ He also makes the significant asser-
ton that in diabetes less oxygen is
absorbed than in health.
If glucose is a confiscator of oNy-
gen and if it is observed in diabetes
( that less oxygen is absorbed than in
health is IL not indeed time that the
role of glucose as an oxygen pirate
be Investigated?
The pancreas in health appropriates
the salts of lime and potash in the
elaboration of its normal alkaline Sc
cretions, as is shown in the analyses
of these secretions.
What scientist will say that this
selective action of the pancreas on
these alkaline bases is devoid of sig
niicance or that the normal func-
tioning of the pancreas does not de-
pend in any manner upon its ability
to make use of them?
Yet in the presence of the fact that
glucose has an affinity for these aka
| line bases and combines with them,
thereby interfering with their ability
! to conduct themselves in the tissues
and internal secretions in accordance
with natures laws, who will say that
| the excessive ingestion of glucose, in
strict obedience to its affinity for aka
| line bases, does not rob the pancreas
of lime and potassium salts by COM
bining with them and carrying them
/ off?
! If deprived of lime and potassium
| in this manner, does not the pancreas
suffer an impairment of it's ability to
assist in the control of the upper limit
of the blood content of glucose?
Kleiner and Meltzer of the Rookie
feller Institute assume (they use the
word assume) that it is the failure of
the pancreas to perform it's function
which causes diabetes.
But what causes that failure?
There is much evidence to support
the belief that refined. demineralized
starches and sugars, of which glucose
is the most conspicuous type, induce
this failure, first by weakening the
ability of the pancreas to resist the
excess glucose assault and, second, by
permitting the entrance of glucose in
to the blood without hindrance after
the glucose bombardment has succeed
ed in breaking down the natural bar
riers against it.
The experiments of Kleiner and
Meltzer indicating that in health the
circulation can utilize only a fixed
quantity of glucose-0.1 per cent
beyond which the healthy or normal
pancreas appears to say, NO more
shall enter" support the conclusion.
although not intended to do so, that
it is the excess of glucose and the
excess of other refined and denim
eralized starches and sugars which
causes a temporary glycosuria to be
superseded by a permanent diabetes,
and tnat the Importance which emil
nent scientists have heretofore at
tached to the diseased condition of
the pancreas in relationship to dia-
betes is enormously given to strik-
ing and significant symptom of the
disease instead of to its cause.
We shall soon describe the sugar
evils as found in adulterated mo-
lasses, maple syrup and honey, in or
der that some adequate appreciation
of the virtues of these sugars, when
pure, may be attained.