The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-05-10
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BY DR.. ARTHUR L. FORSTER

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When Metchnikoff published hi.
theory of the relationship between
intestinal putrefaction and premature
senility, in 1907, it created widespread
interest. 1t led many to look deeply
into the relationship between tht
chemical nature of the food ingesteC
and the character of the counties:
millions of bacteria in the digestive
tube.
The Intestinal Flora
The wall of the intestine is GOV.
cred with a growth of vegetation that
looks in miniature like the floor Of
the ocean through the -bottomec
boats of Catalina. This Towering
growth is made of unnamed myriads
of germs some of which are path
ogenic (disease-p roducing) but the
majority of which are putrefactive
only.
1t is now generally known that an
excess of animal matter in the diet
encourages the growth of these pu-
trefactive bacteria, whereas, a mini
mum of such foods together with a
large amount of starchy foods will
lead to suppression of these bac-
terra and an overgrowth of fer
mentative type of bacilli.
Of the starchy foods, two carbo-
hydrates in articular-lactose and
dextrin-are most potent in this con-
version of putrefactive into a purely
Preventative condition. In other
words, they bring about "simplifica-
ton of the intestinal flora" by de-
stroying the putrefactive bacteria, and
substituting therefore one single bac-
erial form, the bacillus acidophilus.
Under suitable dietetic conditions the
B. Acidophilus finally dominates the
bacterial population of the intestine
and suppresses practically all other
species.
Nature of B. Acidophilus
The name Acidophilus signifies that
this bacillus is "acid-loving," that is
to say, can exist in an acid medium
better than in alkaline surroundings
1t is widely distributed through ma
ture and is undoubtedly ingested in
large numbers in raw foods, espe-
cially milk. 1t is probably present al
most universally in the human intes-
tine
The change in the intestinal flora
by the growth of B. Acidophilus pre-
vents toxins from accommodating, Tactic
acid (the normal stimulant of the in
testine) is produced, and the normal
intestinal rhythm restored.
Accordingly, such change in the
intestinal flora is indicated in con-
stipation and diarrhea from intestinal
stasis, in gastro-enteritis, colitis,
sprue, intestinal putrefaction or auto
intoxication, and in the summer
diarrhea and other intestinal infec-
lions of infants and children.
Acidiphilus Milk, Tablets and Cultures
There are on the market various
preparations whose administration is
suggested for the purpose of supply
ing B. Acidophilus to the organism.
Of these Acidophilus milk is the
only one worth considering, and at
least quart per day must be taken
to change the flora.
Commercial tablets, supposed to
contain living bacteria, are reported
to be worthless. Bass, after an ex-
animation of such tablets, said that
none of them contained more than
1000 living bacteria. If all these bac-
terra are B. Acidophilus, one would
be obliged to take 1,000,000,000 tablets
or 20 tons day, to get as many acid
ophilus bacilli as are contained in the
daily dose of l quart of acidophilus
milk.
AS for the commercial cultures,
they were found so poor in bacteria
that one would be compelled to drink
or gallons day to obtain the
number of bacteria required to bring
about and maintain a change in the
flora. 1t must be remembered that
not less than 0,000,000000 bacilli are
necessary to change the flora.
Inasmuch as B. Acidophilus is pres
ent at all times in the intestine and
is stimulated to rapid multiplication
by a carbohydrate diet reinforced
with lactose, nothing beyond the in
gestion of lactose is necessary to
change the flora. Such preparations