Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-15
APPETITE IS MADE
!. SUBJECT Of STUDY
Scientist Says Research In
{ dicateS Hunger Is DuIIed
in Modern Race.

Modern civilization seems to be
breeding race which lacks the normal
hunger mechanism, according to DR..
Anton j. Carlson. head of the depart
snent of physiology of the University
of Chicago, who spoke on Recent
Studies of the Hunger and Thirst Mech
anism" before the Midwest Dietitians
at the University of Chicago Lack OF
appetities. especially among children,
causes lack of proper nourishment, he
pointed out.
AN animals appetite increases with
the time it has gone without food" DR..
Carlson said. But there seems to be
an increasing number of human beings
who do not develop an appetite even
when undernourished, and mothers are
constantly perplexed by the failure OF
otherwise healthy children to eat a
sufficient amount of food. We are at
tempting. in our studies on thirst and
hunger mechanism, to learn exactly
what the process is, for then we have
the basis for solving problems OF nour-
ishment,"
Rhythmic Action Found.
Studies by DR.. Carlson, particularly
of DR.. Harold Holck, former instructor
in the department of physiology, VINO
tasted for periods as long as ~ Gays,
have revealed many facts about the
hunger mechanism. BY means of a
pressure apparatus connected to an IN
fiated balloon swallowed by DR.. HolcK
during his fast, it was found that the
stomach has a rhythmic action, Win
alternate periods of Spasm or contrac-
ton of half an hour to an hour ana
half. and periods of rest. Animals from
the snail to man. and human beings,
from prematurely born infants to the
aged, all show the same phenomenon;
In seeking an explanation Tor TINS
action DR., Carlson and his associates
were able to determine that II was no.
a nerve action. The so-called motor
nerves are not involved, although &C.
ton of the sensitory nerves Is required
before hunger can be felt.
Affected by Sugar Content.
The investigation has revealed that
when the sugar content Of the blood Is
low the spasms in the stomach are
much greater than when the sugar con-
tent is high. A.,
s'The sending apparatus, which is the
stomach, and the receiving apparatus,
fhe brain. must be in certain condltlons
To get the sensation of hunger, ana the
blood apparently affects both" DR.. Carl
son said. eff conditions are not right,
then the sensation is one of nausea. ana
not hunger. Apparently the fnytnmic
condition is a hereditary analr WHICH
began early In the development OF man
Nervousness and weakness are ny-
products of the contraction OF the
stomach A..
The old theory that thirst is due 10
driving of the mouth and throat because
of insufficient salivary secretion mas
been disproved, according to DR.. Carl
son. Instead, thirst seems to be due 10
increase of salts in the blood, WMcn
lowers the water content of the blood.
This results In stimulation Of the nerves,
which In turn leads to increased tension
of some muscles. especially those IN the
throat and gillet. Thirst for navoreo
drinks, such as coffee, is not real thirst.
but an appetite, the psychologist SAID.
Peasant Diets Superior.
Peasant classes throughout the world
have a more healthful diet than the
upper classes, and many immigrants
coming to America, where luxurious
food is more plentiful, actually eat less
healthy combination OF fats, carbohy-
drates and protein than they did In
their native countries, said DR.. Lydia
Roberts, diet expert in the universitys
home economics department.. she de-
scribed Czechoslovakian, Scotch. Irish
and Chinese peasant diets and pointed
out that, while they were simple and
differed from one another, they con-
tanned the proper balance, which the
average American diet. with Its empha- |
sis on lean meat and white bread, !
lacked.
The Chinese coolie diet. with large |
proportion of unrefined rice and vege-
tables, is an admirable health regimen,
but the upper class Chinese, unwilling
to eat coolie food, consume NOR. sweets
and refined rice, and thus upset their
most beneficial diets. Immigrant peas
ants seem to take on our worst dietary
habits. she said.