The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-14
FOOD AND THE ARTERIES

/ Manly Philosophers, 6uClcut 61Iu
modern, have made what sophomorons
call wisecracks concerning the influ-
ence Of diet on health and longevity.
At first impact some Of these sage
sayings seem impressive. but even
tually somehow one classifies then!
under the heading Of poetry rather
than truth. DR.. Osler himself got
off few Of these wisecracks and used
effectively In his famous doctors
Bible" quotations Of others from an
cicnt classics.
DR.. Osler died before the dawn OF
the science OF nutrition. We must
keep that fact in mind. while we con-
slider his teaching. for he was the
greatest medical teacher we have ever
had. Speaking Of the causation Of
chronic Bright's disease (chro n G
nephritis, chronic inflammation Of the
Kidneys. which Is generally associated
with artcriosclero6is Hardening Of the
arteries) and nyocarditis (slow heart
muscle impairmenD. Osler said:
Alcohol plays an important
part. particularly In conjunction
with other factors. Among the
better classes In America chronic
Bright's disease Is very common.
and Is. believe, caused more fire.
, Qucntly by overeating than by ex-
cess In alcohol"
Speaking OF the treatment Of chronic
Bright's disease. DIR. Osler said:
alcohol should be strictly pro-
hibited. Tea and coffee are al
lowablc. The diet should be light
, and nourishing (sic). and the pa
tient should be warned not to eat
excessively. and not to take meat
, more than once day. The pa.
/, tient should keep the urinary Sc
erection free by drinking daily .
definite amount OF either distilled
, water or some pleasant mineral
I water"
Somewhere else In his writings Il
cannot find 1t at the mosment) Oslee
! quotes some old master to the effect
that the platter kills more than the
, sword.
That advice that the diet should be
/ light and nourising Is like advising
, that drinking water should be clear
!, and wet, or that the patient must have
! good ventilation but no drafts or that
we should have plenty Of fresh air but
avoid exposure. Today II any ply
| sician preScribeS restriction Of your
diet to things which are nourishing
) hut easily digested he Is just stringing
you along, and that's all there = about
1t. In Sir williams day the doctors
really imagined sick-room pap WA
easily digested." We know better
now.
Overeating, that Is. consuming 4
greater quantity Of food than Is re-
quired for growth. repair and mainte.
nance Of body weight within normal
bounds. Il perhaps . more important
cause OF Q. v. .. (artery .heart. kidney
impairment. premature old age) today
than It was In Osler,s day. Not that
We cat more. but mainly because we
walk lass. She who walks may eat
and still keep her youthful figure.
Often I wonder how great part q
this dreadful compression Is due to
too many cars per family.
Dr.. Ooler arbitrarily restricts the
patient to one meat meal daily. In his
day the doctors really imagined meat
especially dark q rcd meat, was II
some vague way Q greater strain on
metabolism, on the arteries, on the
kidneys. than Is other food. We know
better now. True i = generally easier
to overeat IN the delectable carbohy-
drates, the breads. cakes. sweets, can
dies, etc, but calory tor caloey o.
nutritive value for nutritive value. -
far a We know It doesn't matter
whether ono eats meat once . week
Ioe three times . day. - long . there
= . fair variety Of items In the diet
every day.
QUESTIONS AND AN1W330
PatAeesale Practise
| Il it harmful % put . quarter q .
Iteaapoonful q bicarhonate Of soda Ia
Ievery cereal Or vegetable dish taken
BY . S-year-old child to prevent sosl:
|atomach and vomiting which had hap
IpenAd previously doctors call Il neu-
|rotic vomiting. (Mrs. J. =. W.
| Answey-lt y harmful The stom-