672 GENERAL REVIEW OF THE NUTRITIVE PROCESSES. 



enforced, except in early life, or at any rate when the constitution is unbroken 

 by disease or intemperance. Not unfrequently it will be found, that the per- 

 sistence in a diet of this kind, occasions so much disorder of the stomach, as 

 to be quite out of the question. On the other hand, in the " Strumous dia- 

 thesis," there would seem to be a low condition of those vital powers, which 

 are concerned in the conversion of the Albuminous materials prepared by 

 the Digestive process, into the Fibrinous matter which is ready for assimila- 

 tion ; so that, by a perversion of the ordinary nutrient actions, Albuminous 

 Tubercle is deposited in the interstices of the tissues, instead of these tissues 

 being themselves regenerated by Organizable Fibrine ; and the same may 

 take place in a more rapid manner, in consequence of that disturbance of the 

 nutrient processes, which is known in healthy constitutions as Inflammation 

 ( 802). It is obvious, then, that the treatment of the Strumous Diathesis 

 should be directed towards the invigoration of the general powers of the sys- 

 tem ; and although, when disease of the Chest has once established itself, a 

 warm moist atmosphere may be necessary as a preventive of inflammatory 

 affections, it is a great mistake to imagine that such a plan is applicable to 

 those in whom there is merely a Strumous predisposition ; for this should be 

 combated by such means as are calculated rather to brace than to relax the 

 system, especially out-door exercise, a nutritious diet in which easily-digested 

 proteine-compounds should predominate, and a dry and well-ventilated habi- 

 tation. There can be no doubt that the Tuberculous Cachexia is encouraged, 

 and developed, by injudicious management during the early ages of life, in 

 many cases where it might have been avoided.* 



879. Equally important is the regulation of the diet, in regard to its non- 

 azotized constituents. If these are in excess, the elimination of them from 

 the Blood falls especially upon the Liver ( 836) ; and a continued excess 

 gives rise to disorders in its function, which a diminution in the quantity of 

 Farinaceous or Oleaginous matter ingested would prevent or cure. This is 

 especially liable to happen to Europeans proceeding to warm climates ; who 

 are not warned by their decrease of appetite, that there is no longer a necessity 

 for the same supply ; but force themselves to eat much more than they have 

 any real occasion for. There is a very remarkable condition of the system, 

 in which there is a tendency to the presence of a large amount of Sugar within 

 the vessels ; either through the absence of power to convert that which has 

 been taken in ; or through the actual production of that compound, as a result 

 of the waste of the system. We have seen that Sugar may be detected in 

 the Serum of healthy blood, drawn soon after a meal; but that it soon becomes 

 untraceable, probably in consequence of its being carried off by the respi- 

 ratory process ( 697). In the disease termed Diabetes, or the " saccharine 

 diathesis," there is a much larger amount of Sugar in the Blood : and this 

 appears to be constantly present, as if, from some cause, its elimination by 

 the usual channel were retarded. The Sugar makes its appearance, also, in 

 the Urine ; the Kidneys taking-on the unusual office of separating this com- 

 pound, that it may not accumulate in the Blood. Some late researches on 

 the exclusive employment of azotized principles as articles of diet, in the 

 treatment of the Saccharine diathesis, have given very favourable results. The 

 plan was long since proposed by Dr. Hollo ; and when the diseased condition 

 lias been uncomplicated by other maladies (as is not unfrequently the case), 

 the rigorous enforcement of such a diet has been attended with success in 

 numerous instances. One of the greatest difficulties in the application of the 

 system, however, has arisen from the longing which the patients experience 



* Sec the excellent works of Sir James Clark, in which the importance of Hygienic treat- 

 ment is strongly insisted on. 



