PREFACE. iz: 
Milk, as a third representative support), other therapeutic 
forms of food are lacking, up to any number, from the cook, or 
of healing potions from liquid sources as supplied for the table. 
Convincing evidence to the contrary is borne by the copious 
testimony of the lengthy volume which we now undertake. 
Tt will be found that an entire armament of weapons is 
provided herein, ready at hand for active service alike in 
sickness and during convalescence therefrom. Some of the 
food principles obtained thus, are indeed so potent as to 
become poisonous if accumulating redundantly in the blood. 
“Somnambulism,” says Dr. Wynter Blyth, “can be produced 
by starches in excess within the body so as to form amylene ; 
under the influence of which toxin a person will walk about 
unconsciously in the same way as the somnambulist does. 
Afterwards, when the effect goes off, the said person becomes 
all right again.” So again a sulphur compound, mercaptan, 
may be produced in the digestive chemistry of certain foods 
which have been taken at table, causing therefrom an intense 
melancholy, almost leading to suicide. ‘I have no doubt,” 
adds Dr. Blyth, “the day is coming when it will be proved 
that several forms of mental derangement are due to 
substances resulting morbidly from food products inside our 
own bodies.” 
As long ago as in the seventeenth century the Aqua 
Toffana played a notorious part in serving to destroy (by its 
secret admixture with the Naples drinking-water) more than 
six hundred persons, among whom were two popes. This 
poison is said to have been prepared by killing a hog, dis- 
jointing it, salting it (as it were) with arsenic, and then collect- 
ing the juice which dropped from the meat ; which juice was 
considered far more fata! tha an ordinary solution of arsenic. 
Combined therewith was a little plant which is most familiar 
