184: Journal of the Mitchell Society [February 



development and disturbance of calcium metabolism. The 

 bones are frail and easily fractured. Large quantities of 

 calcium are lost through the feces, while the urine is almost 

 free from calcium. He says it seems possible that the retarded 

 skeletal development is due to the lack of calcium salts available 

 for bone growth. Likewise, most of us receive sufficient metal- 

 lic iron in our dietary, but if abnormal amounts are discarded 

 in the intestinal waste, symptoms of anemia may follow and 

 assimilable iron feeding may be indicated. 



I have discussed the minimum protein of the diet, but what of 

 excessive amounts ? One interesting observation is the relation of 

 forced feeding (by this I mean excessive feeding) to the content 

 of inorganic salts. Quoting Osborne and Mendel again, ''In 

 forced protein and forced fat feeding, we must look out for the 

 inorganic bases, or the acid digestion products of the food will 

 drain the skeleton of sodium, potassium, magnesium and like 

 bases, and the net result may be a gain in adipose and muscular 

 tissue at a sacrifice of skeleton. This is particularly the result 

 of the acid end-products of the carbo-hydrate portion. You 

 recall a typical abnormal illustration of this type in acid or 

 Ketonuria, associated with sugar combustion. Such individ- 

 uals must have the common bases to neutralize these acid pro- 

 ducts or the sacrifice of these elements by the body must follow. 



Just at this point I feel justified in a few remarks regarding 

 bacterial flora. Though bacteriological, it cannot be omitted 

 from dietary studies any longer. The organisms common to 

 the intestinal tract when feeding upon a rich protein diet pro- 

 duce basic or alkaline end-products, while on a carbo-hydrate 

 surplus the local conditions become acid. Whether this chem- 

 ical condition be alkaline or acid determines to a large extent 

 the permanent bacterial flora. Quoting Kendall: "A most 

 fundamental principle of bacterial metabolism may be ex- 

 pressed thus: Fermentation takes precedence over putrefac- 

 tion." That is to say, bacteria in general which can use both 

 carbo-hydrate and protein act upon the former in preference 

 to the latter, though both are present in the same food. It must 

 be remembered that all true toxins are nitrogenous, while acids 



