146 NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGY 



tainty. It is known to be so in an increasing number of the 

 cases studied. Often when the pancreas shows no defect 

 to the naked eye, some abnormality is revealed by the 

 microscope. Assuming that the trouble centers in the lack 

 of the hormone, physicians have frequently undertaken 

 to treat diabetes by administering preparations of pancre- 

 atic tissue or extracts. The results have been generally 

 disappointing, though a solitary case recently reported 

 showed marked improvement for a time. The peculiarity 

 of the subject in this instance was an uncommon capacity 

 for eating nearly raw meat. This made it possible for him 

 to be fed incredible quantities of pancreatic tissue (sweet- 

 breads) from calves. The helpful treatment was inter- 

 rupted when, after an attack of indigestion, he found him- 

 self unable to eat any more sweetbreads. To say that 

 he could not do so to save his life is to express the literal 

 truth, for he fell into a rapid decline and soon died. 



