THE HYGIENE OF NUTRITION 359 



These persons are depressed or morose, often querulous 

 and prejudiced, seeming to be their own worst enemies. 

 The contrast which they present with the overfed is a 

 consistent one. The man who eats too much and 

 escapes indigestion is usually overweight, florid, not 

 very diligent, a heavy sleeper, and an optimist. There 

 are drawbacks in either case. The picture of the 

 underfed subject is much the same, whether his habit 

 is the result of outward circumstances or alimentary 

 incapacity. 



What happens when the ration is considerably reduced 

 and held for a long time at the new level? In the midst of 

 our war problems this is a timely question. It can be 

 answered definitely. Those who are affected lose weight. 

 After a time, if the cut has not been too drastic, they come 

 into equilibrium again. They are now smaller individuals, 

 and as such operate with greater economy both at work and 

 at rest. If, however, they are now markedly underweight 

 feelings of depression and inertia may be very troublesome. 

 We can get along with less food by fulfilling any of these 

 conditions: becoming lighter in weight, doing less work, 

 keeping warm not very practical suggestions in a national 

 emergency! Our hope lies more in substitution than in 

 reduction. 



Food Poisoning.-^- We must indicate a distinction be- 

 tween auto-intoxication which is due to the production 

 of poisons in the canal and the acute attacks which 

 may be occasioned by food that has become poisonous 

 before it is eaten. Such changes in food are fortunately 

 rare. We need to reflect that very extensive decom- 

 position may occur without making food dangerous. 

 The supreme examples are furnished by certain cheeses 

 which have been so treated as to advance putrefaction 

 to the utmost. They rarely cause sickness. 



From time to time we hear of outbreaks described as 

 ptomain poisoning. They are undoubtedly less frequent 

 than they were thirty years ago, for greater intelligence 

 in regard to the control and inspection of food has had 



