18 FOREWORD 



and optimum results. A measure of immunization to any par- 

 ticular type of protein appears to be developed in most cases, 

 after periods varying from a few weeks to several months. 

 A change of Proteals is then indicated. Each protein appears to 

 produce an individual response, so the new Proteal should be 

 given in minimum doses at first, advancing gradually to a max- 

 imum as with the first extract. 



The possibility that a change of Proteals is indicated should 

 always be considered when a patient, after a term of favorable 

 progress, appears to reach a static period short of the desired 

 optimum of improvement. 



The wide range of therapeutic applicability of the Proteals 

 is due to the fact that their response is a non-specific protein 

 response, directly evoking modifications of the blood as re- 

 gards both its corpuscular elements and their enzymic activities 

 that are beneficial to the entire organism. This explains the ob- 

 served anomaly that the same Proteal may be administered with 

 benefit in conditions so widely removed, pathologically, as the 

 anaemias, intestinal and other toxaemias, arteriosclerosis, rheuma- 

 toid conditions, asthma, tuberculosis, psoriasis, and cancer. 



There are, indeed, few, if any, conditions involving disturbed 

 protein metabolism in which the Proteals may not be appealed 

 to with a large measure of confidence. The degree of improve- 

 ment to be hoped for depends, of course, on the conditions of 

 the individual case. 



The particular Proteal to be selected for initial use in any 

 individual case is to some extent a matter of experiment. I have 

 pointed out that the Proteal response is largely non-specific. Ob- 

 servation shows that to a large extent the different Proteals are 

 therapeutically interchangeable. Often it seems a matter of in- 

 difference as to which one is selected. Yet there are specific 

 differences among the vegetable proteins, as a matter of course ; 

 and some of them evoke a much more active response than 

 others. 



I have suggested, as a general principle, that the proteins sup- 

 plied by food products will, as a rule, evoke a less active response 

 than the proteins of vegetables that have not been used as food 

 by our race. Experience seems to justify this theory ; for I have 

 observed that proteins of the food cereals (also the proteins 

 of milk and egg) and the proteins of mustard and rape seed are 

 less active in therapeutic response than the proteins of millet 

 seed and alfalfa. 



In the treatment of individual cases, guided by this principle, 

 I am likely to administer Mustard seed protein (Proteal No. 

 36) or Rape seed protein (Proteal No. 42) or their combination 

 (Proteal No. 40) in the initial treatment of mild anaemias, with 



