ANTIFAT TREATMENTS 397 



Antifat Treatments. It is impossible to enter into the 

 various antif at treatments 39 beyond mentioning that in the 

 majority of cases they are essentially fasting treatments, 

 with different variations. Thus in the so-called Banting 

 treatment there are given, mostly in form of meat, only about 

 1100 calories to a person instead of the 2800 calories due 

 him ; the Ebstein bill of fare with about 1300 calories gives 

 preference to fat ; that the intermittent restricted milk diet 

 in limited amounts is equivalent to actual fasting goes with- 

 out saying. The same thing is true of the Eosenfeld potato 

 treatment (with about 1200 calories). OertePs treatment is 

 based on the restriction not only of the number of calories 

 but also of the amount of fluid allowed; but it should be 

 remarked that the losses in weight obtained with this last 

 method, for which the patient must pay with the torments 

 of thirst, are partly only apparent and are due to the loss of 

 water. We have learned to realize, too, that the patient 

 should not be allowed to be weakened in the course of an 

 antifat treatment. It is important that modern methods 

 of dietetic reduction of fat be so planned, like that of 

 G. Gartner, that the subjective sensation of hunger be kept 

 down by full use of bulky food rich in cellulose, of low caloric 

 value, like green vegetables and fruits. It is of value, too, 

 to further the process of reduction by increasing the mus- 

 cular activity. Employment of mineral waters containing 

 sodium sulphate (Marienbad, Karlsbad, Neuenahr, Tarasp) 

 often is of service by lowering the complete utilization of the 

 food. "The combined action of all the factors favoring the 

 reduction of fat in special baths, " says F. Umber, "the 

 regulation of diet (which is frequently, for example in Ma- 

 rienbad, in Kisch's regulations, administered in a bill of 

 fare similar to that of the Banting system) , the drink treat- 

 ments, the bath treatments, the systematic muscular exer- 

 cise, and not the least the removal of the patients from their 



38 For details cf. E. H. Kisch, Entfettungskuren, Berlin, 1901; F. Umber, 

 Lehrb. d. Ernahrung u. Stoffwechselkr., 1909, pp. 94-114. 



