1 56 DIGESTION. [CHAP. xxn. 



organ ensued upon the consequent evacuation of the humors. Simi- 

 lar cases now and then occur in the human subject from the supplies 

 of nourishment being inadequate. Ulcers are very apt to show 

 themselves on the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal ; they 

 will form in the mouth or in the intestine. These signs may be 

 accompanied with a more or less scorbutic state, as shown in spongy 

 "gums, subcutaneous ecchymoses, etc., according to the extent to 

 which the blood has suffered ; they may occur, too, where there is 

 abundance of fat, although wasting of muscles. If the supply of 

 non-nitrogenous food be large, fat will be formed. When Magen- 

 die fed dogs exclusively on fat, there were ulcer ation of the cornea 

 and wasting of muscle, but the tissues were infiltrated with fat. 

 The case of the ill-fated Dr. Stark illustrated the effects of the long 

 continuance of a diet deficient in nitrogen. This physician, with 

 ill-directed zeal, dieted himself for four months chiefly on non- 

 azotized food, water, butter, oil, sugar, taking only bread in small 

 quantity, and meat or fish occasionally as azotized food. In a 

 short time, well-marked scorbutic symptoms showed themselves 

 without any diminution in the fat of his body ; but subsequently 

 diarrhoea, the result of ulceration of the intestinal mucous mem- 

 brane, came on, and terminated his career. 



Of the Quantity of Food necessary for Health. The proper quantity 

 of food necessary for the support of general nutrition in a healthy 

 state can only be determined by the results of observation and ex- 

 periment ; and the best mode of gaining information on this point is 

 to consult the diet tables of various public institutions, in which due 

 attention is paid to the health of the inmates, or to ascertain the 

 allowances which are found sufficient for the army and navy. Each 

 seaman in the British naval service is allowed from 31 to 35^ 

 ounces of dry nutritious food daily, of which 26 ounces are vege- 

 table and the rest animal, the latter consisting of nine ounces of salt 

 meat or 4J- of fresh. Sugar and cocoa are also given. The sol- 

 dier is allowed a pound of bread and three quarters of a pound of 

 meat. In most of the London hospitals, full diet, which is given to 

 convalescent patients who need a liberal diet, consists generally of 

 half a pound of meat, with from 12 to 14 ounces of bread, half a 

 pound of potatoes, a pint of milk, and sometimes beer or porter, 

 a pint of the former or half a pint of the latter. The former diet- 

 ary is destined for men who must be in readiness for the most active 

 athletic exercises, requiring not only great muscular strength, but 

 also considerable power of enduring fatigue. The latter is intended 

 to recruit the powers of those who have been suffering from disease. 



