A History of Metabolism 



GRAHAM LUSK 



NEW YOBK 



Introduction 



When one considers the history of the development of the science 

 of nutrition one is impressed with the gradual growth of knowledge upon 

 the subject. The ideas concerning it are not the products of the work 

 of supermen. The ideas were not born as was Minerva, who sprang from 

 the head of Jove. And yet those who furthered science were men pos- 

 sessing much information and also a sense of appreciation of values. 



"JSTot from a vain or shallow thought 

 His awful Jove young Phidias brought." 



Though vain and shallow men may contribute for weal or woe to 

 political or social life, they have no influence upon science. 



This history has been composed with the dominant viewpoint of pre- 

 senting the subject in the words of the Old Masters themselves. One 

 would not desire to see an imitation of the Sistine Chapel could one view 

 the reality itself. 



The Dawn of History 



It is interesting to note that Voit (d} attributes the higher cultivation 

 of the peoples living in the temperate zones to the distribution of food. He 

 says in this regard: 



"The ingestion of food is a fundamental condition of our existence 

 and is indeed one of the most wonderful arrangements of Providence. 

 To the blinded eyes of man it often appears as a punishment that by the 

 sweat of his brow he should eat bread. Hunger is the primary and 

 most powerful spur to work, and only through work come experience 

 and progress. If we were provided with sufficient available energy for 

 life we would ever remain in an undeveloped state. In a country where 

 nature with outstretched arms offers excess of nourishment which is 

 obtainable without effort, one will seek in vain for independent, driving 

 progress. Originally, prehistoric man was nomadic, living temporarily 



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