700 ARTHUR ISAAC KENDALL 



ten times that characteristic of the normal acidophilic stool. In spite of 

 the great prostration, there was little evidence of a toxemia of ali- 

 mentary origin. The removal of all carbohydrate from the diet appeared 

 to reduce the excessive acidity quite promptly. Excessive lactic acid pro- 

 duction in the digestive tract is uncommon. 



3. Sour Milk Therapy and Bacterial Metabolism 



For more than two decades, evidence relating to possible correlations 

 between products of protein putrefaction in the alimentary canal and those 

 somewhat general symptoms designated by many observers "auto-intoxica- 

 tion," has been collecting. Metchnikoff, following a suggestion by Herter, 

 wove the various observations and facts upon this subject into a coherent 

 theory covering the salient features and advanced his sour milk therapy 

 as a remedial procedure to combat these conditions. 



Briefly, the Metchnikoff hypothesis is as follows: .In advanced adult 

 life, or earlier, the intestines become populated with bacteria, chiefly an- 

 aerobic, which produce, indol and other putrefactive products in unusual 

 or intolerable amounts. The antecedent cause is a protein-rich diet. The 

 absorption of these substances for variable periods of time leads to arterial 

 hardening and that series of structural changes which is frequently spoken 

 of as premature senility. The site of trouble, says Metchnikoff, is chiefly 

 the large intestine. In support of this view, two cr three instances are 

 cited in his book in which patients suffering from so-called intestinal 

 toxemia were benefited by the shortening or removal of the large intestine 

 by surgical operation. By so doing, the offending bacteria and their en- 

 vironment were simultaneously eliminated. 



In contrast to this possibility, that longevity and the normal approach 

 to uncomplicated old age are interfered with to a degree by excessive 

 bacterial putrefaction in the cecal cesspool, attention was directed to the 

 unusual span of life enjoyed by some of the Biblical patriarchs (Piffard). 

 Metchnikoff also found that longevity is, or was, a noteworthy char 

 acteristic of those inhabitants of southeastern Europe who drink mil 

 soured by lactic acid bacteria as a principal article of food. 22 



The suggested relationships between soured milk, 23 sour milk bacteria, 

 longevity, on the one hand, and mixed diets, intestinal putrefaction and 

 auto-intoxication, with premature senility on the other hand, have led 

 Metchnikoff to conceive of the possibility of replacing the putrefactive 

 intestinal flora by the lactic acid bacilli of Bulgaria. Replacing malig- 



23 Souring is induced by adding to the freshly drawn milk lumps of coagulated 

 casein containing impure cultures of lactic acid bacilli, known variously as Kephir 

 granules, Lebenraib, Maadzoun, Yoghourt. and by other names. 



23 The souring of milk is the only method of preservation in warm countries where 

 refrigeration can not be practiced. 



