26 HAEOLD L. HIGGINS 



amount of cereal together with milk. Of course, in therapeutics, one has 

 often to adjust the diet on breaking a fast according to the nature of the 

 disease (as diabetes) or to the object of the fast. 



One is particularly impressed by the rapidity with which the loss of 

 weight is made up after a fast. The statement is made and in practice 

 is usually true, that the way to gain weight is to fast, and then eat. Prob- 

 ably the most startling examples of this occur in typhoid fever where the 

 body weight increases very rapidly during the period of convalescence 

 (Svenson, 1901). The rapid gain in weight is probably to be explained 

 on the following facts : 



1 Fasting improves the appetite. 



2 Allowing the digestive organs a rest, helps to overcome indigestion and 

 then when feeding begins the digestion is improved. 



3 Fasting lowers the metabolic level. Giving excess food while at this 

 lowered level tends to cause storage of body material rather than to 

 cause "luxus consumption." What can be added before the metabolic 

 rate again rises, is stored, and apparently beginning to store body 

 material stimulates the storing of more. 



Therapeutics 



Fasting has a place in therapeutics and in some cases is of remarkable 

 value and usually the benefits can be 'explained on a physiological basis. 

 The fasting "cure" has unfortunately, however, become a fad and been 

 overdone by some people, who even regard fasting as a panacea. One can 

 find several semi-popular books published which deal with the advantages 

 of fasting (Carrington, 1908). 



In gastro-intestinal disturbances fasting is one of our best therapeutic 

 aids. This is especially to be seen in infants with vomiting and diarrhea. 

 Apparently rest is most important in overcoming the inflammation of the 

 mucosa of the gastro-intestinal tract. A child with indigestion will stop 

 vomiting probably more quickly by fasting and then slowly adding food 

 than any other way. Probably the quickest way to check diarrhea in 

 adults, as well as in children, is by. fasting. In acute gastro-intestinal 

 disturbances, where surgical interference may be needed, fasting is a 

 safe procedure until a definite diagnosis is made. 



The Allen method of starvation in diabetes is coming more and more 

 into favor (Joslin(a), 1917). Diabetics become sugar free quicker by 

 starvation (or intermittent starvation and feeding) than in the older meth- 

 ods of treatment. Starvation also seems to lessen the tendency to the pro- 

 duction of acetone bodies and to acetone body acidosis. Diabetics clinically 

 seem to do better on a low caloric diet, often approaching or even reaching 

 undernutrition, in having a higher carbohydrate tolerance and better gen- 



