362 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 



the rate of oxidation. The technical expression is 

 that "it has a marked specific dynamic effect." 



One system of treating obesity depends on the rather 

 heroic principle of giving drugs which keep the patient 

 in a qualmish condition and abolish his appetite. Fast- 

 ing is thus made easy, but it does not seem as though the 

 after-effect upon the organs of digestion could be good. 

 One might choose to be fat rather than dyspeptic. 



The great trouble with most of the methods employed 

 to reduce weight is that the constitutional tendency is 

 unaltered by them and results are apt to be temporary. 

 The subject faithfully follows a routine at the cost of 

 much self-sacrifice and rapidly regains the loathed adi- 

 pose tissue when he changes his mode of life. Perhaps 

 the most practical suggestion for a line of conduct that 

 can be kept up indefinitely is that bulk rather than 

 nutriment be sought after. The clamors of the stomach 

 can be stilled by filling it with fruit, green vegetables, 

 pop corn, etc., instead of with bread and butter, potato, 

 pastry, and candy. It is a policy of self-deception but 

 warranted in a good cause. 



The Teeth. Digestion and nutrition depend to a 

 considerable degree upon mastication. It is probable 

 that too much virtue has been claimed for the chewing 

 of the food, but it is certainly better to err in the direc- 

 tion of excessive rumination than to become careless in 

 regard to it. The teeth are to be conserved and used. 

 It might be thought that the vigorous employment of 

 the teeth could only hasten their wear and tear. This 

 is probably the case at a time when their life is extinct 

 or limited to a small central core, but at an earlier period 

 mastication appears to be good for the teeth. This is 

 because they are made to sink and rise in their sockets 

 with a massaging effect upon the gums and some pro- 

 motion of the circulation in the pulps. 



According to the usual teaching the best protection 

 to the teeth is afforded by the use of an alkaline mouth 

 wash such as milk of magnesia. If this is used at bed- 



