The Living Machine 293 



polished rice which lacks the reddish husk of the kernel. If 

 fowls are fed on an exclusive diet of this they die after some 

 weeks. If fed on unpolished rice, they do not contract the 

 disease, and if an extract of the husk or bran be injected into 

 fowls ill from eating the polished grain they will recover. 

 Similarly men who eat the unpolished rice are not subject to 

 beri-beri. It seems then that the rice husk contains some 

 substance which is essential to life. 



Pellagra, a disease common among the poorer classes in 

 tropical and sub-tropical countries practically throughout the 

 world, is characterized by weakness, pains, digestive disturb- 

 ances, skin eruptions and mental disorders, terminating in 

 insanity and finally death. In its earlier stages the disease 

 is recurrent, appearing each spring for several years with 

 increasing severity until it becomes a permanent condition. 

 It has been ascribed to a too extensive diet of corn or to eating 

 spoiled corn. It has also been laid at the door of the villains 

 of so many sanitary (or insanitary) tragedies — the insects. 

 One investigator has recently attempted to find an hereditary 

 basis for the disease. Whatever the ultimate cause it is 

 clearly a disease of disturbed metabolism, and evidence is 

 accumulating to show that imperfect diet is responsible. 



Scurvy has long been known as a disease of mal-nutrition, 

 common especially among sailors, who were forced to live on 

 a diet largely of salt meat, so that in the maritime laws of 

 many nations captains were required to furnish their seamen 

 with a ration of vinegar, lime juice or other acid as a pre- 

 ventive. 



While the subject of human nutrition is yet in its infancy, 

 especially as regards our knowledge of these problematical 

 substances, which are essential to health, and to some of 

 which, especially those present in milk, the term vitamine has 

 been applied ; the evidence is clear that to furnish the living 

 machine with the fuel needed for its proper working, it is not 

 sufficient merely to supply the necessary material for energy, 

 repair and growth, but that other things are needed to enable 

 it to properly utilize this fuel. While therefore excesses 

 in eating are but little if any less injurious than those in 

 drinking or other indulgence, there is no place in the regime 

 of the sane and normal individual for the dietary fads and 

 foolishness which some enthusiasts have advocated with great 

 eclat. While most of us undoubtedly eat too much meat, 

 there is small excuse for adopting a strictly vegetarian diet. 

 Our teeth are made for service, and not for the exclusive 

 benefit of the dentist, but while thorough mastication is un- 

 doubtedly essential to a ripe old age with good digestion, 

 most of us will hardly find it necessary to chew by the stop- 



