MODES OF REDUCING FAT. 327 



chief article contained in these receptacles, is at once absorbed 

 into the circulation in considerable quantities. Hence this is 

 doubtless the quickest way of removing fat, but it has many ob- 

 jectionable and inseparable attendants, including its lowering 

 effect upon the digestive organs, and its tendency to cause 

 the absorption of muscular tissue at the same time. For this 

 reason it should be used with great care. 



Starvation is much less objectionable than physic, because it 

 merely limits the general supply of nourishment, calling upon the 

 storehouse to render up its contents, and not actually wasting the 

 muscular tissue until the supply of fat is exhausted. The dog, 

 however, bears starvation remarkably well, and it does not injure 

 his digestive organs, or lower his strength, as it does those of the 

 horse. Indeed, the practice of an occasional act of starvation con- 

 duces to the health of all the carnivora, and in the felidce is ever 

 necessary to their health, while among the canidce, though it is 

 not so imperative, it is more or less desirable. The domestic dog 

 instinctively supplies this want by eating grass, which makes him 

 disgorge his food, and is therefore equivalent to starvation. 



Work, however, is the grand means of reducing fat, and where 

 the body is in a healthy state it should be mainly depended on for 

 that purpose. For not only does it effect the object, but it does it 

 without any injurious effects, and is accompanied by the good 

 result of increasing the general health, and particularly that of the 

 muscular system. Like everything else, it may be carried too far, 

 and, as I have previously remarked, it is better to avoid the ten- 

 dency to injury by reducing the food slightly, than by depending 



