February 3, 1893.] 



SCIENCE. 



65 



tions of the liver and kidneys. In consequence of these abnormal 

 changes in such important organs and the decrease in the oxygen- 

 ating capacity of the body, a host of incomplete kataboljns is 

 developed and retained to a large extent within the organism. 



The fact becomes very prominent, therefore, that much of the 

 ill-health and aln;ost all of the cases of uricseinia can be traced 

 to the universal habit of over-eating. A strong healthy individual 

 whose life is spent entirely in the open air and at vigorous work 

 can ingest greater quantities and varieties of food than is neces- 

 sary to supply to the system the requisite amount of nutrition 

 and energy, without suffering much from the indulgence. If 

 the stomach does not reject this burden at once it is largely 

 taken care of by the system. When the varied capacity in dif- 

 ferent persons for storage is exceeded, the organism balances the 

 accounts by a period of vomiting and misery incident to a bilious 

 attack. After middle life these attacks may become less frequent 

 and the excessive amount of food is changed into fat and the 

 individual becomes more corpulent, providing a facility for con- 

 verting elements into fat is consistent with the constitution of 

 the organism. Some people seem incapable of storing fat how- 

 ever rich the diet or sedentary their habits, and as this over- 

 supply of nutritive pabulum must go somewhere, we find that it 

 is but partially used by the system and the larger part exists in 

 the organism as irritating elements, becoming a most potent fac- 

 tor in inducing functional derangement of the liver and other 

 organs or manifesting itself as gout, rheumatism, diabetes, etc. 

 In persons whose occupation keeps them in illy-ventilated rooms 

 for long periods and whose general system is consequently in a 

 devitalized condition, nature is not so kind, but jumps at once to 

 the more serious complaints. 



The perfect performance of no functions is probably so im- 

 portant as those of the liver and intestines. They both lie at the 

 gateway to the system, and if by improper food they are deranged 

 damage must follow. 



One of the most important functions of the liver is to prevent 

 the entrance into the general system of those poisonous agents 

 above referred to 



When we recognize the fact that all forms of extraneous and 

 poisonous substances which are introduced into or are developed 

 wivhin the system "are carried to the liver, and there acted upon 

 by the chemico-physiological transforming power of the proto- 

 plasmic masses composing the cells of that organ, it is quite easy 

 to see and comprehend how derangement, faulty action, or even 

 an absolutely pathological condition, of these cells is developed." 

 Any one of these three conditions will disturb normal action on 

 the part of the liver, and will tend to derange one of its most 

 important functions, that of bile formation — a function upon 

 which the whole matter of digestion and assimilation are de- 

 pendent. This is very evident when we consider that the greater 

 part of the digestion of the food-stuffs takes place in the intes- 

 tinal canal. On imperfectly formed biliary fluid on reaching 

 the alimentary canal will be unable to perform those functions 

 delegated to it by nature, such as the emulsification of neutral 

 fats, conversion of starch and glycogen into sugar, exciting con- 

 tractions of the muscular coats of the intestines and assuring an 

 evacuation of its contents, stimulation of the muscles of the villi, 

 which empty the nutrient sacs into the lacteals, exciting the vital 

 activity of the intestinal epethelium and thus determining the 

 absorption of digested material, moistening the intestinal wall, 

 lubricating the colon, and last, and most important, preventing 

 decomposition, and thereby preventing auto-intoxication. As a 

 consequence of the bile not fulfiling its many oiSces, fermenta- 

 tion is rapidly excited within the bowel, producing many dele- 

 derious products, which pass through the the entero-hepatic cir- 

 culation and reach the liver, thus increasing the work of an 

 already overtaxed organ. '"This, together with the damaging 

 effects of the original poison and imperfect oxidation, explains 

 the chief factors in the development of increased bodily heat in 

 connection with all diseased conditions. In this manner the pro- 

 cess continues repeating its injurious effects upon the system, 

 until nature, by her inherent power, grants relief by destroying 



of cases, however, both the inherent power of nature and the 

 skill of the physician are held in abeyance. 



' ' By converting all the food-stuffs into a thoroughly and easily 

 diffusible fluid, by decreasing to the minimum the products of 

 intestinal fermentation, and by stimulating the activity of the 

 gut, we have produced a condition which favors the most rapid 

 absorption attainable, with the least expenditure of force, and, 

 as a result, there is carried to the liver and system at large a 

 completely digested intestinal product — a nutritive pabulum 

 which contains the smallest possible amount of effete or dele- 

 terious matter." 



This is of vital moment: for there exists a certain relation be- 

 tween the imperfect workings of the vital fores, and disease. 

 If the organism ingest food ill-suited for its needs, functional 

 derangement will soon occur. Thus, it has come to be recog- 

 nized by most physiologists and pathologists, that many of osr 

 chronic diseases which occur largely in late life are the result of 

 a state of malnutrition and a consequent long-continued physio- 

 logical derangement — rather than of an inherited vice. This 

 functional perversion is largely due to the habit of feeding the 

 growing child on a diet composed mainly of the starches and 

 sugars. It is a most common sight to see our children eating 

 freely of the confectioner's goods, and as they grow older desir- 

 ing the rich pastries, marmalades, etc., until an almost pas- 

 sionate and insatiate fondness for this non-nutritious and highly 

 stimulating diet is induced and they soon prefer this kind of food 

 to the plain, nutritious nitrogenous compounds. 



This stimulation soon fails to uphold the buoyancy of spirit and 

 apparent good health, and a condition is left which becomes a 

 great deteriorating factor. 



When these individuals attempt to accomplish great physical 

 or mental tasks, there is noticed a greater and more rapid expen- 

 diture of vital force than nature intended. The demand on the 

 part of the system for a strong stimulant is not fully met by the 

 sugars (UeHiaOj) ; and che more active CsHeO (alcohol) is called 

 into requisition. Thus future habits of intemperance often have 

 their origin in this simple cause. 



You may ask, Is not a liking for strong drink inherited V We 

 answer, No ! But a weakened system craving for something to 

 stimulate it is, and if not corrected by a non-stimulating nitro- 

 genous diet in youth, those who fail through ignorance or other- 

 wise must be held responsible. 



All of these factors leave the system in a much lowered condi- 

 tion and offer an organism which is a good pabulum for disease- 

 germs and poisons of all kinds, and incapable of withstanding 

 their inroads. One has but to call to mind the number of cases 

 of tuberculosis following a continued slate of malnutrition; 

 indeed, this lowered bodily tone is one of its chief etiological fac- 

 tors. 



There are two great collections of forces, therefore, which at- 

 tempt to keep the body in a healthy condition. If you have a 

 derangement of either intestines or liver you will certainly have 

 disease following its continuance. If you have a condition of 

 suboxidation of the proteid food-principles you may expect cer- 

 tain diseases which are caused by the retention in the body of 

 the products of such an abnormal condition. 



Let us glance very briefly at some of the disiases depending 

 upon the|antagonizing power of the intestines and liver being 

 below normal. We place cholera among the first. It was found 

 during the recent plague of this disease in St. Petersburg and 

 Hamburg that the cholera attacked those who had acute intesti- 

 nal complaints and chronic gastric or intestinal indigestion, 

 who ate food poor in quality, i.e., coarse, badly cooked, or par- 

 tially decomposed meats, fruits over or under ripe, or who were 

 addicted^to the use of alcohol. The greatest mortality was among 

 those whose habits of life in eating or otherwise produced or had 

 a tendency to produce a diminished vitality. Cholera, to the 

 one whose liver and intestines are in a normal condition and who 

 eats wholesome and proper food, is not a disease to be dreaded. 

 Typhus fever but rarely attacks the healthy subject, but is very 

 fatal to those who, by reason of fatigue, starvation, or other Con- 



or eliminating the poisons, or is aided in so doing by the skilful ditions, are below the requisite standard of health, 

 administration of some medical agent." In a certain percentage Typhoid fever is the same. In the healthy body the chances 



