244 



Food and its Digestion. 



whisky or brandy, without sugar, or a glass or two of 

 claret or sherry. 



With regard to this regimen he expressively adds, 

 " That man must be an extraordinary person who would 

 desire a better." 



In amount, the regimen consisted of about five or six 

 ounces of solid, and eight of liquid food for breakfast, 

 eight of solid and eight of liquid for dinner, three of solid 

 and eight of liquid for tea, four of solid and six of liquid 

 for supper, or in all twenty ounces of solid and thirty of 

 liquid food during the day. Though he states that he was 

 not so much limited in quantity at either meal so long as 

 the nature of the food was rigidly adhered to. 



Mr. Banting terminates his interesting account in these 

 words : 



"I have never lived so well as under this new plan of 

 dietary, being much better, bodily and mentally, than in 

 other days; and though at 65 years of age, not expecting 

 to remain free from some coming natural infirmity to 

 which all flesh is heir, at this present moment I can not 

 complain of one. It is truly miraculous ! and I am grate- 

 ful to Almighty Providence for the result, and as a thank 

 offering I place <£50 in the hands of my medical adviser 

 for distribution in his favorite hospitals, still remaining 

 under overwhelming obligation to him for that care and 

 attention which I can never hope to repay." With this 

 enthusiastic apostrophe of gratitude we will take leave of 

 Mr. Banting. 



But before entering upon the subject of food and di- 

 gestion in its physiological aspect we will briefly consider 

 Comoro's most interesting account, and rules for ensuring 

 a long life. Cornaro's book " Discorsi delta vita sobria" is 

 the eulogy of sobriety, and he has always been considered 

 high authority on the subject of longevity and temperance, 

 for he, by dint of care diet and moderation, and by making 

 living the great business of his life, attained the age of 

 nearly 100 years. 



