The Food Factor in Disease; Being an Investigation Into the Humoral Causation, Meaning, Mechanism, and Rational Treatment, Preventive and Curative, of the Paroxysmal Neuroses (Migraine, Asthma, Angina Pectoris, Epilepsy, Etc.) Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...from an asthmatic paroxysm. George S. Keith" described a case of angina pectoris, treated by reduction of proteid. The patient was a well-known Edinburgh literary man, past middle life, powerful alike in mind and body. He had enjoyed excellent health, was blessed with an excellent stomach, and had taken full advantage of it. When he came under treatment, he had given up all his outdoor pursuits and could scarcely walk across the floor without a threatening of an attack of angina: his only relief was from inhalation of amyl nitrite. Stimulants, beef and mutton were stopped, and great moderation in simple food enjoined. He soon began to improve, was able to resume his literary work, and even in moderate degree shooting and fishing... On three occasions only during a period of four years he partook of beef at dinner, and on all three he had one of his worst attacks. Such cases are clearly explicable on the theory of hyperpyraemia. The dietetic methods of Lauder Brunton and Haig involve a carbonaceous intake in excess of the necessities of the organism. But the reduction of proteid diminishes the functions of digestion and absorption (carbonization) and thus precludes, reduces, or disperses hyperpyraemia. Under such diets, there will be an excess of carbonaceous material in the alimentary canal, and, since any increase of proteid will mcrease Fads of an Old Physician, George Keith, p. 32. 2 Ib. pp. 54, 55, 56. the carbonizing functions, the result may be the development of hyperpyraemia. To such facts must, I think, be ascribed the widespread prejudice against meat eating which exists in the medical profession at the present day. Assuming, as we do, that carbonaceous material in the blood is either rapidly oxidized...