Part 31

OMIT EAT

All intoxicants About two ounces of nuts per day (no more) Coffee Condiments {Fruits Confections Abundance {Salads Red meat of {Fresh green vegetables Tobacco Egg albumin If any meat, it should be fish or tender fowl

INFLUENZA

THE CAUSE

This disorder is popularly supposed to be of bacteriological origin, but upon this question the scientific world is much divided. In the opinion of the writer the cause of influenza cannot be traced to bacteria or any other form of germ life. Bacteria is nearly always present in decomposing animal matter. It is the opinion of the writer, therefore, that bacteria is the result and not the cause of influenza. It might be described as an acute activity of the entire system in throwing off accumulated waste or toxic substances. This process of excretion will become more difficult at certain times, during violent changes in temperature, and many people in small communities may be similarly afflicted, which no doubt gives rise to the theory that it is a disease of germ origin.

INFLUENZA--THE SYMPTOMS

The symptoms are headache, languor, sometimes nausea and congestion in the lungs, together with acute irritation of the nasal passages.

INFLUENZA--THE REMEDY

The logical remedy is normal temperature of environment, abundance of fresh air, and omission of all solid food.

There are two specific forms of diet to be recommended--

1 A liquid diet entirely, such as-- Juice of berries Orange juice Milk Very thin vegetable soups

2 Confine diet entirely to-- Nuts Fruits Fresh green vegetables

3 Eliminate fats, starches, sugars

Either of the above suggestions will be sufficient to control an ordinary case of influenza if it is rigidly adhered to.

In the spring and summer, the latter diet would be recommended, while in winter, when green and fresh vegetables, fruits, etc., cannot be procured, the milk diet should be given.

In cases of influenza, see menus for colds, hay fever, and catarrh. Take choice, giving preference to those prescribed for hay fever. Whichever menu is chosen, it should be taken in its entirety; that is, do not select the meals from two or three menus.

INSOMNIA

THE CAUSE

The inability to sleep is caused:

1 By intestinal congestion or sluggish intestinal peristalsis

2 By irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines

3 By the presence of gas, superacidity, and the consequent irritation and excitation of the nerves leading out from the digestive tract

4 By the use of tobacco

5 By the consumption of stimulants and narcotics, which are so universal and so life-destroying

The effects of (4) and (5) upon the stomach are much the same as those of overeating, in that they invariably cause supersecretion of acid, and, in the majority of instances, produce false appetite, thus augmenting the baneful habit of overeating.

INSOMNIA--THE REMEDY

The logical remedy for insomnia is first to eliminate the use of tea, coffee, tobacco, distilled and malted liquors, and drugs of every kind whatsoever, as the ultimate effect upon the stomach of all these things is the same. When this has been done, the amount of food required by the body, governed by the three laws of age, work, and temperature of environment, should be accurately laid out so that the quantity of food may be controlled and overeating avoided.

The diet should also be balanced according to the chemical needs of the body heretofore mentioned. In a a majority of cases, when the food scientist can prevail upon his patient to confine himself to a normal quantity of food, reasonably well balanced as to nutrient elements, the stomach will perform its natural functions, and fermentation with its long train of ills will gradually disappear. This can, in many instances, be accomplished by merely standing out of Nature's way, but in some cases the stomach, liver, intestines, and nervous system have been so long abused and so impaired that they seem to have entered into a conspiracy for mutual protection, hence may not yield to the "normal quantity" or "balanced dietary" remedy. In these cases a remedial diet must be followed, such as will restore the balance by omitting altogether the elements on which the patient had been overfed, and taking an excessive quantity of the elements for the lack of which the patient had been suffering.