Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the PublicBanting, William
Science
Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public
Banting, William
Obesity
My impression from the experiments I have tried on myself of late is,
that saccharine matter is the great moving cause of fatty corpulence.
I know that it produces in my individual case increased weight and
a large amount of flatulence, and believe, that not only sugar, but
all elements tending to create saccharine matter in the process of
digestion, should be avoided. I apprehend it will be found in bread,
butter, milk, beer, port wine, and champagne; I have not found
starchy matter so troublesome as the saccharine, which, I think,
largely increases acidity as well as fat, but, with ordinary care and
observation, people will soon find what food rests easiest in the
stomach, and avoid that which does not, during the probationary trial
of the proposed dietary. Vegetables and ripe or stewed fruit I have
found ample aperients. Failing this, medical advice should be sought.
The word “_parasite_” has been much commented upon, as inappropriate
to any but a living creeping thing (of course I use the word in a
figurative sense, as a burden to the flesh), but if fat is not an
insidious creeping enemy, I do not know what is. I should have equally
applied the word to gout, rheumatism, dropsy, and many other diseases.
Whereas hitherto the appeals to me to know the name of my medical
adviser have been very numerous, I may say hundreds, which I have
gladly answered, though forming no small item of the expense incurred,
and whereas the very extensive circulation expected of the third
edition is likely to lead to some thousands of similar applications,
I feel bound in self-defence, to state that the medical gentleman to
whom I am so deeply indebted is Mr. Harvey, Soho Square, London, whom
I consulted for deafness. In the first and second editions, I thought
that to give his name would appear like a puff, which I know he abhors;
indeed, I should prefer not to do so now, but cannot in justice to
myself, incur further probable expense (which I fancy inevitable)
besides the personal trouble, for which I cannot afford time, and,
therefore, feel no hesitation to refer to him as my guarantee for the
truth of the pamphlet.
One material point I should be glad to impress on my corpulent
readers--it is, to get accurately weighed at starting upon the fresh
system, and continue to do so weekly or monthly, for the change will
be so truly palpable by this course of examination, that it will arm
them with perfect confidence in the merit and ultimate success of the
plan. I deeply regret not having secured a photographic portrait of
my original figure in 1862, to place in juxta position with one of my
present form. It might have amused some, but certainly would have been
very convincing to others, and astonishing to all that such an effect
should have been so readily and speedily produced by the simple natural
cause of exchanging a meagre for a generous dietary under proper
advice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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