In a paper read before the Physiological Section of the British Medical Association in 1901 by Dr. van Someren, claim is made of the existence of a reflex of deglutition, the proper working of which protects from the results of malnutrition by preventing the intake of any excess of food. Thorough mastication and insalivation aid in the more complete utilization of the food and render possible great economy, so that body-weight and nitrogen equilibrium are both maintained on an exceptionally small amount of food. This principle had been worked out by Mr. Horace Fletcher on himself in an attempt to restore his health to a normal condition, with such beneficial results that he was speedily restored to a state of exceptional vigor and well-being. Deliberation in eating, necessitated by the habit of thorough insalivation, it is claimed results in the occurrence of satiety on the ingestion of comparatively small amounts of food, and hence all excess of food is avoided. In the autumn of 1901, Mr. Fletcher and Dr. van Someren visited the physiological laboratories of Cambridge University, and as stated by Sir Michael Foster[29] the matter was more closely inquired into with the assistance of physiological experts. Observations were carried out on various individuals, and as stated by Professor Foster “the adoption of the habit of thorough insalivation of the food was found in a consensus of opinion to have an immediate and very striking effect upon appetite, making this more discriminating, and leading to the choice of a simple dietary, and in particular reducing the craving for flesh food. The appetite, too, is beyond all question fully satisfied with a dietary considerably less in amount than with ordinary habits is demanded.”... “In two individuals who pushed the method to its limits it was found that complete bodily efficiency was maintained for some weeks upon a dietary which had a total energy value of less than one-half of that usually taken, and comprised little more than one-third of the proteid consumed by the average man.” Finally, says Foster, “it may be doubted if continued efficiency could be maintained with such low values as these, and very prolonged observations would be necessary to establish the facts. But all subjects of the experiments who applied the principles intelligently agreed in finding a very marked reduction in their needs, and experienced an increase in their sense of well-being and an increase in their working powers.”