Up to five years ago, and to some extent now, the prescription method
of recommending diets was and is common. In fact it was universal up to
a few years ago; for no one, as far as is known, had yet suggested that
normal appetite was the _only_ competent prescriber, and that it was
the office of the physician to teach his clients and patients how to
normalise the appetite.
It required two years of the circulation of the original publications
and the constant, persistent, personal assertion of the author before
any continued credence of his assertions was secured, with the one
exception of a lay friend in New York who happened to be in a state of
great need of reform at the time, as related under the heading of "A
Five Year's Lay Experience."
It was only about two years ago that the new claims had received
sufficient recognition to admit of explaining them to busy men of
prominence in the medical profession. After the confirmation at the
laboratories of the University of Cambridge, England, the author had
an opportunity to make a statement and give a demonstration to Sir
Thomas Barlow, the private physician of King Edward VII. Sir Thomas
was most sympathetic with the physiological possibilities, and there
has been frequent evidence since to show that he pursued thought of
the suggestions, and that his interest has been responsible for the
aristocratic lay interest which originated the so-termed "Munching
Parties" in London.
The English term "munching," signifying chewing or masticating, is
an excellent amendment, which is gladly adopted. "Masticating" is
technical and formal. "Chewing" has been disgraced by its application
to gum and to tobacco, and the other English expression, "biting,"
suggests the carnivorous, savage use of the jaws and teeth, while
"munching" implies enjoyment, as the munching of delicacies by
children.
As reported from London, "Munching Parties" were inaugurated to teach
attention, to encourage mouth preparation of food for digestion, and
also for the æsthetic purpose of gaining all the gustatory pleasure
possible from food while conserving the economies of nutrition. The
method employed was most ingenious, and with some modification is
approved by the author. When a course was served at "Munching Lunches,"
the manager of the ceremony employed a stop watch to time the treatment
of the first morsel of food taken by each of the guests. Five minutes
was prescribed for consideration of the morsel. It was an extravagantly
long delay over any one morsel, but it set the pace of deliberation,
and time, under the circumstances of a social function, was not a
matter of moment.
A five minute, or even a one minute consideration of a morsel of
delicious food, tends to give a new appreciation of its taste value
and suggests more careful enjoyment than is usual when nervous
conversation is the main business of a meal and food is a mere
accompaniment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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