Produced by Stacy Brown, Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) THE STARVATION TREATMENT OF DIABETES With a Series of Graduated Diets used at the MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL by LEWIS WEBB HILL, M.D. _Children's Hospital, Boston_ and RENA S. ECKMAN _Dietitian, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston_ With an Introduction by RICHARD C. CABOT, M.D. _Second Edition_ Boston, Mass. W. M. LEONARD 1916 Copyrighted 1915 by W. M. Leonard Second Edition First Edition Printed August, 1915 Second Edition Printed January, 1916 Second Edition Reprinted April, 1916 INTRODUCTION. Although Dr. Allen's modifications of the classical treatment of saccharine diabetes have been in use only for about two years in the hands of their author, and for a much shorter time in those of other physicians, it seems to me already clearly proven that Dr. Allen has notably advanced our ability to combat the disease. One of the difficulties which is likely to prevent the wide adoption of his treatment is the detailed knowledge of food composition and calorie value which it requires. Dr. Hill's and Miss Eckman's little book should afford substantial aid to all who have not had opportunity of working out in detail the progressive series of diets which should be used after the starvation period. These diets, worked out by Miss Eckman, head of the diet kitchen at the Massachusetts General Hospital, have seemed to me to work admirably with the patients who have taken them, both in hospital and private practice. The use of thrice boiled vegetables, as recommended by Dr. Allen, seems to be a substantial step in advance, giving, as it does, a considerable bulk of food without any considerable carbohydrate portion, and with the semblance of some of the forbidden vegetables. It is, of course, too early to say how far reaching and how permanent the effects of such a diet will be in the severe and in the milder cases of diabetes. All we can say is that thus far it appears to work admirably well. To all who wish to give their patients the benefit of this treatment I can heartily recommend this book. Richard C. Cabot. PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. The purpose of this little book is to furnish to the general practitioner in compact form the details of the latest and most successful treatment of diabetes mellitus.