HOW THEY MAY BE GREATLY INCREASED.
By LOUIS DECHMANN.
1918.
When physiological chemistry has isolated and classified the component elements of the various organs, tissues and fluids of the body, it must analyze and classify the vegetables, fruits and meats on which man feeds in order that we may not only know how to arrange a perfectly balanced ration for the healthy, but shall be able to add lacking elements to the diet of the diseased. This classification of foods naturally leads, if there be a deficiency of any essential element, to the analysis of the soil on which this food was raised.
In the course of my studies in physiological chemistry and biology, which have extended over a period of more than thirty years, I have been led to grappel with problems in agriculture, in horticulture, and in aviculture, for the purpose of finding solutions to problems in human nutrition. Very early in my studies I learned the value of the mineral elements in our foodstuffs. I was led to attempt to augment the quantity of mineral salts in various foods, and my efforts were crowned with success. But this is not the point, however, to enter into a detailed discussion of that aspect of the subject.
It may be wise for the sake of clearness to divide this statement into two parts, as follows:
1. A brief summary of the function of minerals in the human economy.
2. A short argument showing how we can and why it is imperative that we should augment the mineral content of our vegetables, small fruits and eggs.
In the case of eggs, for example, I am able to increase their iron content 300 or 400 per cent. More than that, I can multiply every item in their mineral content several times, thus producing specific eggs for those suffering for lack of any mineral. In other words I am able to produce special eggs for a given tissue degeneration as, for instance, haemoglobin eggs for degenerate blood; lecithin eggs for the nerves; calcareous eggs for the bones, and kaliated eggs for the muscle.
So much by way of preface.
I.
The following explanations are made for the purpose of showing you that I have made extensive studies along these lines, and are not, naturally, intended to be taken as a lesson to you personally.
There are sixteen chemical elements absolutely essential to healthy human life, which are classified by physiological chemistry as the elements of organic life. In the composition of vital tissues we constantly find these basal elements: Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, chlorine, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, fluorine, silicon, and iodine. The function of these elements will be discussed in a moment.
I would here lay stress upon the fact that the absence of the tiniest ingredient necessary to the growth and functioning of an organ will, according to the Law of the Minimum as laid down by Justus von Liebig, result in disease, improper functioning and degeneration of that organ or tissue.
Although the chemical salts constitute but a small part in the composition of our bodies, and are a very small item in our daily diet, their importance cannot be too strongly emphasized. They are the main sources for the development of electro-magnetic energy in the blood and nerves, and perform other services. I am of the opinion that "vitamines" are neither more or less than these chemicals in proper proportion and relation, but whether you agree or disagree with this conclusion, you will instantly agree that the elements named above are indispensible to perfect metabolism.
It goes without saying, of course, that no action in the world occurs of itself, that is without impulse, hence the body must be given impulse to growth. A series of chemical and physical facts indicate that phosphorus plays this vital part. The property of phosphoric acid of uniting with carburetted hydrogen to form carbonic acid and phosphureted hydrogen certainly is of fundamental importance, as phosphureted hydrogen readily ignites on coming into contact with oxygen. Since cerebrin consists of a combination of phosphoric acid with gelatine which contains ammonium and with oleine, it is easy to infer that the light of the soul may be due to the phosphoric acid in the nerves, and still further the potassium phosphate forming the mineral basis of the muscles. Thus we come to the conclusion that the phosphates, combinations of phosphoric acid with basic substances, possess in general the property of imparting the true impulse to growth, that is to accumulation of organic matter.
Like every other structure, however, the body requires supports and props and, above all, a firm foundation on which to rest. Iron and lime, whose union is secured by their opposition to one another, bring into conjunction materials of contrary disposition for the creating of organic forms of the nature of plant and animal bodies.
The sulphuric compounds are related and yet opposed to the growth determinating phosphoric compounds. All organic building material (protein) contains phosphorus and sulphur, in varying proportions, and all indications are that sulphur plays the part of a regulator in organic growth. Just as an engine requires a governor to regulate its pace, so the human body requires a controlling factor to ensure definite stability. It is interesting to observe that normal blood contains about twice as many sulphates as phosphates. When there is great scarcity of sodium sulphate in the blood, abnormal growths develop from the phosphatic nerve tissues, and they continue to develop so long as the blood and lymph are deficient in sulphur, particularly the sulphates. This is, I believe, the genesis of polyps, tumors and cancers.
In the same manner that sulphuric acid controls and regulates the phosphoric acid of ammonium phosphate, so lime and magnesia act on the ammonia of this same ammonium phosphate.
Phosphatic ammonium carbonate lodges in the gelatinous cartilage and stretches it, when there is a deficiency of lime and magnesia in the food, resulting in rickets. Such a growth of cartilaginous tissues is controlled by lime and magnesia, as they change the pliant cartilage into bony barriers in which small particles of magnesia combine to produce phosphate of ammonium and magnesium which checks the further deposit of cartilage.
Lime and magnesia are indubitably quite as effective agents in the control of ammonia as sulphur is in the control of phosphorus. If we consider the minerals as the foundation and mortar which give stability to the vital machine, leaving out chlorine and fluorine, we find that iron, manganese, potash, soda, and silicic acid play this role. Sulphur, because it possesses the property of becoming gaseous, is able to take part directly in the formation of albumen, that variable basis of body material, whereas all of the other mineral substances except silicic acid can only be assimiliated in so-called binary compounds in the form of salts.
I will give a brief review of them, beginning with iron, as thus the significance of augmentation of the mineral content of vegetables and small fruits and eggs will be made much clearer.
Normal blood albumen is essentially a compound of calcium and sodium into which iron and sulphur both enter. A deficiency of calcium commonly makes itself known by dental defects, just as lack of sulphur reveals itself by the falling out and poor growth of hair. Insufficiency of iron in the blood is evidenced, apart from lack of spirit, by paleness of face and blue lips; insufficient sodium by glandular tumors and abnormal cartilaginous growths.
The entire amount of iron in the blood of an adult person is, on the average under normal conditions, four grams, as much as a nickel weighs. We may well judge that this amount is not sufficient to set the motive power of our bodies in action, if we overlook that complex factor the circulation of blood. The left side of the heart has the capacity of containing about six ounces of blood, and every heart beat drives this amount through the aorta. With seventy beats to the minute, twenty-five pounds of blood is pumped from the heart every minute. What is the result? That the four grams of iron keep up such an incessant movement that they pass from the heart into the aorta sixty times an hour or 1440 times in 24 hours. It may be asserted, therefore, that in 24 hours 13 pounds of iron (that is 1440x4 grams) pass from the heart into the aorta. Can it be doubted, in view of this, that the iron serves to produce an electro-dynamic force?
In respect to the generation of electricity, it matters not whether there be an entirely new supply of iron passing a given point, or whether the same iron pass that point anew each minute. Two factors work together in the circulation of the blood, namely, the active attraction of nerve tissue and the passive susceptibility of the blood contents to that attraction. Faraday has conclusively shown that blood is magnetic in character because of the iron it contains. If four grams of iron is the normal quantity in the blood, it is clear that the reduction of this amount, say by two grams, will lessen its susceptibility and slacken its circulation. The electrical nerve ends will then strain in vain for the electricity which the blood current should yield, and the result will be neuralgia.
It is the magnetic iron in haemoglobin which makes every sort of nervous function possible, in the cerebral (brain) and in the sympathetic (intestinal) tracts, and since it is thus made clear that intellectual activity on the one hand and breathing and digestion and excretion on the other are dependent on the iron content of the blood, we must also recognize that, as iron attends every nerve action, the secretion of urine too takes place under the influence of haemoglobin. Insofar as haemoglobin hastens the departure of the excrementitious matter in urine out of the system, there is a daily loss of iron in the urine. This loss in the form of urohaematin may total four centigrams, or a hundredth part of our supply.
This loss of iron if not replaced by eating suitable food will soon make itself felt. In the course of a day the reduction by four centigrams will diminish the energy of nervous activity about 1440 times the apparent loss, so that even a four weeks-tropical fever, during which no meat is eaten, may completely exhaust the strength of an individual. Moreover, iron conditions bodily warmth as it combines with oxygen in a higher and a lower degree. In the lungs it is highly oxidized by the respired oxygen, but in contact with the nerve ends it gives itself only to a part of the oxygen present, and burns a certain portion of the lecithin to water, carbonic acid and phosphates, thus creating body warmth to a considerable extent.
In response to the chemical consumption of lecithin a new oil flows down the axis cylinders of the nerve fibrils, which are arranged like lamp wicks. The duration of the flow of this oil is, on the average, about eighteen hours. When the cerebro-spinal nerves refuse longer to perform their function, fatigue and sleep ensue, and the current of blood leaves the brain and seeks the intestines. While the cerebro-spinal system rests, the sympathetic system takes up its task of directing the renewal of tissue and supplying the nerve sheaths through the lymph vessels, which draw their material from the digestive canal, with a new supply of phosphatic oil. Thus the brain and spinal nervous system are prepared for another day's work. For the fulfillment of these processes, the magnetic blood current forms the intermediary.
The presence of formic and acetic acid supplies the blood with fresh electricity to stimulate the nerves. "Under normal conditions," says Julius Hensel, "this function is assigned to the spleen. This organ takes the part of a rejuvenating influence in the body in the manner of a relay station, and does so by virtue of an invisible but significant device. In every other region of the body the hairlike terminals of the arteries which branch out from the heart merge directly in the tiny tubes (capillaries) of the veins, which lead back to the heart again: in the spleen this is not the case. Here rather the arteries end suddenly when they have diminished to a diameter of one one-hundred-and-fortieth of an inch and end in a bulb (the Malpighian bodies). Under such circumstances the sudden stoppage, particularly the impact of the magnetic blood stream against the membrane of a Malpighian body, exemplifies the physical law of the induction of electricity, in accordance with which the blood that enters the spleen is changed into plasma and exudes through the membrane of the Malpighian bodies. The event indicates some fluidity of the red blood cells, which is a change effected in the body by the impact of electric sparks, and one which electrical therapy also brings about locally to prevent increase in the solid constituents of the blood."
The numerous Malpighian bodies in the spleen act as so many electrical conductors, and the product of their electrical activity is found in the formic and acetic acid of the fluid plasma which filters through the Malpighian corpuscles and supplies the acid tissue of the spleen (pulpa splenica). These acids are the electrolytic division products of lecithin. In the splenic pulp arise the capillaries of the splenic veins whose acid blood is carried directly to the liver, where certain cells formed like galvanic elements possess the property, through the electrical action of formic and acetic acid, of extracting from blood albumen the opposite of acids, namely, alkaline bile. The normal functioning of the liver, therefore, is dependent upon that of the spleen, and since the bile produced by the liver goes to aid the digestive activity of the duodenum, disturbance of digestion must result when the quality of the bile is inferior.
One of the substances contained in bile, lecithin, is of wide importance. When it was referred to a moment ago, I spoke only of its individual chemical nature as a fat in combination with ammonium phosphate, as by so doing I avoided error in connection with its apparently complicated formula, which includes glycerophosphoric acid, trimethylamin, palmitic and stearic acids. As it is a fatty substance, the only question that arises, is, what does it contain besides fat? This may be answered by a process of substraction:
2 (C21 H42 O4) C42 H84 O8 which represents tallow or stearate of glycerine. Lecithin, C42 H84 O9 NP, differs from this only by a larger amount of NP. The significance of this difference becomes clear when two atoms of water are added. Then ammonium phosphate, PO3 H4, N is formed. The two atoms of water needed for the condensation of the ammonium phosphate from the stearate are obtained by separating them away from two of glycerine.
The bile contains lecithin in a partially oxidized form. The chemical "remainders" are biliverdin and cholesterin. The latter when normal has, as you know, the power to neutralize snake venoms and other poisons, and thus acts as a natural anti-toxin. In addition, the bile contains combinations of stearine with gelatine and with carbonate and sulphate of sodium, which theoretical chemists believe are twin compounds of glycocholate and taurocholate. These fatty compounds depend upon stearine partly oxidized, that is deprived of a certain number of atoms of hydrogen.
As the compounds of fatty acids with ammoniacal blood gelatine and sodium carbonate, the ingredients of the bile also, develop into a peculiar soap. In the economy of the body the bile acts as a soap. When it is discharged into the duodenum, it changes the fats into so fine an emulsion (chyle) that the microscopically fine drops of fat may be drawn into the orifices of the lymph canals and conveyed to the circulatory system, and the cleavage products of albumen produced by gastric digestion, the peptones (leucin and tyrosin) are carried along with them for the renewal of tissue cells consumed in respiration.
If a soda soap is requisite for the purpose just stated, it follows that soda in the food is essential, as otherwise the supply of soda in the blood albumen cannot be renewed, and the bile cannot get its necessary supply of soda from blood albumen devoid of soda. Consequently, the entire nutritive process is dependent upon bile, and the bile cannot properly perform its function if denied soda.
In addition to carbonates of sodium, especially the hydrocarbonate known as glycolate, the bile apparently contains ammonium sulphate combined with hydrocarbon (taurin); but this results from the transposition of sodium sulphate and gelatine. Gelatine contains six atoms of hydrocarbon joined with two of ammonium carbonate, a group which is separable by chemical action into five of carburetted hydrogen with ammonium carbonate (leucin or gelatine milk), C5 H10, CO2, NH3, and into one of carburetted hydrogen with ammonium carbonate (glycin or gelatine sugar), CH2, CO2, NH3. This latter substance, gelatine sugar, is not produced in the liver, as it exists already in the blood gelatine. In an isolated condition it has the property, in virtue of its ammoniacal acids and its carbonic acid bases and, therefore, of both combined, its salts, of producing chemical fixation. This property is conveyed to the undivided blood gelatine in which the gelatine sugar is contained intramolecularly.
Since normal blood albumen is inconceivable without sulphur it is absolutely essential, in accordance with our knowledge of the constituents of the bile and their origin, that our nutriment should contain a sufficiency of sodium sulphate, if normal blood serum is to be produced. The use of pepsin for this purpose cannot serve nature's purpose, as it contains neither sodium carbonate nor sodium sulphate. Our blood must be given a fresh and sufficient supply of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate via our food, if it is to produce normal bile and supply the requisites of normal nutrition.
It is erroneously held that sodium sulphate is simply a laxative, even Borner's "Royal Medical Calendar" so classifies it. Often it discharges this function, it is true, in concentrated solution (one to five). But it is an important ingredient of healthy blood albumen (one to one thousand), and in this proportion assists in the formation of normal bile.
The blood of the Caucasian race is found to contain about ten parts of salt to the thousand, and this proportion of salt denotes firm tissue material. If the quantity of salt in the blood is diminished, the bi-concave red blood cells swell to a spherical form from access of water and lose their ability to unite for the production of connective tissue. Moreover, to the extent salt in the blood cells is decreased the connective tissue and muscle and tendon substance absorb water and the tissues become spongy, especially in the kidneys, so that the thinned blood albumen seeps through (urea albumen).
Phosphate of potassium is the mineral basis of muscle tissue, phosphate of lime with a small amount of magnesium phosphate the basis of bones, and phosphate of ammonium the bases of nervous tissue. There is a sufficient quantity of phosphate in all healthy foods. When the milk fed to nurslings, however, is greatly thinned with water instead of firm muscle fibers and solid lymph glands we find loose and spongy tissues. This is a scrofulous condition.
In the formation of healthy bones and teeth, calcium fluoride is essential. It is insoluble in plain water, but is made soluble by the aid of the glycocoll in blood gelatine and changed into ammonium fluoride. It appears in this form in the cartilaginous matter of the eye lenses, and lack of calcium fluoride in the food results in the clouding of these lenses.
Silicic acid is not only indispensible to the growth of hair, but it forms a direct connection between blood and nerve tissues. It is found in birds eggs, both in the white and the yolk. It is a conservator of heat and electricity as it is a good insulator. It also possesses eminent antiseptic qualities. Its mere presence in the intestinal canal, even its simple passage through the canal; conserves the electrical activity of the intestinal nerves and thus influences the whole sympathetic nervous system.
This brief review, cursory as it is, of the function of the minerals in the renewal of substances undergoing tissue change, makes it clear that our daily food must contain a sufficient quantity of them if healthy metabolism is to be maintained.
Chemically considered the human body is one individual whole, its characteristic chemical basis being gelatine. Lieut. C.E. McDonald, U.S.A. Medical Corps, recognized this when he recently wrote: "The similarity of chemical compositions explains why, when any particular region falls a prey to chemical decomposition, others quickly become affected."
Oxygen gas is the medium through which chemical combustion is carried on in the body for the purpose of preparing materials to enter into its composition. The mineral salts already named not only form the solid basis of the various tissue but also serve as conductors or insulators of electricity in the body. The absence of one of them for a protracted period is sufficient to explain widespread degeneration in the system.
In view of the fact that these various minerals play an indispensable part in healthy metabolism it is imperative that a sufficiency of them should be supplied in proper proportion in our daily food. It is imperative, if we desire to retain or to restore health to the body.
These mineral elements are to be found in the first instance in the earth, but they are of no use to the body in that form. We cannot digest and assimilate inorganic matter no matter how finely it may be pulverized. But plants can assimilate them from the earth and organize them in such form as to make them easily assimilable by animals and man.
If the soil on which our food is produced is itself deficient in some of these elements, our food must also lack them. If, moreover, we cannot for any reason add the missing elements to the soil, we must supply them to the human system in the shape of prepared nutritive salts. It is preferable, of course, that our food should contain all of the elements necessary for the proper nourishment of the body.
Thus we are forced to return to consideration of the soil. It is an established fact that our fields were originally formed from decayed rock, and analysis shows that this primitive rock contains the same minerals as healthy blood. But if our agriculturists are taught that stable manure and three or four other things are all that is necessary for the fertilization of their fields, where shall the other minerals essential to human metabolism come from?
What a man is, largely depends upon what he eats. Hence man is very largely a product of the fields. When the soil is denuded of any of the elements essential to plant and animal life, it must be properly fertilized. Incomplete or improper fertilization can have but one result, to-wit, it will produce sickly vegetation, and this in turn must produce unhealthy cattle, and since man is dependent upon plant and animal life for his food a sickly race of human beings is the ultimate result.
Is not barrenness of the soil responsible for disease in potatoes, for San Jose scale, Phylloxera, and other similar phenomena. The fields are manured profusely, it is true, but the very chemical elements which are not only essential to the development of wholesome plant tissue but which would also enable the plant to protect itself against parasites, are not used. Every farmer has observed, for instance, that grass grown upon cow dung in pastures is not eaten by cows, oxen or sheep. The instinct of the animals is correct.
In using the term incomplete fertilization, I mean supplying only potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen, and possibly lime and sulphur, when the soil is denuded of several other elements. No matter how rich a field may be made in these things if it lacks other elements healthy vegetation cannot be grown in it.
Improper fertilization is another matter. It may consist in dressing a field with nothing but stable manure, or of applying crude sulphur or brimestone instead of using calcium sulphate—plus the other lacking elements. The advocate of crude sulphur certainly does not know how truly criminal his advice is. It is not to be denied that at the outset sulphur will increase the crop yield. But in the end—what? The sulphur will dissolve all of the essential minerals in the soil, and in the course of four or five years they will all be leached out and it will be so barren that not even wild grass can be grown upon it. Improper fertilization may also consist of a dressing of carbonate of lime applied at the wrong time or in excessive quantity. The effect of this course will be equally as harmful, namely, the transformation of the nitrogenous material into free nitrogen which will ascend to heaven. Without nitrogen albumen cannot be formed, and without albumen the formation of vegetable and animal tissue is impossible.
Wholesome soil may, then, be defined thus: It is such ground as contains a sufficient supply of humus and nitrogen and all of the essential mineral components of organic tissue. The problem of fertilization, therefore, consists of supplying any or all of these elements in which the soil is deficient. The aim of fertilization, as a rule, is merely to increase crop production. But this may prove to be not merely shortsighted, it may turn out to be a social crime. It is criminal, indeed, as a great many diseases are directly traceable to incomplete and improper fertilization.
Let us face the effect of attempting to fertilize our fields with nothing more than stable manure, which, it is true, supplies phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen. We know that phosphorus forms the foundation of nerves, and too much of it provokes nerve irritation in exact ratio to the deficiency of sulphur. There should be twice as many sulphuric salts as phosphoric salts in the blood, if it is to be normal and the nerves are to be steady. Foodstuffs from fields that have been fertilized in this manner must, of course, contain a superabundance of phosphoric salts and be deficient in sulphuric salts. Is it strange, then, that the present age presents a picture of restless, irritated nervous activity and thoughtless action?
We must return to the primitive rock and humbly learn the lesson it has for us, and upon this rock we must rear our science of fertilization and nutrition. This rock consisted of granite, porphyry, gneiss and basalt, and these are still found upon the earth in immense quantities in practically the same condition they were thousands of years ago. Both Justus von Liebig and Julius Hensel, as a matter of fact, advocated that this rock should be finely pulverized and used as a compost to assist in restoring and maintaining the original fertility of the soil and thus aid the development of healthy plant and animal life.
Indeed the instincts of both animals and human beings lead them under certain conditions right back to the rock and its lesson. Note the avidity with which hens confined in arid runs devoid of vegetation, worms, insects and small stones devour a compound of lime and ground bones and oyster shells. Observe a child whose ration is deficient in mineral elements eating egg shells, wall plaster, chalk and other earthy substances. What do these things mean? Nothing more than this: both chicken and child express a natural craving for the essential elements to build bone and form the basis for the tissue.
I have discussed the important part the minerals play in both the vegetable and animal kingdoms for the purpose of laying stress upon our great need of more of them in our daily diet, and I may add that this is equally as true in the case of those we call healthy as of those who are diseased. No matter how carefully the diet may be regulated as regards the quantity of protein and carbohydrates and fats and the ratio between them, healthy metabolism is impossible without a sufficiency of the essential minerals.
II.
How can we perform this imperative duty to mankind?
The solution of the problem of supplying these essential minerals demands that our soil shall be properly fertilized for the growing of wholesome vegetables and fruits and our cattle properly fed with a ration rich in mineral content. Thus the food which we eat will contain all of the elements necessary to the growth and maintenance of our bodies in a state of health.
In the course of my effort to show why it is imperative that we pay greater heed to the mineral content of our foodstuffs, and why it is imperative that we enrich that content, I have shown basically how that end is to be attained.
In conclusion I will cite the result of a series of experiments in applying the principles of physiological chemistry to poultry, and I may say that it took me twelve years to find the breed which would most readily lend itself to my purpose. I experimented with 250 varieties of hens before I found the one most amenable to my method of feeding and breeding.
While living at Needham, Massachusetts, I made a thorough test of my principles with the selected variety of hens. They were not only fed a ration properly balanced for protein, carbohydrates and fat, but I gave them a liberal supply of properly prepared mineral salts. I used three different mixtures of feed, made up in 100 pound lots, in which the proportion of albumen ranged from 13.50 to 18.00 pounds; of fat from 4.00 to 5.00 pounds; of carbohydrates from 41 to 44 pounds; and actual nutritive salts from 4.50 to 5.00 pounds. The respective ratios being: 1:4, 1:3.5 and 1:3
It is not necessary to enter into discussion of the details of the feeding method and the variation in the daily handling of the hens. The result of this experiment, however, was completely satisfactory, as the eggs produced by those hens not only contained a startling increase in the quantity of mineral salts, but their fertility was far greater than that of hens handled in the usual manner. The increase of fertility in itself is, it seems to me, the best proof of the soundness of my theoretical premises.
Some of the results of this experiment were published in the Reliable Poultry Journal in 1905, and Dr. Woods offered confirmatory evidence of the soundness of my conclusions two years later, after he had himself experimented along the same line.
I will cite just one fact revealed by that experiment, namely, that whereas 100 grams of dried egg yolk ordinarily contains only from 10 to 20 milligram of iron the eggs of those hens yielded from 30 to 80 milligrams. And all of the minerals were increased from 10 to 25 per cent or more.
The method of applying the principles of physiological chemistry to the enriching of the mineral content of our foodstuffs evolved by me is, with due recognition of the difference between the vegetable and animal kingdoms, equally applicable in the raising of all our foodstuffs with an augmented mineral content. I will adduce just one result of my work in the handling of small fruit: on the average, 100 grams of dried strawberries will yield 8.6 to 9.3 milligrams of iron, but strawberries raised by me yield from 30 to 40 milligrams per 100 grams.
In view of the facts with regard to the function of these minerals, it is indisputably true that a ration is physiologically inefficient if it does not contain a sufficiency of them in proper proportion. Moreover, this is trebly true in the case of those whose constitution has been weakened by loss of blood from rounds, by shell shock and trench fever, and of those here at home whose nerve tissue has been degenerated and whose blood has been weakened by anxiety and the strain of unwonted manual labor. The last consideration applies with especial force to the multitudes of women who have entered industry as manual laborers. What kind of offspring can we expect from these people whose plasma is thus degenerated? The children are the citizens of the future, and even before they are born we must plan for their health.
What could be more effective in treating the anaemic condition of wounded and crippled boys, and in treating the same condition in women industrial workers, than haemoglobin eggs?
What could be more efficacious in treating conditions arising from shell shock, from bad wounds and operations thereon, and neurasthenia in general, than an abundance of lecithin (which, as you know, dear doctor, is made from the yolk of the egg)?
What could be more successfully used in treating conditions arising from shattered bones and from operations for the removal of bone tissue than calcareous eggs in connection with a ration perfectly balanced as regards all of the other essential elements.
For the regeneration of the blood and bone and nerve tissue of these victims of war, something more than a sufficiency of nutritive food, as that term is commonly used, is needed, and something more than medicine is needed!
I am the last person in the world to deny that wonderful progress is made in surgery every day, and the last to fail to applaud its successful efforts, but you know quite as well as I do that in 90 out of 100 cases recovery involves exhaustion of the patient's reserve energy. Moreover, when the reserve energy has already been drawn upon almost to the point of exhaustion, no matter how successful the operation may be the recovery of the patient is a very doubtful quantity. The first requisite in all surgical cases, as also in all anaemic and neurasthenic cases, is to restore metabolism to its normal condition and thus help the patient to regain his reserve energy in order to prevent the collapse of the whole fabric.
It is indubitably true that healthy metabolism and the restoration of reserve energy depends upon the organism being given the requisite quantity of the sixteen essential elements of organic life in easily digestible and assimilable form, and I am asking for the opportunity to demonstrate how foods extremely rich in these elements may be produced and used to aid nature. I have not entered into a full discussion of the various aspects of my method of accomplishing that, but have confined myself to consideration of the basic principles underlying it. Neither have I attempted to show how these different minerals will serve as regenerative agents in different dysaemic conditions. I am prepared to discuss the matter from both of these viewpoints, however, and, more than that, I am ready to practically demonstrate the soundness of my theories, when given an opportunity under proper conditions to do so.
—Sapienti sat—
FINIS.
NUTRITIVE COMPOSITIONS.
The sixteen substances,—nutritive cell foods,—of which all of the tissues of the body are composed are: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, potassium, soda, lime, magnesia, iron, manganese, phosphor, sulphur, silica, chlorine, fluorine and iodine.
My nutritive compositions consist of these same sixteen nutritive salts, each composition mixed in the same proportion as they are found in the healthy tissue for the regeneration of which they are prescribed.
Since in various diseases not only one but several tissues are affected, it must be decided individually in each case whether only one, or several, of the nutritive compositions will require to be taken, and in what proportion.
In accordance with the system of the twelve tissues of the body, the twelve nutritive compositions, commonly known as "DECH-MANNA" Compositions, are the following:
| No. 1. Plasmogen | Bloodplasma-Producer. | |
| No. 2. Lymphogen | Lymph-Cell-Producer. | |
| No. 3. Neurogen | Nerve-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 4. Osseogen | Bone-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 5. Muscogen | Muscle-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 6. Mucogen | Mucous membrane-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 7. Dento-Ophthogen | Tooth and Eye-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 8. Capillogen | Hair-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 9. Dermogen | Skin-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 10. Gelatinogen | Gelatigenous-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 11. Cartilogen | Cartilage-cell-Producer. | |
| No. 12. Eubiogen | Healthy body-cell-Producer. |
In addition to these I use only a few specialities in certain cases of disease, viz.:
| A. Oxygenator | A radium emanation for the bath. | |
| B. Eubiogen Liquid | Same as No. 12, but liquid form. | |
| C. Tonogen | A stimulating tonic. | |
| D. Tea. Diabetic, Dechmann | ||
| E. Tea. Laxagen, after Kneipp | ||
| F. Salve. Lenicet, after Dr. Reiss | ||
| G. Massage Emulsion, Dechmann | ||
| H. Propionic acid for steam atomizer | ||
| I. Oxygen Powder, after Hensel | ||
| J. Anti-Phosphate, Dechmann | ||
(These specialities are used only in certain individual cases, according to prescription).
NUTRITIVE COMPOSITIONS.
In discussing the various preparations of Dech-Manna-Diet, I refrain from detailed prescription and analysis. My intention is to explain them in such a way that it may become apparent to everyone that they are rational remedies for every properly diagnosed constitutional disease. If I should do more than this, it would be simply placing a premium upon unscrupulous imitations. For the present therefore, I prefer to have the remedies prepared exclusively by accredited and absolutely reliable chemists of first class local standing, in order that I may myself assume the entire responsibility. In cases of illness, however, it is always necessary to consult a biological-hygienic physician. The Dech-Manna-Diet remedies, for the time being, will always be obtainable on application to myself, to be administered in accordance with such medical directions. I trust that very shortly when official and general recognition will permit, I shall be enabled to entrust the detailed prescriptions to a wider circle of practising physicians and chemists.
In order to illustrate how necessary it is to abstain from more detailed description of my remedies, I will cite but one of several incidents which happened to me in course of practice.
In the year 1905, I wrote a number of articles for the "Reliable Poultry Journal" on the scientific feeding of chickens, and gave, amongst other tables, two food-formulas of the mineral contents of chicken food rations. (Both formulas were copyrighted). I gave the same gratis, for private personal use. A certain "Chicken Specialist" from the Orange River Colony, South Africa, first wrote a glowing article upon the wonderful success he had secured with my prescriptions. Not satisfied with this, however, he conceived a brilliant idea of great possibilities of future income to be derived therefrom. He left South Africa and came to America, the country of unlimited possibilities, and settled in Los Angeles, California, where he floated a company, which sells my copyrighted prescriptions for poultry feeding, to all and sundry as specifics for all possible and impossible ailments. This ambitious gentleman even went so far as to offer my labouriously earned discoveries to the United States Government.—But further comment is unnecessary!
This is but one of numerous instances of the kind some of which are embodied in a little treatise I have published, free to my friends, entitled "A Message to the Thinker."
Patients sometimes ask me what my methods have in common with "Schuessler's Tissue Remedies."
I answer: Nothing—absolutely nothing, as the explanation will show.
Schuessler's therapy claims that the minerals are needful to build up the system; but he only uses one trillionth part of a gram and imagines that the remainder is to be found in the food. Now anybody with a fair understanding can easily figure that if a patient of middle age eventually loses through disease about 200 grams of lime, it is simply a farce to claim that the above dose of 1/100,000,000,000 of a gram (which is the homeopathic dose of Schuessler), will cure or replace the lime which was lost.
There are other equally erroneous pretentions in Schuessler's therapy which are really too silly to go into in detail. Time and space are too valuable to squander on any such puerile hypothesis.
DECH-MANNA-DIET.
MENTOR TO PRESCRIPTIONS.
It may be well to preface this summary of prescriptions with the following explanatory remarks; namely,
(1) That while my compositions are usually taken in the form of powders, they may be taken in the form of capsules or tablets, in which case the dose given is always exact.
They may also be mixed with Eubiogen or various kinds of food, except where this is strictly forbidden by the physician.
Such mixtures cannot be harmful, since they consist of components from which our body-cells are constructed. They may be taken either singly, or as compounds.
(2) As regards the matter of quantities:—
Whenever one-fourth teaspoonful is mentioned, the meaning is that one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful be taken.
Whenever a level one-fourth teaspoonful is meant, as in the case of plasmogen, it is because the basic remedy is heavier and, therefore, the smaller quantity renders an equal amount in weight.
Every dose mentioned herein contains the exact amount of the necessary constituents, and the harmonious system of dosage which I have worked out, consists of reducing every compound dosage to one gram, which weight is equal to about one quarter teaspoonful of the regular preparation, made lighter and fluffier through trituration with milk-sugar.
This trituration is a manual process and requires some three hours steady and continuous rubbing of the ingredients with pestle and mortar, for each separate composition.
All my compositions should be kept in a dry and cool place. It is best to put them into wide-mouthed bottles with glass stoppers, as they are all hygroscopic, that is, sensitive to moisture.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. 1.
PLASMOGEN (PLASMA PRODUCER.)
Plasmogen—Blood-plasma producer. (The red and white blood-corpuscles are produced by using Eubiogen, XII).
(a). Blood-plasma, is the habitat of the red and white blood-corpuscles.
It can be readily understood that the more sanitary a place, the better will be the condition of those who live in it. Therefore, the plasma, (blood-plasma), must first be made as perfect as possible in accordance with the teachings of science and especially of biology,—a theory which my own experience has proved to be correct.
No matter how perfect the red or white corpuscles may be, if they live in diseased blood-plasma, they cannot perform their functions properly and, as a consequence, the resistant power of the system is crippled.
(b). Plasmogen contains all the constituents in the proportions in which they should be contained in perfect plasma.
The Law of the Minimum teaches that if one of the ingredients is lacking in the food, the cells must become diseased. This the great Justus v. Liebig emphasized when he said: "If the most minute component is lacking, the rest cannot perform their functions." Taken as directed, the plasmogen is also in its natural dosage.
It was only after years of ardent study that I was enabled to produce this composition in the perfect form in which it is furnished today.
Since the plasmogen contains all the salts necessary to keep the blood in perfect harmony, the circulation as well as the resistant power will be maintained, the heart relieved, the fighting capacity of the white corpuscles strengthened, and therefore the power of disease very greatly reduced.
(c). In all cases of constitutional disease, plasmogen is used to bring about a proper regeneration and preservation of the blood-cells. In all cases of acute, febrile diseases its purpose is to bring about a proper circulation and fluid condition of the blood-cells.
The most wonderful results will accrue through the use of plasmogen in all acute febrile cases, particularly in the case of children; also by using the same as directed in individual cases of constitutional diseases. It is indispensable in producing bactericide blood, which is necessary to regenerate the body-cells. Therefore, I recommend It in all Regenerative Treatments.
How many thousands of children may be saved by this single remedy alone only the biologist who has studied life according to the teachings of nature's laws, is able to appreciate today. It will take some time before the general medical practitioner will realize the truth of this statement, because the old-school medicine does not teach these facts.
Therefore it is the duty of every thoughtful mother to prevent harm to her children resulting from the drugs they favour. All anti-febrile chemicals are rank poisons and contrary to nature's way. Only by producing a higher temperature is nature able to throw off impurities; but in many cases this becomes dangerous, because so very few know how to avoid an over-taxation of nature's strength. Instead of assisting nature by keeping the head cool, the feet warm and the bowels and pores open, the anxious mothers will wrap their babies up nicely, give them some patent or other obnoxious medicine, and really kill nature's efforts by means of narcotics and other poisons. Results are always fatal. The mother must learn to use correct, harmless remedies and to follow the instructions given nearly 3000 years ago by the wise Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," who warned every medical practitioner with these words: "Nil nocere." (Never do harm).
(d). Dose: In acute cases, that is to say, in emergency cases where the patient, for instance a child, has developed a high temperature, and the doctor has not as yet diagnosed any special form of disease, or has been unable to do so because the time of incubation of the germ has not passed, give the patient a dose of plasmogen, that is, one gram, or as much as will lie on a ten-cent piece, or one-fourth of a level teaspoonful. Dissolve it in one-half tumbler of water, (or milk if prescribed), and let the patient drink it slowly at intervals, as seems necessary.
In ordinary cases individual directions should be followed.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. II.
LYMPHOGEN (LYMPH CELL PRODUCER.)
(a). In nearly every tissue and organ of the body there is a marvelous network of vessels, called the lymphatics. These are busily at work taking up and making over waste fluids or surplus materials derived from the blood and tissues generally. The lymphatics seem to spring from the parts in which they are found, like the rootlets of a plant in the soil. They carry a turbid, slightly yellowish fluid, called lymph, very much like blood without the red corpuscles. The lymph is carried to the lymphatic glands where it undergoes certain changes to fit it for entering the blood.
It is a fact that very few doctors know, that the whole nervous system can only be fed by the lymph, whose central station is the so-called ductus thoracicus (thoracic duct), in the upper region of the chest. As there is no pulsation or magnetism connected with the same, the body must lie down and rest at night. Then and only then is the system enabled to feed all the nerve centers, especially through the influence of the sympathetic nerve system, which may be said to work in the form of a relay station, through its inherent power from the very beginning. Therefore, it becomes quite a task to regenerate a broken-down nervous system, for those practitioners who are not familiar with physiological chemistry—that is, life chemistry, which teaches the composition of the tissues. The law of chemotaxis will explain it. The lymphatic system also plays a great part in constitutional diseases of the blood. Every degeneration of the blood cells, or dysaemia, is influenced more or less by the perfect condition of the lymphatic fluid. All cachectic or morbid nutrition conditions are due to imperfect lymph.
(b). Lymphogen contains all the organic minerals in the same proportion in which they are contained in perfect lymph, and if taken as directed, will always restore the lymphatic system and allow it to perform its important function.
(c). The great importance of perfect lymph will be understood from the previous remarks, especially those pertaining to the feeding of the whole nervous system. If the lymphatic system is impeded by underfeeding or inanition of the nerve-cells, how can any one with common sense expect such a system to be in perfect working order and harmony? This applies particularly to those constitutional diseases where the lymphatic system and the lymph itself are degenerating through causes due to heredity, predisposition or acquisition of such conditions.
(d). Dose: Twice daily I gram or one-fourth heaping teaspoonful or, if in tablet form, I tablet, dry or with a little water or in foodstuffs; to be taken at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or as specially directed.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. III.
NEUROGEN (NERVE CELL PRODUCER).
(a). The nerves are the cord-like structures which convey impulses from one part of the body to another.
The tremendous importance of their absolute health is obvious, since the co-operation of all parts of the human body depends upon it, while, on the other hand, their very delicate structure exposes them to numerous and easily acquired forms of disease.
(b). This composition contains all the constituents required to generate nerve tissue. The most important and expensive is lecithin. Pure lecithin, the kind I use, is made from the yolks of fresh eggs. In this composition I supply nutritive cell-food for generating lecithin in exactly the same form in which it is found in a healthy, perfect nerve-cell. It is absolutely digestible and assimilable, and is triturated with the finest milk sugar.
(c). All morbid conditions caused by imperfect nerve-cells can be regenerated through this composition as long as there is some foundation left on which to work.
Under an endless variety of names—as a matter of fact, a big book would not be sufficient to describe all so-called "nervous diseases"—it can be readily seen in what a brainless way some "nerve specialists" classify patients of this kind. Not knowing the constituents of the nerve-cells, they still attempt to prescribe for neurasthenic patients. The results are in accordance with such travesty of treatment. The increase in the number of Insane Asylums gives, or should give, a true picture of existing conditions. What is needed is a little more knowledge of physiological chemistry, but as it is too much to expect of the ordinary so-called "nerve specialist" to be familiar with this science, we must per force be content with the prevailing condition, that is, a condition characterized by ignorance of the most vital laws of being.
But what reasonable ground of complaint, let me ask, have the people, themselves, in this matter?
Of the appalling results of the prevailing medical system, recognized as it is by the law of the land and supported and virtually endorsed by the people's own will and prejudices, they themselves, though well aware, are yet complacent. But, mark it well, not until independent medicine shall be accorded reasonable recognition, a fair field and general fair play, and the chance afforded to science outside the "orthodox" medical clique to inaugurate some drastic measures of urgently needed reform, not until then will it be possible to alter this disastrous state of affairs—not until then will matters become less unbearable to the individual and less discreditable to every one concerned. We can cure disease only by removing its cause; this is my maxim and it is true for all time.
Much of neurasthenia is due to the degenerate times in which we are now living. Causes must be removed in every line of life, political, social, and economical, before normal physical and mental conditions can be restored. Then neurasthenia, in all its forms, will be a disease of the past, but not before—not withstanding the frequent alleged discoveries of serums and antidotes of wonder-working properties so triumphantly heralded from the "Halls of Science."
(d). Dose: Twice daily, 1 gram or one-fourth heaping teaspoonful or, it in tablet form, 1 tablet, dry or with a little water or in foodstuffs; to be taken at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or as specially directed.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. IV.
OSSEOGEN (BONE CELL PRODUCER).
(a). If I tell you that it takes seven different compositions of organic lime to make perfect bones, some people, even very learned ones, may doubt my word. But biology and physiological chemistry teach that this is so—and prove it. If this composition were lacking in a certain quantity of organic magnesia, the bones would grow hard and brittle. It is the magnesia that turns the tissue into perfect, elastic form.
(b). Osseogen is the composition the constituents of which are necessary to generate perfect bone tissue. How many troubles could easily be prevented by using this cell-food in time!
(c). This composition becomes an absolute essential in all cases of imperfect bone structure, such as rachitis, or rickets, constitutional disease of children, osteomalacia, tuberculosis of the bones, deformity of bone structure, such as curvature of the spine, etc.
Softening of the bones, known as osteomalacia, curvature of the spine, rachitis and many other terrible conditions of disease would not be known to humanity if proper precaution were taken in time.
Hundreds of patients are today cured by my method of supplying this lacking constituent in a form assimilable to even the smallest infant.
Lime-water and such imaginary substitutes are pure nonsense, as must surely be apparent to even the simplest layman when they consider for a moment that it takes seven different lime compositions in order to supply the necessary lime for generating bone tissue. Is it necessary to say more to convince even a dogmatist? How indispensable osseogen becomes may be realized when people begin to know enough about themselves to realize that our bone structure must be "fireproof" in order to last for the normal span of human life!
(d). Dose: Once or twice daily, according to the individual case. 1 gram will be sufficient for a proper dose. As stated before, one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful is equal to a gram.
It may be that in a short while I shall be able to supply all these compositions in tablet form in their respective doses. Then medication will become still more simple. This composition may also be taken in food or a little water.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. V.
MUSCOGEN (MUSCLE CELL PRODUCER).
(a). The term muscle signifies every organ of the human body which, by contraction, produces the movements of the organism. Muscles are of the greatest variety and strength, but all consist of the same chemical elements, and can be regenerated in case of disease, like every other organ, by feeding the patient with the chemical substances which the muscle cells require.
(b). Into this composition I have introduced the components necessary for muscle tissue.
The basis of this form of cell-food is potassium phosphate. It will regenerate all muscular tissue when used as directed. All minerals contained therein are organized and in a perfectly digestible and assimilable form. Even an infant can easily digest it. It will prevent all decompositions of the muscular system and regenerate the cells as long as any basis for life is left.
(c). As it is impossible for even the healthiest system to build up new tissue without the necessary proportion of albumen, it becomes very important to use the right proportion and form of this component. Therefore, all patients who are in need of this special tissue builder, must at the same time take the main composition, Eubiogen (life producer). Under No. XII, I will endeavor to give the reader some little idea of its properties, and describe its marvelous regenerating powers.
(d). Dose: 1 gram, or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful once or twice daily will be sufficient. It may have to be taken for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, and even longer. Everything depends upon the cause of the degeneration of the muscle tissue.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. VI.
MUCOGEN (MUCOUS MEMBRANE CELL PRODUCER).
(a). The entire intestines, the stomach, all cavities, organs, openings of the body, the genital and urinary tracts, etc., are lined with mucous membrane, which must always be kept in a normal and healthy condition, otherwise the functions of metabolism and procreation of the organism cannot be carried on in safety and health.
(b). Mucogen consists of all the constituents necessary for the building up of the peculiarly tender tissue called mucous membrane. These constituents are absolutely indispensible, and nature must be supplied with them if disease of the mucous membrane is to be healed by removing its cause.
(c). The tenderness of this tissue is obvious, and experience has shown how much it is exposed to changes in its normal condition, how easily an increase or decrease in its main functions is brought about. While this increase or decrease in many instances is a natural fight of nature against the intrusion of opposing elements into the body, it frequently assumes dimensions that are most unpleasant and seriously impair the health, such as catarrhal conditions, all of which are due to poor or degenerated cells of this tissue.
The frequent occurence of this form of disease shows the importance of always supplying the cells of this tissue with the substances that keep them in health, or if need be, will regenerate them.
(d). Dose: 1 gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful once or twice daily will be found sufficient to supply the requirements.
In some instances this composition, as well as others, may be mixed with the main composition Eubiogen, in order that the patient may digest it more readily, especially in the case of a child.
Special directions must always be followed closely.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. VII.
DENTO AND OPHTHOGEN (TOOTH AND EYE CELL PRODUCER).
This refers to the enamel of the teeth and the crystalline lens of the eye.
(a). Two special tissues of the human body, the close connection between which has been observed and recognized but very little, contain a predominant quantity of fluoride of lime, and consequently may be placed under one heading in this system, although the basis for the fluorate of the teeth is calcium, while the basis of the crystalline lens of the eye is gelatine.
(b). I have composed this cell-food, containing the necessary fluoride of lime, in this particular way in order to avoid too much specialization. From long years of practical experience I have found that the special cells of each tissue will take up only those constituents which they need for the construction of their respective tissue, as taught by the law of chemotaxis.
(c). Composition No. VII will be prescribed in case of tooth and eye troubles. Any observant student of human nature will have noticed that in severe cases of degeneration (as for instance, diabetes) not only one of these two tissues mentioned above is affected, (as the decaying and falling out of the teeth), but in most cases also the other (as cataract of the eye). Some doctors of course may ask what in the world the tooth has to do with the eye. But, alas! they have yet much to learn. The two are not so distinct from each other when one understands. I fear that later on, when this method, which is the only true and natural one, comes into practice, everything will be specialized to such an extent that the real science of it will become so complicated that the proverb—"Veritatis simplex oratio est"—(The language of truth is simple)—will become entirely obsolete.
It is my endeavor to state the pure unvarnished truth, and in terms as simple as possible; that is my mission.
(d). Dose: One gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful, or one tablet in a little water or milk, once a day will be sufficient except in very severe cases of degenerated tissue.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. VIII.
CAPILLOGEN (HAIR CELL PRODUCER).
(a). The hair is built of a number of elements not contained in other tissues of the body, and which must be supplied in order to keep the hair in good health and prevent it from falling out.
(b). Capillogen contains all the necessary constituents in proper proportion required by perfect hair tissue.
(c). The main disease of the hair, responsible for this falling out, may be due, to two different causes. It may be due to the quality of the hair, or to the condition of the nutritive soil of that part of the skin where hair is wont to grow. If the loss of hair is due to the first cause, its regeneration, through Dech-Manna Composition No. VIII, naturally gives rise to the hope that the lost hair may be replaced, if the process of regeneration is not begun too late, as is usually the case.
My composition, however, is not a "hair restorer."
As a great many of my readers may know, and some of them to their sorrow, all so-called hair restorers on the market are failures—although perhaps not so to the manufacturer or clever salesman.
My composition will prevent the hair tissues from degeneration. Thus baldness, which might otherwise have occurred in a larger or smaller degree, may be prevented.
In the case of the disability of the skin to retain the hair, which may occur after forms of febrile disease, such as typhoid fever, or if children show little promise of growing nice hair, the composition will prove very useful in combination with Dech-Manna Composition No. XII, Eubiogen, which restores the original strength of the whole body, while hair regenerated by the blood through capillogen has a better chance of growing and remaining in the regenerated soil.
(d). Dose: One gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful, or one tablet in a little water or milk, once a day. It is imperative to follow directions implicitly.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. IX.
DERMOGEN (SKIN CELL PRODUCER).
(a). The skin, like all other tissues of the body, is made up of different constituent elements. While its disease appears on the outside, it is built up, like all other parts of the human organism, from within and through the blood only. The elements necessary for regenerating the skin and keeping it in a healthy condition must, therefore, also be supplied to the body from within, in the form of nutriment, as otherwise, though we might suppress and eliminate the symptoms, the disease would still remain.
(b). Dermogen, skin producer, contains all the constituent elements which a healthy skin tissue requires.
(c). The skin, being exposed to all external influences, discloses the symptoms of all forms of skin disease, the names of which are legion.
The skin specialist termed "dermatologist" is another production which flourishes—more or less—upon the ignorance of the public. The patient, alas, is less fortunate. He tries one after another until disgusted he sometimes resorts to special diet. Sometimes this may help, if he choose a certain kind of vegetable diet, and especially if the vegetables are such as contain a great deal of silica; for silica is the mineral basis of skin tissue. Full details of this are to be found in my analysis of foodstuffs given in the chart at the end of volume No. I of my work, "Regeneration."
(d). Dose: One gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful of dermogen in a little water or milk once a day until regeneration of the skin is fairly started. Reduce the dose gradually until complete recovery has been accomplished.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. X.
GELATINOGEN (GELATIGENOUS TISSUE PRODUCER).
(a). All blood and lymphatic vessels, the alveoli of the lungs, all tendons and cords in the entire system, the bowel tract, including the stomach, the bladder, and in fact every organ or tissue which has the function of expanding and contracting, must be of healthy gelatigenous (rubber-like) tissue; otherwise it cannot perform its functions in the system and must degenerate.
(b). Gelatinogen contains the constituent elements of gelatine, which it carries, through the blood, to the parts of the body where it is needed to rebuild degenerated gelatigenous tissue.
(c). While there are not many special forms of disease of the gelatigenous tissues, many diseased conditions are more or less connected with its degeneration. In fact, every layman should be able to judge the importance of perfect gelatigenous tissue. But how many human beings ever think of such things. Yet they know very well that a poor rubber tire on an automobile will not last very long or stand much strain; for the fact appeals to the pocket book—and that degenerates.
It is well to learn the truth before too late and give, to the rising generation at least, the chance to which they are surely entitled:—A good healthy body.
(d). Dose: Twice daily, 1 gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful, or one tablet, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or as individually prescribed, in a little water, milk or other foodstuffs, to be taken for a certain length of time.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. XI
CARTILOGEN (CARTILAGE PRODUCER).
(a). Every bone in the human system must be covered with cartilage at its ends so as to prevent self-destruction through friction, especially in the joints.
(b). Cartilogen consists of all the necessary constituents of this important material, and under certain circumstances it must be introduced in this concentrated form, as for instance when the general diet is unable to counteract the influences of disease which tends to degenerate the cartilage and subjects the body to the great suffering which the absence of cartilage invariably produces.
(c). Cartilage keeps all the joints in working order and must be regenerated constantly.
As soon as the blood and lymph no longer contain the proper, necessary constituents for the rebuilding of cartilage tissue, the consequence is degeneration of this tissue.
It is obvious then that the presence of proper cartilage constituents in the blood is of the greatest importance to the regenerating forces in the human body. Our foodstuffs, therefore, must contain the material in a digestible, assimilable form, thus to prevent inanition of the cells, otherwise degeneration of the cartilage tissue must follow.
(d). Dose: One gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful twice a day for a certain period, depending on the condition of the patient. This may be taken in the same manner as previously described.
DECH-MANNA COMPOSITION No. XII.
EUBIOGEN (HEALTHY LIFE PRODUCER). (ALSO TERMED "POSITIVE COMPOSITION").
(a). While all other compositions contain special elements for the rebuilding of special tissues through regeneration of special cells, Eubiogen contains a combination of all the important elements in the most concentrated form. I was fortunate enough, after years of experimenting with plants and animal life, to concentrate the solid constituents of the human body ten fold. The full import of this achievement few can realize, but those who know what it means in time and study. The effect of this composition is felt simultaneously in all the vital tissues of the body, and since the co-operation of all these tissues is what we call "life," I feel there is no name more fitting for this product than the one I have selected, namely, "Eubiogen," or "Healthy Life Producer." I maintain that it is the most scientific composition discovered since the time of Hippocrates and the following is its analysis:
It has at all times been an ideal aim of mankind to produce a species of food that would combine a minimum of quantity with a maximum of quality, and philosophers and scientists have dreamed of a time when the day's portion of foodstuffs would be concentrated in one small pill. The biologist cannot accept this theory.
While Greek mythology seemed to symbolize a similar idea; namely, of one concentrated food-substance combining all nutritive elements, as represented in their "Ambrosia," the food of the Gods.
Yet the gods and goddesses were permitted to partake of it only at solemn assemblies when all sat at the table of Zeus and enjoyed their food and drank its liquid counterpart, termed "nectar."
This symbolism represented Ambrosia and Nectar as the highest climax of food; just as the Greek gods stood for the climax of various human qualities, in each case attributed to one single personality.
The Greeks knew well that the human body requires a variety of food in order to remain healthy. It is an echo of the same thought expressed in the Bible when the Jews are given the "Manna" only in the utmost emergency. The Bible also advocates a considerable variety of food, regarding which the Old Testament lays down the most careful and explicit regulations.
In praising "Ambrosia" as the climax of food-substances, Greek mythology attributed to it the power not only of regeneration, but of procreation. For the reproduction of healthy human life in its offspring, was to them just as sacred and important a preoccupation as it was natural, to ensure the survival of the race; and to secure to all the food that would assist in this, their highest and most worthy aim, seemed to them a manifest duty which, at the present day, prudish "morality" either practically ignores or modestly pretends to neglect. Healthy food, generally speaking, will do much towards ensuring healthy offspring.
But the times of extreme leisure, as enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, are long past and a more exacting age makes its more strenuous demands upon the human tissues, and in innumerable cases causes them to deteriorate more rapidly than they can be regenerated and restored to their original vigor by even the healthiest food.
Hence I have felt justified, in considering the best interests of the race—present and future—in devoting the crowning effort of my long scientific career to the production of modern biological remedies such as would be felt in the reproductive powers of the people—a consideration concerning which the old-time, prudish reticence is a foolish figment rapidly passing away.
Now, as regards myself and my great work. Surely to boast a little is but human. The man who puts his very best efforts into an ideal, and having achieved it, has not striven to reap the fruits thereof for selfish gain, but year by year, has perfected that work until the tests have finally permitted him to cry: "Eureka"—it is accomplished beyond dispute,—that man has the right to overstep the conventional rule which forbids self-praise. While in other work accomplished I see but the links of an uncompleted chain, the synthesis of Eubiogen, I feel to be one of those so rare occasions in human life, when a tested accomplishment allows and even demands a somewhat different treatment. And so I have the courage to speak as follows in eulogy of my own production:
This product is my masterpiece. I am proud of it. Nothing like it in efficiency has ever before been given to the world. In the fullest sense of the word, it is in food value the most perfect concentration that science and research have ever evolved. It is the result of the quest of 30 years and should make its finder famous. Hundreds of men of mark have each one given to mankind some noble token of their genius; but of such gifts not one possessed the concentrated virtues, the materialized knowledge of "Eubiogen." This, to unsympathetic ears, may sound like vain, exaggerated vapouring;—but it is not so. It is the truth. It is impossible to describe the real value of its properties within a limited space. Sufferers in their thousands will yet live to be grateful for the benefits derived from it, and the full and positive knowledge of its excellence makes it the more difficult to describe in a few weak words. An abler pen than mine would fail to do it justice.
In sentimental somnolence I sometimes dream how, perhaps, in the days to come, another hand may write in glowing terms the faithful history of "Eubiogen" and say kind feeling words and fair of the hard worked lone scientist who gave its healing virtues to mankind, terming it—he too perhaps—the stereotyped "Ambrosia," the diet of the Olympian gods; but for myself, it is all I ask to know that it has served the appointed end to which my energy has aimed,—that it has proved a food instinct with healing and comfort to my kind—a staunch support and refuge for the overwrought sinews of humanity. May such be my guerdon of reward for the long years of thought and toil and—I shall rest content.
(b). Eubiogen contains the best and purest ingredients science and experience can produce today. It is the most delicate and at the same time the most digestible and assimilable cell-food obtainable.
Many great names since the time of Hippocrates have figured in the list of those who shared with me the ambitious hope to give mankind some wonder-working remedy—Metschnikoff, Voit, Koenig, Biedert, Rubner, Gruber, Kussmaul, Bischoff, Teschemacher, Hirschfeld, Boemer, Wintgen, Virchow, Hammarsten, Gilbert, Fournier, Heim, Lahmann, von Noorden, Epstein, Wair Mitchel, Salkowski, Kornauth and the rest, but not one of them ever dreamed of a perfect regenerator of the cells of the human body such as this composition, Eubiogen, affords.
The analysis of my product, shows that it is practically impossible to improve upon in life-giving, cell-generating qualities. This fact should satisfy the student. Still I will describe the ingredients a little more minutely, so that all who use it may be convinced that they are doing the best that can be done, as known to the science of today, to improve conditions of health for themselves and for their offspring.
As a basis, then, I use for the necessary trituration, the finest radio-active milk sugar produced, flavored with pure vanilla extract. The high percentage of albumen contained in it is due to the use of the most highly perfected hygienic product of albumen known to chemistry. It is chemically pure and manufactured from eggs, milk and vegetables and, therefore, absolutely free from microscopical germs, harmful to the human system.
The organic iron contained in it is obtained from the red-coloring matter of healthy ox blood, called haemin, examined and tested. For the nerve material, pure lecithin or nerve fat is used, obtained from the yolks of fresh eggs.
These two products are enormously expensive. All the organic minerals are in the form of glycerophosphates, and the milk sugar necessary for making a perfect trituration is radio-active, as explained before.
To make the whole product as digestible and assimilable as possible, I use the best material known, that is, Taka and Malt diastase. It is made palatable through the use of genuine van Houten's cocoa in chocolate form. It will remain in good condition an unlimited length of time when kept in a dry, cool place. No drugs of any kind are used. This I guarantee in the fullest sense of the word. The manufacturer is a renowned chemist of the highest type, and all the products are of the highest quality obtainable. This is capable of verification by any really capable authority on the chemistry of food.
In order to bring this product within the reach of all classes, the same has been compounded in three different forms:
Form aaa. contains radio-activity, haemin, lecithin, glycerophosphates and all other constituents of the highest purity.
Form aa. contains haemin, lecithin, glycerophosphates and all other constituents of the highest purity.
Form a. contains haemoglobin, glycerophosphates and all other constituents (chemically pure.)
For the use of babies and very feeble invalids, special composition B (see appendix) may take the place of Eubiogen, since it contains nearly all of its constituent elements in a form that can be assimilated by either. It will regenerate the invalid as fast as his condition will allow, and is the salvation of weak children.
(c). As to when Eubiogen should be administered, the rule is simple.
Whenever any of the Dech-Manna Compositions are given, Eubiogen should be given in smaller or larger doses, as the case may require, remembering that its most important task is to rebuild and regenerate the body so that it may readily perform its fullest functions and transmit the power unimpared to posterity.
(d). Dose: The dose may vary considerably, from 1 to 3 times a day. Generally a dose consists of 1 gram or one-fourth of a heaping teaspoonful.
The composition may be combined with any kind of food, or may be given in separate form with chocolate in equal parts.
There are endless ways in which my remedies may be administered, since they are merely concentrated cell-food.
It must be definitely understood at the outset that these remedies must be absolutely and entirely dissociated with the idea of so-called "medicine," prescribed by the old-school doctor, which has nothing whatsoever in common with my "remedies," since these contain the real constituents of our body-cells and not poisonous chemical concoctions, known as medicines, which may in some cases suppress symptoms, but never will and never can remove the constitutional cause or condition of disease.
| The Human Body consists of: | |||||
| 83.0% | Water | \ | |||
| 0.9% | Minerals | | | |||
| 3.8% | Albumen | | Solid constituents | |||
| 2.5% | Fat | | only 17% | |||
| 9.8% | Carbohydrates | | | |||
| ——— | | | ||||
| 100.0% | / | ||||
| Eubiogen consists of: | |||||
| 9.0% | Minerals. (Chiefly Glycerophosphates, Haemin or Blood-Iron and organized minerals) | 10 times concentrated. | |||
| 33.5% | Albumen. (Egg, Milk and Vegetable-Albumen) | 9 " " | |||
| 15.0% | Fats. (Chiefly Cacao, Glycerin fats, Lecithin)(Note.—Lecithin is made from fresh yolks of egg.) | 6 " " | |||
| 42.5% | Carbohydrates (Chiefly Malt Extract, Milk, Sugar etc.) | 5 " " | |||
| ——— | Of the original amount | ||||
| 100.0% | Solid Constituents. | in the human body. | |||