Effects of emaciation
Emaciation is usually followed by general anemia and a weakening of nearly all the functions of the body. The memory, sight, hearing, all become impaired, while the taste or appetite usually becomes keener or more sensitive. This is caused by irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and the consequent presence of too much blood therein, the same as when intoxicating liquors are taken just before meals.
Overwork, loss of sleep, unbalanced diet, worry, grief, or a period of extreme emotional tension, all have a tendency to disturb and derange the processes of metabolism. Under these conditions the body is very likely to lose weight, but there is always a fundamental cause which should be discovered and removed.
EMACIATION OR UNDERWEIGHT—THE CAUSE
There are a number of things which usually conspire to cause emaciation. Named in the order of their generality, they are as follows:
Physical causes of emaciation
1 Overeating
2 Superacidity
3 Stomach and intestinal fermentation
4 Constipation
5 Autointoxication
6 Under-drinking of pure water
7 The use of tobacco, coffee and tea
All of these things tend to cause malassimilation, which is the secondary cause of emaciation. In a majority of cases the loss of weight begins while the body is surfeited with food. In fact, it is nothing uncommon for those suffering most from this condition to consume from three to four times the necessary quantity of food; overeating becomes a habit, and consequent fermentation and toxic substances, usually known as autointoxication, are the results.
The causes of emaciation, according to most authorities, are impoverished blood and malnutrition. With these opinions the writer fully agrees, but the intelligent reader will naturally inquire—What are the causes of impoverished blood and malnutrition? The answer goes directly back to the food question.