The term "Fletcherising," or "Fletcherizing," as applied to food has come into use without the suggestion of the nominee to a new filtering fame, and promises to spread; hence it is well to explain just what the term means.
Under the so-called "Fletcherizing" process, the mouth becomes a filter with most facile appliances for protecting the delicate alimentary canal from straining and poisoning. Instead of the "Pasteur Filter" for the purification of water and the "pasteurisation" of foods by sterilisation, the "Fletcher Filter" both separates and prepares whatever is given it to treat more perfectly than any mechanical or chemical device can do.
Dr. Kellogg appears in evidence often in this volume, and also with much appreciated strength of indorsement in the "A. B.-Z. of Our Own Nutrition"; but it is because he knows the value of the discovery of the natural food filter, has enormous chance to test it practically, and generously assists the reform with the might of his conviction. Hence the author has still another letter of his in hand from which to quote.
"Battle Creek, Mich., Oct 26, 1903.
"Mr. Horace Fletcher, New York.
"Dear Friend:—I have yours of October 4th. I should have answered it before, but have been away from home.
"I appreciate very much your offer to send me a memorandum of the work done in Cambridge, also a plan of the work at Yale. You have had a most interesting experience with eminent physiologists, and it has led you deep into the question of nutrition. I shall appreciate very much suggestions from you with reference to subjects for experimental work, and other suggestions which may occur to you respecting the methods, etc. I am sure your wide experience will be a great help to us. The more I test your ideas the more confidence I have in them.
"What you say about the wonderful effect of mastication is certainly correct. I observed it right away as soon as I began to practise Fletcherizing. By the way, I wrote an article for the last number of my journal, GOOD HEALTH, about "Fletcherizing" food, and I see our colleagues are already taking it up. One of my most able associates, Dr. J. A. Read, who has charge of our sanitarium in Philadelphia, gave a lecture last Thursday night to his patients on "Fletcherizing" food, and his audience was greatly interested. I am sure you deserve to have your name immortalised, as Pasteur's has been. I mention "Fletcherizing" in almost every lecture I give to our patients. I think most of our patients are "Fletcherizing" and are getting great good from it, also a large proportion of our six hundred nurses and other employees.
"Awaiting a letter of suggestions at your convenience, I remain,