Banting in India : with some remarks on diet and things in general / by Joshua Duke.

  • Duke, Joshua, 1847-
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Banting in India : with some remarks on diet and things in general / by Joshua Duke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    On the use of Salt in Diet. The constant presence of common salt in the secretions, and the necessity for it in due proportions in the blood, indicate the importance of a proper supply of it with the food. We perceive this in the instinct of animals and in our own craving for it when it does not exist in sufficient quantity in the food. Animals will travel long distances, and brave the greatest dangers, to obtain it. Men will barter gold for it. The experiments of Boussingault on animals have shown that, although salt mixed with the fodder does not much affect the quantity of flesh, fat, or milk obtained from them, yet it seriously affects their appear- ance and general condition ; for animals deprived of salt, other than that naturally obtained in the food, soon get heavy and dull in their temperament, and have a rough and staring coat. Reulin states that animals which do not find it in their food or drink, become less prolific, and the breed rapidly diminishes in number. This is confirmed by Dr. Le Saine, who says in his Prize-Essay on Salt, that it furnishes the fertility of the male, and the fecundity of the female, and it doubles the power of nourishing the faetus. During the period of suckling, also, salt given to the mother renders the milk more abundant and more nutritious. It likewise acce-