NOTICES
OF
BOOKS
37
natural i m m u n i t y and therefore as being more effectively p r o t e c t e d by vaccination a g a i n s t e x p e r i m e n t a l doses of virulent bacilli. A section is devoted to the vaccination of m a n by the s a m e t y p e of vaccine. N u m e r o u s e x p e r i m e n t s are quoted and an original theory is propounded describing the p a n c r e a s as the seat of i m m u n i t y against various t y p e s of infection. T h e author has devoted m u c h t i m e and s t u d y to his work, and has i n t e r p o l a t e d much theorizing. THE
GERSON
DIET
FOR
TUBERCULOSIS.
W e have recently reviewed a n u m b e r of books and articles in these columns deMing with the G e r s o n diet for tuberculosis which continues to arouse considerable interest in G e r m a n y and Austria. 1 T h e diet aims at : (i) L i m i t a t i o n of mineral salts ; (2) reduction of the proportion of c a r b o h y d r a t e in the diet ; and (3) addition of raw foods containing vitamins. I t is based on the theory that removal of salt from the food tends to dry up the tissues and t h a t this process aids in the healing of the e~xudative lesions Of tuberculosis. T h e c a r b o h y d r a t e s are reduced lest they m a y favour c a t a r r h a l affections, while protein fats and lipoids should raise bodily resistance. Gerson in his book discusses his r e s u l ~ fully, and gives detailed scales of diet. T h e foods to be s t r i c t l y avoided a r e : C o m m o n salt, all kinds of preserves, smoked or spiced meat, smoked or salted fish, vegetable soup, cheese, vinegar, bacon, ham, sausage, cocoa, chocolate, cake, strong tea and coffee, and a l c o h o l Special skill is required in the p r e p a r a t i o n of the salt-free diet, so t h a t it can only be a d e q u a t e l y provided in an institution. A n foods m u s t be fresh, and salt m u s t not be used in cooking. A n u m b e r of cases of arrest of p u l m o n a r y tuberculosis as well as i m p r o v e m e n t in cases of lupus a n d surgical tuberculosis under the diet are cited, M a n y of the patients, however, also u n d e r w e n t hospital and hygienic treatment. One d r a w b a c k to the method is the c r a v i n g for salt which is t r y i n g to the patients, T h i s m a y be overcome by a suitable c h a n g e in the uniformity of the diet. W e are a w a r e that the G e r s o n diet has been tried in certain B r i t i s h sanatoria, and it would be interesting to hear the results. A.S.M. THE
PRINCIPLES
AND PRACTICE
OF MEDICINE.
T h e physician desiring to keep a b r e a s t with the rapidly advancing principles and practice of modern medicine should seek to maintain a sure foundation, a n d this cannot be b e t t e r attained than b y m a k i n g it a point to s t u d y an up-to-date textbook on physiology. T h o s e up1., Meine Digit" [My Diet]. By Dr. Max Gerson. Pp. 168, with twelve tables and a diet-scale. Berlin : A. G. Ullstein. 193o. '~Die DiS~tetik der Tuberkulose" [The Dietetics of Tuberculosi@ By Dr. Schnlte-Tigges, Heilst/itte, Rheinland (Berliner Klinik, Heft 415.416). Pp. 4o. Leipzig : H. Kornfeld. 193o. Price M. 1.5o, "Wirkungen Kochsalzfreier ErnS~hrung auf tuberkulose Erkrankungen" [The Effects of a Salt-Free Diet on Tuberculous Cases]. By Adolf Hermannsdorfer. With seven colonred and five uncoloured plates. Zeitschri/t f~r Tuberkulose, 193o, Band 57, Heft 1-2, p. 4o. " Beobachtungen bei Chronisch-Lungen-tuberkulosen nach Ifingeren Gebrauch der Sauerbruch-Hermannsdorfer Iglostform " [Observations on Chronic Pulmonary Tuberculosis after a Prolonged Course of the Sauerbruch-Hermannsdorfer Method of Diet]. By Dr. Max Mecklenburg. Ibid., pp. 47-5° .
