This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ...effect upon the health. The latter observer attributed the difference in the effects of the removal of this gland in these two classes of animals to the difference in their dietary, rabbits and pigeons being vegetarians, while the dog is carnivorous. These experiments showed that it is one duty of the thyroid gland to destroy the poisons found in flesh. Dr. Thompson, one of the leading physicians of New York City, very reasonably argues from these facts that flesh food should be withheld in cases of diseases of this gland in which its normal activity is diminished. His experience has shown him that highly beneficial results may be obtained by withholding flesh in such cases. In the treatment of many cases of this kind during the past twenty years, the writer also has found the restriction of diet in these cases to vegetable products highly conducive to recovery. i, The amount of poisons produced in the?eathT. body and the extremely poisonous nature Jfiiglongssue of these substances may be inferred from the rapidity with which death occurs when tliere is any serious interruption in the process of poison elimination; for example, suppression of the action of the kidney results in death within a little more than forty-eight hours, from the accumulation within the body of the poisons which it is the special duty of the kidneys to eliminate. Interruption of the normal activity of the skin by a coating of varnish produces death in a few hours by the accumulation in the body of the various poisons that are eliminated by the skin. Interruption of the action of the lungs results in death within a few minutes, not directly because the supply of oxygen is cut off, but because of the failure of the lungs to expel from the body the deadly toxic...