THE HUMAN ENGINE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1927, Page 4

THE HUMAN ENGINE

O'l'om Sir W. Arbuthnol Lane. Bart. C. 8.) LONDON. March 17. Realising tin* immense importance cf rendering the general public thoroughly Inmiliar with the manner in which the human body performs its apparently very complicated function. Brofessor Blimmer lias at my request i uruished the enclosed very practical and illustrative description of tin* mechanism of the human engine. The very simple and figurative language in which lip clothes his: account will appeal to everyone Judging from the incalculable requests that have readied the New Health Society to supply articles in simple language, ail recognise how essential it is that the description of the manner in which diet plays its profundly vital part should he so plain as to be intelligible to every reader.

By Professor R. If. A. Pimmer, D.Sc. Food is wanted to keep the body going. The body is something like a locomotive engine. It requires fuel, it re(|iiires running repairs, and it requires lubricating oil to keep the moving parts in proper order. There are many points of resemblance, and certain differences. Firstly, the whole body is warm and has to lie kept warm. Secondly, though the body may he asleep and at rest, certain organs like the heart and re-

spiratory muscles arc constantly at. work. These activities use up fuel. An engine stops completely and requires no fuel when at rest. To make the engine move fuel must he burned; the faster and farther it goes the more fuel it needs. The same is true for the body. Both want repair; the engine is stopped for repairs; but the hodv is repaired continuously whether at rest or at work. THE REAL I'TETi

So the body is more complicated than the engine. Food is both fuel and repair material, and in growing animals it is also the building material from which increase in size comes. The carbohydrates (i.e., starch and sugar) and the fats are the real fuel; the carbohydrates for quick use and the fats for slower use.

Proteinsf in lean meat, fish, cheese, egg. milk) are repair material and building material for growth. Protein also serves as fuel; in laet the greater part of it is used as fuel and only a little for repair and growth.

To keep an engine running properly lubricating oil is required, as well as fuel. Every moving part needs a continuous small supply of oil. Ihe vitamins mav he compared with the lubricating oil. Different parts of the engine want different kinds of oil, thick, medium, or thin. If a part does not get oiled, it “seizes.” In the same way the body wants different vitamins for different parts. The blood vessels want Vitamin C. the nerves and muscles want Vitamin R. the hones want Vitamin D, while for growth and general repair Vitamin A is needed. So the body simply wants a greater variety, as it is more lompliratcd tnan any machine. ANOTHER NEED. The body has one other need which the engine has not got, that is lor mineral matter. Part of the mineral matter is fir repair and part togrowth. Iron is the mineral wanted to make the red blood pigment ; lime and phosphates are wanted for the bones and teeth.

Other minerals are wanted to efis- , solve in the water to form the proper medium for the working of the heart and other organs. The medium may lie compared with that required lor the conduction of electricity: pure water will not conduct an electric cur-

rent, hut very small quantities of mineral salts dissolved in it make it an excellent conductor.

The starches, sugars and fats are the fuel. The fish, flesh, fowl, eggs, cheese and milk are largely fuel and also contain the repair material protein. The mineral salts act as repair material and conducting fluid, and tihe vitamins act as lubricating oils.

The hulk of the food is for fuel and repair; the vitamins apparently take no part in this process, but ensure the healthy working of all llie parts. 1-ike lubricants, vitamins are wanted continuously and a little at a time. So they should he taken whenever food is eaten, and not in occasional doses; no engine-driver oils his engine once a day or once a week, hut secs that tin.* engine is oiled all the time.