Doctor Provides An "ldeal Luncheon"

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 679, 3 June 1929, Page 14

Doctor Provides An "ldeal Luncheon"

EXAMPLE OF DIETING “PLEASE YOUR STOMACH AND—DIE” CSpecial to THE SUE) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Members of the Canterbury Advertising Club sat down, expectant and curious, to the luncheon tendered them by Dr. T. H. J. Thacker. It was an extra-speciai sort of luncheon, a luncheon composed of dishes organised by the host, dishes of the sort that he regards as right and proper for human consumption. Dr. Thacker sat at the head of things. He gave from time to time directions as to what was to be done with so-and-so, and what was to be taken with this or that. There was a general sense of relief for this. The tables were (lotted with loaves (wholemeal), plates of demonstration wholemeal, celery, junket, butter, cheese.

Everyone had a specially prepared menu, or programme. On the front of it, at the top, was the motto: “The Proper Fuel for the Business Machine.” At the head of the list of fuel was the caption: “A Right Combination Meal.”’ “No drinks at meal times. No salt.”

Eating began with a Fruit Cocktail (Vitamines, Organic Salts, Distilled Water). It might be as well to explain that the meal provided, in addition to these things, Proteid, Lime, and, apparently, some Starch. Through the Menu

The Fruit Cocktail was very pleasing. It was followed by something called Salisbury Steak (contains spinach). With this, to the amazement of the concourse, had to be consumed Stewed Rhubarb (no Sugar and Cellulose and non-starchy), in addition to Mashed Carrots and Parsnips, Steamed (medium starchy). This too had a flavour all its own, and pleasing. Then, feeling a trifle like Uncle Henry’s Tuxedo on washday (solely a mental sensation, induced by the prominent labelling of the various qualities of this part of the fuel), one went on to waver in indecision between Jello (Keeps You Supple) and Junket Cream (Vitamines and Lime). Compromising with a little of both, one leaned back and listened to Dr. Thacker talking about evolution and teeth and internal economy and mammals and disease. If so inclined, one could toy with a little 100 per cent, wholemeal bread, butter and cheese. No drink between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., if lunching at 1 p.m. This plays havoc with the gastric juices, which were by now having jolly good romps with the proteins. “You will not,” said the host, “have headaches or feel sleepy this afternoon.”

Possbly. True also that It was a really tasty and enjoyable lunch. Yet to the unaccustomed tum-tum, that, according to Dr. Thacker, must not be fed beefsteak and suet-pudding and things like that, on peril, it left a slight void ... a slight void . . . To Live Longer . . . “Please your stomach and die; give your stomach such food as it has had today, and you will add 20 years to your lives.” So said Dr. Thacker in his address after the meal was over. “I am on the borderland as far as diet is concerned, midway between the meat and the whole raw vegetable stage,” he continued. “I want to start today right from our mouths. Our mouths and the canal that runs from it are lined with the same kind of skin as outside. That is why we get cancer. The mouth is protected by the teeth. In our evolution we have come through various stages of an animal. “Our teeth show by their style that we have inherited traits of our ancestors. The front teeth are to bite. Behind that are the canines, and behind these the molars, the grinders. We have got our teeth today in the form that they have been in for 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 years. These teeth are a great problem. However, the trouble experienced by infants shows that there is something wrong with the substance of modern teeth. The cause of this trouble Is that we are not getting enough lime; lime you have had in the junket at the luncheon. About The Melon “Now I want to tel! you about the melon. I don’t know why we don’t grow melons in this country. “Three soldiers were in the desert with au Arab guide. The soldiers had their breakfast of bacon and eggs and hot tea. As they went into the desert, they eventually came to Water. The soldiers practically fought to get to the water, while the Arab sat by quietly. Now this is true. They asked the Arab if he did not want a dirnk, and he replied, ‘No, I had rny drink yesterday.' The whole difference was that the soldiers had eaten the ordinary civilised meal, salt meat and tea, the Arab had eaten a melon for breakfast.” In conclusion, Dr. Thacker referred to what he called two incidents of evolution. The first was Einstein’s theory of relativity, the greatest of things. The other was the smallest thing, the atom. The atom was composed of two kinds of bodies, protons and electrons. The tiny wee atom was exactly the same as our universe, with its sun and satellites. These atoms were waiting in our bodies.

“The blood stream is the great commercial tide of man, and the atoms are waiting to be given from it what they want. Today you have been getting in a right way the things the atoms want, and have been wanting since you were born.”