"Doing Banting."

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 47, 26 April 1884, Page 5

"Doing Banting."

Auout twenty years ago, much was said and m ritten about " doing Banting " for the decrease of obesity. In ISG4 an article was contributed to the '' Leisure Hour" by Mr William Banting, the well-known house agent and undertaker, of St. Jamcs's-street, Piccadilly, from whoso case the proverbial phra.se originated. As that volume of the " Leisure Hour" cannot now be easily procured, a brief statement of: the substance of the paper may bo useful to some inquirers. In the autumn of 1562, Mr Banting, then (i 4 years of age, .5 feet o inches in height, weighed 2021b, or 14st 01b. His corpulence had become so extreme as to be distiesfcing, and to interfere with the business pursuits in which he had been for i nearly h'tty ysars most actively engaged. He could not account for the disease, for such it really was, as there was no hereditary tendency to obesity, and his habits had been those of a temperate and active man. Many physicians were consulted and many remedies tried. Exercise of every kind, Turkish baths, acids and alkalis, Cheltenham, and Harrogato waters, these and other more heroic remedies where tried in vain. Abernethys famous recipe of living on sixpence a day and earning it proved no greater success, for the evil increased in spite of extraordinary labour and the sparest of diet. At length a medical man was consulted who seems to have known something of the chemistry of food and the chemistry of digestion. Mr \V. lliirvcy told the patient that it was not the quantity so much as the quality of the food that was to be attended to. Some articles of diet are fat producers, and these must be avoided, such as sugar, beer, potatoes, bread, butter, and milk. It seemed at first that there was littlo left to feed upon, but a very sufficient and nutritious diet remained in broiled meat or ham, (ish, poultry and game, and green vegetables. Tea without sugar, claret, sherry, spirits and water, formed the drink allowed. Instead of bread there was dry toa^t, biscuit, or rusk. Under this diet Mr Banting reduced his weight in a year from 2021b to 1501b, the diminution being gradual and steady. The giith round the waist was reduced above 12in in the same time. There was a great increase of muscular vigour, absence of acidity and indigestion, and altogether improved health. — " Leisure Hour."