Volume 1

Von Ziemssen's Handbook of general therapeutics.

Date:
1885-1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Von Ziemssen's Handbook of general therapeutics. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Nitrogen Day Sülk Biet KoumiSB Diot Intiüco Output Diflereiioe Iiitake Output Differcuce Ist 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 30-711 30-356 30- 946 31- 244 30-820 24- 176 25- 113 27- 432 28- 746 30-124 + 6-535 + 5-243 + 3-514 + 2-498 + 0-696 2'^-257 23-560 23-362 23-177 25-198 23-992 24-974 22-673 22-056 21- 123 22- 757 22-825 - 2-717 + 0-887 + 1-306 + 2-045 + 2-471 + 1-167 Boikofi' is positively convinced that koumiss is so easily digested owing to the presence of carbonic acid, lactic acid, and alcohol, and that this is the reason why it is so much easier to practise a koumiss diet than a milk diet. Its eflfects on the organism also testify to its digestibility, since no Sensation of weight is perceived, although the qviantity of nitrogen retained in the body is less than in the milk diet. [But had the latter been persevered in for several weeks, as the koumiss eure is, there would probably have been a loss, judging by the figures in the table just given, where it appears as if the nitrogen retained had nearly reached zero and might soon have become a minus quantity.—Teans.] Since the quautity of nitrogen retained in the body correspouds to no more than 30 grammes of albumeu, the increase in the body weight cau be due only in part to a gain of albumen. The difference between the fluids imbibed and excreted is also very small, so that in the opinion of Boikoff there remain only the fat and carbohydrates, whose retention m the organism cnn condition the increase of weight: in other words, it must be in great part due to storage of fat. Among the most important advautages presented by koumiss , BoikoflF reckons the absence of the evening rise of temperature, ob- served during the use of like quantities of cow's milk. In conclusion Boikoff lays down the following propositions :— 1. The use of huge doses of koumiss (as many as five bottles daily) is not necessary for therapeutic pnrj)oses, and it is more rational to give smaller. 2. Along with the koumiss a mixed diet and one rieh in carbo- hydrates should be prescribed, as being more advantageous than the nearly exclusive use of meat. 3. The winter koumiss, although distinguished from that of Summer by a somewhat smaller proportion of solids, is nevertheless perfectly available for medical use. 4. There is no roason whatevcr to prohibit the employment of pharmaceutical preparations during treatment by koumiss.