THE ART OF KEEPING WELL.t Da. MAGPIE has written an
admirably interesting book. It is intended to help the ordinary man or woman. Unlike too many writers of text-books on health, the author really keeps in view the needs of everyday life, and realizes that to most of us the pursuit of health is, and must remain, subordinate to the main business of our lives. The book is a popular one, and could be read with profit by those who had no previous knowledge of hygiene or physiology. Perhaps at the moment it is to the particularly excellent and com- prehensive section on dietetics that the reader will turn with the greatest interest. Unfortunately we lack space adequately to summarize Dr. Macfle's special points. Broadly speaking, however,
• William McTaggart : a Biography and an Appreciation. By James L. Caw. Glasgow : J. MaeLehose and Sons. 125s. art.] t The Art of Keeping Well. By Ronald Campbell Matte. .Loadon : Cassell sad CO. [lie. 8d. net.1 he is in favour of as varied a diet as possible, largely on the score of thus ensuring an adequate supply of the revolutionary and elusive vitamine. He is no puritan and has no palms raised to heaven over caviare, devilled bones, or a glass of port if we can get them. He insists most strongly on the extra nutritive value of food which is eaten at leisure and with enjoyment. He quotes d propos of this an Interesting experiment made by the Russian man of science Pavlov as to the effect of pleasurable anticipation on gastric activity :-
" If food is introduced into a dog's stomach without the dog seeing, smelling, and chewing it, digestion proceeds very unsatis- factorily. Pavlov compared two dogs in this way. Into the stomach of each dog 100 grains of meat were introduced ; but one of the dogs was allowed to see and smell food while the meat was being introduced. The result was that the dog which had had its digestive juices excited through its sense of sight and smell digested 30 grains of the meat in 90 minutes, whereas the other dog in the same time only digested 8 grains."
The housewife will find this whole chapter most helpful. There are analytical tables of the protein and caloric values of most of the principal foods, with notes as to their " availability." The Chittenden and Hutchison standards are given in brief, with comparisons with some of the findings of the Belgian Relief Committee. The chapters on Fresh Air, Sleep, and Muscular Activity would be most useful and interesting to boys or young men. For example, the present writer's copy of the book has already been bespoken by the local Scoutmaster, who proposes to found a short course of hygienic lessons, for the elite of his troop, upon the entertaining array of facts given under these headings.
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