Abstract
During the last year considerable work has been done in demonstrating the part that is played by opsonins in protecting the body from diseases, also in pointing out how the protective power of the body against certain bacteria can be accurately determined. The physiologists have frequently hinted that diminished nutrition lays the human body open for a ready invasion by microorganisms, but they have not been able to support their views by actual figures. If we remember aright, at the last meeting of the British Medical Association at Toronto, Professor Chittenden referred to this matter and to the lack of absolute data, although we do not find that his remarks are included in the official report of the discussion in question.
One of us (M.), previous to entering as a medical student, had found that he could fast without serious result over a period of several days. Now, as a third year medical student, he decided that he was in favorable surroundings to undergo another fast during which observations upon metabolism might be taken. The results upon metabolism have been investigated by others. Here we desire to call attention to the effects of fasting for a period of nine days upon the opsonic power of the blood.
M. is a sturdily built young adult, twenty-eight years of age, who weighed before the fast one hundred and thirty-nine pounds and whose height is five feet and three-quarter inches. He had always enjoyed good health.
The fast began after a meal at 9 a.m. on December 27, and continued until 6 p.m., January 5. During this time M. did not suffer from boils or any infection which could have affected the results obtained in these observations. He was not at rest during this experimental fast but took daily exercise, frequently walking five miles and was up and about most of the day.
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