In consequence of these claims made for curdled milk, it is at present in great favour both with the medical profession and among the public, as a very valuable article of diet, and from this point of view, where it agrees with the individual, nothing but good is likely to result. Being a complete food, and easy to digest on account of the reasons already advanced; being also a powerful diuretic, a nervine tonic, and occasionally a convenient laxative, it cannot fail to produce a potent influence for good on the human body. It is even averred that its contained lactic acid increases the coefficient of the assimilation of food in the intestine, because Biernacki has shown that lactobacilline causes a diminution of the weight of the faeces, amounting to from 15 to 20 per cent. of dry matter, and likewise a reduction of their content of nitrogen and fat. This same observer remarks that nascent lactic acid stimulates intestinal digestion, and that lactic acid bacilli exert very energetic action on the digestive organs, and so improve digestion. This effect he suspects is due to stimulation of the secretions, which would explain the notable intolerance of the subjects of hyperacidity for soured milk. He also asserts that soured milk is astringent in certain diseased conditions of the intestine, although lactobacilline produces just the opposite effect in constipation.

Amidst an almost universal chorus of approval, this is one of the few dissentient voices which have raised a note of warning in the use of curdled milk, and it is to be observed that the evidence is somewhat contradictory. Curdled milk disagrees with the hyperchlorhydric patient because it stimulates the secretions. One would, therefore, have expected that on account of an analogous action on the intestinal secretion, it would have relieved constipation, whereas an astringent effect was noted. Personally, I can cordially corroborate both statements, because I have repeatedly observed that curdled milk always disagrees with hyperchlor-hydrics, and almost always produces constipation, and I have only known of a very few cases in which it acted as a laxative. I am informed by the superintendent of a large sanitarium in England that he has never known it to act as a laxative, although, on the other hand, he does not consider its effect is constipating. It is to be noted that milk contains more lime than lime-water, and although it is claimed that in curdled milk the phosphate of lime is rendered more soluble, this fact has apparently no influence in reducing the constipating tendency. In cases of hypochlorhydria, on the other hand, it is not only easily tolerated, but highly beneficial in its effect on digestion, and, by virtue of being a valuable nutrient, a most important addition to the nutrition of the body.