FROM a standpoint of biology, there are no reasons why a perfectly healthy human organism may not acquire the power to sustain the highest degree of strength and usefulness on a diet of nuts, fruit and milk; or even, by a conscientious obedience to the highest moral and physical laws, be able to purify the cells of nutrition and intensify their sensitiveness so as to make it possible to respond directly to the force currents of the vital reservoir itself and its vitaminous energies, and thus be able to suspend the functions of the gross physiological processes involved in ordinary food. But between such nutritional possibilities of the future, perfected man, and the present disease-smitten, fermenting, pyorrhetic, tubercular, rheumatic, catarrhal, hypochondriac, neurasthenic and generally degenerating individual, who drinks and smokes and overfeeds, so as to vitiate and corrupt the entire physical and moral atmosphere of his nature - is a gulf which can be spanned only by a life of sustained dietetic and ethical balance. Above all, we must learn to distinguish between real and assumed evolutionary needs. Evolution does not proceed in jerks and spasms, by unbalanced excursions of nature into unblazed, undeterminable paths of fancies and theories. Natura non saltet - "Nature takes no leap" - is a term which indicates that already the ancients were conscious of the necessity of carrying abreast our entire nature, not in vacillating spots, or half projected advances of unrealizable enthusiasms, but under the guidance of a physically and morally balanced individuality.

For the thoughtful reader it must at present be self-evident that the expression "mucous-free" diet in most cases is a misnomer, defeating its own propositions by introducing, through incompatible mixtures, the very fermentations and catarrhal menace which it was its object to eliminate. Notwithstanding the positive findings by Prof. Pavlow with regard to the demoralizing influence of acids - fruit acids or fermentative acids - upon digestion, the majority of health-specialists recommend lemonade and sour dressings at meals.

As long, however, as the system has yet vital reserves at its disposal, strong enough to overcome the disturbances due to such indulgences the latter may go on without apparent breakdown of the organism; but at the exhaustion of these reserves, the reactions appear suddenly and when least expected. Or distressful symptoms may rise to the surface in types of persistent colds, gastric neurasthenic, and intestinal catarrh, which, like a fungus, may spread all over the alimentary canal, invading nose, ear, throat, bronchia, etc.; while the continuing weakening organism at any time may become the victim of an acute and fatal attack of pneumonia, typhoid, appendicitis or gastritis.