These are the first resources presented to us by science.  I, however, have little faith in them, for I know men and things enough to be aware that any prescription, not literally followed, has but a light effect.

Now, imprimus, it needs much courage to be able to leave the table hungry.  As long as the want of food is felt, one mouthful makes the succeeding one more palatable, and in general as long as we are hungry, we eat in spite of doctors, though in that respect we follow their example.

In the second place to ask obese persons to rise early is to stab them to the heart.  They will tell you that their health will not suffer them, that when they rise early they are good for nothing all day.  Women will plead exhaustion, will consent to sit up late, and wish to fatten on the morning’s nap.  They lose thus this resource.

In the third place, riding as an exercise is expensive, and does not suit every rank and fortune.

Propose this to a female patient and she will consent with joy, provided she have a gentle but active horse, a riding dress in the height of the fashion, and in the third place a squire who is young, good-tempered and handsome.  It is difficult to fill these three requisites, and riding is thus given up.

Exercise on foot is liable to many other objections.  It is fatiguing, produces perspiration and pleurisy.  Dust soils the shoes and stockings, and it is given up.  If, too, the patient have the least headache, if a single shot, though no larger than the head of a pin, pierce the skin it is all charged to the exercise.

The consequence is that all who wish to diminish embonpoint should eat moderately, sleep little, and take as much exercise as possible, seeking to accomplish the purpose in another manner.  This method, based on the soundest principles of physics and chemistry, consists in a diet suited to the effects sought for.

Of all medical powers, diet is the most important, for it is constant by night and day, whether waking or sleeping.  Its effect is renewed at every meal, and gradually exerts its influence on every portion of the individual.  The antiobesic regimen is therefore indicated by the most common causes of the diseases, and by the fact that it has been shown that farina or fecula form fat in both men and animals.  In the latter, the case is evident every day, and from it we may deduce the conclusion that obtaining from farinaceous food will be beneficial.

But my readers of both sexes will exclaim, “Oh my God, how cruel the professor is.  He has at once prescribed all we like, the white rolls of Limet, the biscuit of Achard. the cakes of ... and all the good things made with sugar, eggs, and farina.  He will spare neither potatoes nor macaroni.  Who would have expected it from a man fond of everything good?”

“What is that?” said I, putting on my stern look which I call up but once a year.  “Well, eat and grow fat, become ugly, asthmatic and die of melted fat.  I will make a note of your case and you shall figure in my second edition.  Ah!  I see, one phrase has overcome you, and you beg me to suspend the thunderbolt.  Be easy, I will prescribe your diet and prove how much pleasure is in the grasp of one who lives to eat.”