LETTER ON CORPULENCE By William Banting ... How to Burn Fat the Easy Way

LETTER ON CORPULENCE,Addressed to the PublicBy WILLIAM BANTING.FOURTH EDITIONWITH PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE AUTHOURCOPIOUS INFORMATION FROM CORRESPONDENTS AND CONFIRMATORY EVIDENCEOF THE BENEFIT OF THE DIETARY SYSTEM WHICH HE RECOMMENDED TO PUBLICNOTICELONDONPUBLISHED BY HARRISON, 59, PALL MALLBookseller to the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales1869PRICE ONE SHILLING
Corpulence

Of all the parasites that affect humanity I do not know of, nor can I imagine, any more distressing than that of Obesity, and, having emerged from a very long probation in this affliction, I am desirous of circulating my humble knowledge and experience for the benefit of other sufferers, with an earnest hope that it may lead to the same comfort and happiness I now feel under the extraordinary change,—which might almost be termed miraculous had it not been accomplished by the most simple common-sense means.

Obesity seems to me to have been very little understood or properly appreciated by the faculty and the public generally, or the former would long ere this have hit upon the cause for so lamentable a disease, and applied effective remedies, whilst the latter would have spared their injudicious indulgence, in remarks and sneers, frequently painful in society, and which, even on the strongest mind, have an unhappy effect; but I sincerely trust this final humble effort at exposition may lead to a still more perfect ventilation of the subject and a better feeling for the afflicted.

I had only my personal experience to offer as the stepping-stone to public investigation, and to proceed with my narrative of facts, earnestly hoping that the reader would patiently peruse and thoughtfully consider it, with forbearance for any fault of style or diction, and for any seeming presumption in publishing it, which I still entreat for this further edition.

I felt some difficulty in deciding on the proper and best course of action. At one time I thought the Editor of the Lancet would kindly publish a letter from me on the subject, but further reflection led me to doubt whether so insignificant an individual would be noticed without some special introduction. In the April number of the Cornhill Magazine, 1864, I read with much interest an article on the subject—defining tolerably well the effects, but offering no tangible remedy, or even positive solution of the problem —“What is the Cause of Obesity

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