DIABETES (Gr. literally a syphon, from diabaino, I go or flow through), a disorder of the general system, of which the principal symptom is a very much increased flow of urine. Diabetes is of two distinct kinds. the one, diabetes insipidus, is a mere exaggera tion of the water-excreting function of the kidneys, accompanied by extreme thirst, and hence called polydipsia (Gr. excess of thirst) by some authorities; the other is a more complex disorder of the assimilation, consequent ou the formation first, and the excre tion by the kidneys afterwards, of an enormous excess of animal sugar (see GRAPE suomi.), the sugar being found in excess, not only in the renal excretion, but in the blood, and iu nearly all the secretions which have been examined. The pathology of this disease, called diabetes mellitus (Lat. mel, honey), is very obscure, notwithstanaing the uumernus recent physiological researches which tend to throw light on the develop anent of sugar in the animal organism, and which must undoubtedly be regarded as bearing on the solution of the problems connected with this disease. Unhappily, the cure of it is still entirely unknown, except in so far as it may be controlled or retarded by good management of the diet, drink, and clothing. All diabetics are subject to pro gressive emaciation, and they often become subject to true tubercular consumption (q.v.), or other chronic disease of the lungs; it is chiefly in warding off this termination that the medical art can be of service, as well as in relieving the symptoms as they occur. The first fact observed in cases of diabetes is usually the increased flow of urine, when it becomes so great as to amount to a practical inconvenience; and also a consid erable increase of the appetite, and an unquenchable thirst, which rarely fail to accom pany the disease from the beginning, but often do not attract attention, or at least suggest the idea of anything wrong, till an advanced stage of the disorder. When the patient demands medical assistance, he is usually somewhat thin; time pulse is quiet, the skin cool, the heat of the surface, indeed, habitually rather low and easily depressed. There is often a complete absence of perspiration, which gives a peculiar feeling of harshness to the surface, especially of the palms of the hands. With these symptoms.
the first approaches of pulmonary disease may concur. In the very last stages, there is sometimes dropsy of the feet; and the urine may be natural in quantity. or even dimin ished. For the other characters of diabetic urine, see UurcE. The cure consists in removing from the diet, aS.far as possible, .consistently with comfort and due nourish ment, everything which easily turns to the formation of animal sugar in the system, especially all excess of farinaceous food. The complete suppression of sugar-forming food, however, as recommended long ago by Rollo, has not been found possible in prac tice in the majority of cases. Bread composed of gluten of wheat without starch, or bran-cakes baked with eggs, have been strongly recommended; and in most of the great capitals, as London and Paris, bakers may be found who regularly furnish bread suit able for this unfortunate class of sufferers; indeed any intelligent baker who will take the trouble, may, under medical direction, be got to manufacture such bread when required; or it may be ordered in the form of cakes and biscuits, in quantities at a time, from London houses. Dr. Camplin, himself a diabetic patient, has minutely studied the diet and regimen required, and published a little book, which we have no hesitation in recommending to all concerned, On Diabetes, and its Successful Treatment, in which full directions will be found for the manufacture of palatable and useful diabetic bread. The "success" alluded to, however, is simply keeping the disease at bay by constant watchfulness. Medicines proper should be used only under the advice of the physician. There is no specific, and the unguarded use of strong remedies is to be condemned. Flannel should be worn next the skin, and the languid function of the cutaneous per spiration aided by the warm bath. The Turkish bath might possibly prove useful in this disorder, and could hardly do harm if carefully employed; but we have not heard, as yet, of any actual experiments in this direction for the cure of diabetes.