Barnacles and Corpulence

Yet the evil still increased, and, like the parasite of barnacles on a ship, if it did not destroy the structure, it obstructed its fair, comfortable progress in the path of life.

William Banting. English undertaker and coffin maker. 1796-1878.

William Banting was a formerly obese English undertaker who was the first to popularise a weight loss diet based on limiting intake of refined and easily digestible carbohydrates. In 1863, Banting wrote a booklet called Letter on Corpulence, addressed to the public which contained the particular plan for the diet. His own diet was four meals per day, consisting of meat, greens, fruits, and dry wine. The emphasis was on avoiding sugar, saccharine matter, starch, beer, milk and butter.

The booklet is available to read online. The reference to barnacles is on page 13.