Washington telegraph., 1847-06-16

fAers ABOUT DlGEsrIoN.-Mdny popular
notions about different articles Of food land
there are few subjects upon which people
indulge more notions, are totally disproved
by scientific facts. We propose TO write
down few well established truths respect.
ing the relative quantity Of nairiment in dlt.
ierant kinds Of food and the relative Time
occupied in their digestion.
In the frs, place, however, we would rc.
mind our readers, that il Is by no means
the article containing the greatest proper.
ton OF nutritious substance. which take
soonest tho iorm Of blood and other neces.
sary elements Of animal lie. Neither Is
the most physical strength supplied by the
articles containing the most nutrimcnl,--
Nuts are almos, entirely composed Of nuiri.
lious material, oil; potatoes contain eighty.
eight parts Of wasted matter TO twelve olnu.
triment. Yet the latter impaH far more
strength 10 tho body lhan the former
Bread is more nutritious than meat. But
meat is stimulating as well a. nulriiyc,
aud is supposed 10 strengthen the bodily
functions more than bread.
Another important fact 10 remember in
this connection is, that all slomachs are
mol alike, and that the calculations given
below arc applicable 10 a healthy stomach.
What proportion OF healthy slonachs there
are in the world We DO not know; but the
probability is, that in the majority Of cases,
food is not digesled as rapidly Us here sta.
ted. In some s'omaehs, iood Of particular
kind lemcnls, whish inlefiefes with com.
plele digestion. This happens most ire
qaenlly with pgad 10 Vegetables saw.
dust doctors to the contrary nolwiihstand.
iag.
In gonciul, however, Ii mosl nutritious
and the most easily dissslgd are tho best
lul Asallh aud strength.
Wheat n lhe mos u4lf.iiaus af all sub
stance except u.I containing ninety five
patls Of Hu,nmcul % aye u waste matter.
Dry peas, nuts and blr.ay. are nearly as M
lfigl6us as wheat. Garden vegetables
sianl lowest on the Ii-l, iaasmueh as they
contain, when lr 3d. a lafse portion Of VA.
Ter. The quantity ul wasis matter is more
tIan tighi lcn'hs u. lie vhale. Only one
lafIielh Of lucumtef Is capable oi being
converted into nuliimeni. The nutritious
part Of the different meats varies liom one.
fifth 10 one.oigLlh af the whole. Veal is
the most nutritious mutton next then
chicken; tlen beet; last pork. Fruits vary
between two aud lhrre lenIhs oinuirilious
matter, and their ofder Is rs follows, The
most nutrition. being p!necd first plums,
grapes, aprico,s, cherries, peaches, goose.
berries, apples, Strawberries, melons,
Mix contains less than one.,cnlh Of nuir.
lious matter, as il is mainly composed Of
water.
0iall tie articles Of food boiled rice is
digesicd in the shortest time: al hour A.
il also contains eight lenlhs Of nutritious
matter, 1, Is valuable substance Of diet.
Tripo and pigs feet (s,range TO tell are
digesicd almost as rapidly. Apples, J!
sweet aud ripe, are neat in order. Nen.
ison is digesied almost as soon as apples.
Roasted potatoes are digestcd in hall the
time required by tie same vegetables boil
ed, which occupy three hours and half
more than beef or muiioni Bread occu
pies three hours and quarter. Slewcd
oysters and boiled eggs are digcsIcd ia
three hours aud a hali-an hour more Than
is required By the same aHielcs raw. T":.
key and goose arc converted in i~o hours
and a haitian hour and hall sooner than
chicken.
Roasted veal, pork and sailed beef occu.
py I've hours and ha!G-ihc longest Of all
articles OF iood.-yHitord Rricg,