The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-11-12
PHILOSOPHY OF EATING.

Useinc but two or three kinds of food, besides
bread and butter, at single meal, and never
eat anything between meals You should eat
at regular hours, and but three times day,
with two intervals of not less than five hours
each, nor more than six.
Cold water retards digestion. and so does
apy luuid, if much is taken during; or soon at.
ter npnl; half glass at a meal is enough.
From an hour and a half after meal until
within haitian hour of the next one, you may
drink as much water as you desire; 1t is best,
however. to drink bat swallow or two at
time, with an interval of half minute or more;
otherwise YOU may take more than nature re-
ouires before you know it, just as in eating fast.
If too much fluid is taken during meals, it di.
lutes the gastric juice. thus weakening its pow.
er of digestion, and retainingthe food longer in
the stomach than is natural; it also causes acid
stomach, heartbearn, fulness, belchings, and
bad blood, producing, according to circum-
stances. dryness, or rawness, or scaldlng
sensation in the throat, as do iudigestions from
other causes, whether from quality or quantity
of food.
All errors as to diet arise from quantity or
quality, and propose one safe rule to each,
applicable to all persons, and under all circum.
stances.
Asto qua1ay, the general rule is to eat that
which YOU like best, and which You find by
close observation and experience is followed by
no uncomfortable feeling about the head, hands,
feet or stomach.
As to quantity, take as much at one meal as
will allow YOU to become decidedly hungry by
4. l,, ha w
consecutive observations; but remember, never
swallow an atom of food unless you are hum
gry; never "force" particle of food on yourself;
the brute creation cannot be induced to eat or
drink, if slightly i'll or excited, guided only by
their poor blind insticts, and were we, who are
so much higher than they, by the treason that
is within us, ought to feel ashamed to act less
wisely; and yet nine-tenths of all our ailments,
acute and chronic, enter here; and nine-tenths
of them all might be cured thus, if taken in rea-
sonable time, and If properly persevered in.
The finer all food is cut with knife, before
nut into the mouth the sooner and easier it is
digested. on the same principle that large
piece of ice placed in vessel of water will re.
auire a much longer time to melt, than if it
were first divided into many small pieces The
gastric Juice dissolves solid food from without
inwards, as water dissolves ice from without
inwards; hence, food, especially all kinds Of
meat should be cut up in pieces not larger than
pen, before it is placed in the mouth. taking
in as many of these pieces as is convenient.
Thi- preeauton would not be needed were
perscn, to eat slowly, and masticate their food
prorcsi:, but our national hahits are otherwise,
nor is ,'tere much hope Of a speedy change in
this respect.
Atter Eafing.-An hour for dinner, and half
the time for other meals, do not lie down, 90
not sisto sew, or maintain any STOPPING posi-
tion; do not ride on horseback, or study, strain,
lift or perform any labor, bodily or mental;