Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-09
PHILOSOPHY OF EATING.

Use but two or three kinds of food be.
sides 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
any liquid, if much is taken during or soon
after meal: half glass at meal is E.
nough. From an hour and half after a
meal, until within half an hour of the next
one, you may drink as much water as you
desire; it is best, however, to drink but a
swallow or two at time, with an interval
of half minute or more otherwise you
may take more than nature requires before
you know it, just as in eating fast. Iftoo
much fluid is taken during meals it dilutes
the gastric juice, thus weakening its powers
of digestion, and retaining the food longer in
the stomach than is natural; it also causes
acid stomach, heartburn, fullness, belchings
and bad blood producing, according to cir
cumstances, a dryness, or rawness of sem
sation in the throat, as do indigestions from
other causes, whether from quality or guam
tlty of food.
All errors as to diet arise from quantity or
quality, and Ipropose one safe rule to each,
applicable to all persons, and under all cir
cumstances.
AS to qualHy,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 hum
CRY by the next meal; this can only be deter
mined by consecutive observations but re-
member, never swallow an atom offood un-
less you are hungry; never "force" a par
ticle of food on yourself the brute creation
cannot be induced to eat or drink, if slight
ly i'll or excited, guided only by their poor
blind instincts, and 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 all
ments, acute and chronic, enter here; and
nine-tenths of all of them might be cured
thus, if taken in reasonable time and prop
erly persevered in.
The finer all food is cut with knife, before
put into the mouth, the sooner and easierit
is digested, ,on the same principle that large
piece of ice placed in vessel setin wa
ter will require longer time to melt, than
if it were first divided into many small pie
ces. The gastric juice dissolves solid food
from without inwards hence food, especial
ly all kinds of meat, should be cut up in
pieces not larger than pea, before it be
placed in the mouth, taking in as many
pieces at a time as is convenient. This
precaution would not be needed were per-
sons to eat slowly; and masticate their food
properly, but our national habits are other
wise, nor is there much hope of speedy
change in this respect.
For an hour after dinner, and half the
time for other meals, do not lie down, do not
sit to sew, or maintain any STOPPING position;
do not ride On horseback, or study, strain,
lift, or perform any labor, bodily ormental;
leisure stroll in the open air is best; or
reading newspaper:these require no mental
effort. While walking, keep your hand be-
hind you, and your chin on or above hor-
izontal line-and endeavor to falls in good
and cheerful humor with yourself and all the
world.-Dr. Hall.