The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-09-26
Hours of Rating

AS the blood IL usually most impoverished
after the eight or ten hour fast of the Iii ghs,
the breakfast should be early The stomach is
usually vacated of its nutritve contents in
about four hours after eating, but it may be al
hour or two later before the blood begins to
call upon it for new supply. Persons engaged
in active labor IN which bodily expenditure Il
rapid, of course require to eat more often than
the indolent and sedentary, and children need
nourishment oftener than adults. But too long
abstinence especially if the digestive powe S
are not strong, sharpens the appetite SO that
here is danger of injury from over-eating-
Some avoid luncheon for fear of Spelling their
dinner" whereas the thing they most need is
TO have it spoiled Where the intervals between
the meals are SO long as to produce pressing
hunger, something should be taken between
them to stay the appetite and prevent over-eat-
ing. Late and hearty suppers are to be repro
bated. Active digestion and sleep mutually ill.,
tefere with each other, as at night the exhala-
tion of carbOnic gas is slowest, and tissue chan
ges most retarded, the overloaded blood is OF
relieved, and invades the repose of the brain,
producing heavy, dlsordered dreams and night
mare, followed by illhumor and headache in
the morning Still there is the opposite extreme
of sitting up too late and going to bed wearied
hungry, and with an understandable sense of sink
ing, followed BY restless, unretreshing sleep
A little light nourishment in these cases would
prevent these unpleasant effects. Custom has
fixed the daily number of meals at from three
to FIVE ; probably three is the smallest number
consistent with the well sustained vigor of the
system; four or five are unobject onable, the
amount of nutriment taken at each time being
less.
The essential thing is, regularity in each case
so that the digestive glands may have time to
10
our meals when tired out or too much fatigued.
The stomach participates with the other parts
OF the system in its exhaustion, and is therefore
untitled for the active and proper discharge Of
Its duty. If there has been severe exertion,
either of body or mind, a short interval should
be allowed for repose, or half an hour may be
devoted to some light occupation, such as dress
ing, before sitting down to dinner 1t is ques-
tonable if much exercise before breakfast be
generally proper. When We rise in the morning
the system has passed its longest interval with
out food, and is at its lowest diurnal point of
weakness from want ofnourishment. 1t is well
understood that the body is more susceptible to
the morbid influences of colds, miasmas and
other noxious agencies, in the morning before
eating, than at any other time, and those expo
sed to the air before getting anything to eat,are
Infinitely more likely to be exposed than those
who have been fortified by comfortable bteak-
fast. Cases may be quoted undoubtedly, In
which early exercise has produced no injurious
effects perhaps even the contrary. Yet in
instances, especially if the constitution is not
stroug, breakfast should follow shortly after ri
sing and dressing, before serious tasks are at
tempted. DR.. Coombe justly observes that in
"boarding schools for young and growing, who
require plenty of subsistence, and are often
obliged to rise early, an early breakfast is al
most an Indispensable to health"