The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-18
Food and Digestion.

The food should be adapted TO the dis
teusible character of the stomach and sli.
mentary canal. The former will be full
II IL contain only gill. and It may 10 20
distsndel as 10 contain quart. Tho same
Is true of the intestines. II the food Is
concentrated, or contains tho quantity OF
nutrimeut which tho system requires In
small bulk, the stomach and intestines will
need the stimulation OF distensiOn and
friction, which Is consequent upon tho In
PRODUCTION and transit OF tho innutritious
material into and through the alimentAry
canal. II the food Il deficient In innntri-
tious matter. the tendency Is TO produce
an inactive and diseased condition OF tho
digestive organs. For this reason nutri.
ent food should have blended with Il innu-
tritious material. Unboltcd wheat bread
Is more healthy than hot flour cakes; ripo
fruits and vegetables, than rich pies and
.iellics. The observance of this rule Is Of
moro Importance to students, persons Of
scdcnt,ry habits, and those individuals
whose digestive apparatus has been en-.
fsebled, than tn those Of active habits and
firm health. This principle has been and
may be illustrated upon the inferior AMI
mails. Feed = dog with puro sugar or
olive oil (articlcs that contain no innutri-
tious matter). for several weeks, and tho
evil effects OF concentrated nutrimont will
be manifested. At first the dog will take
tho food with avidity and seem to thrive
upon It; soon this desire for food will di.
minish, his body emaciate. his ego become
liberated, and In few weeks he will die
but mix bran or sawdust with the oil or
sugar, and tho health and vigor OF the
animal will be maintained for months.
A similar phenomenon will be manifested
II grain only be given tn horse without
hay. straw, or material Of like charac-
tor. -......
The foregoing facts may DO madc prac.
tically subservient. rs follows (:
If at any particular season of the year
there Is tendency To diarrhea, IN article
that contains small. proportion Of waste
should be selected for food; but II there Is
a tendency to an inactive or costive con-
dition of tho intestinal canal, such kinds
of food should be used rs contain the
greatest proportion Of waste, as such ar
ticles ARE most stimulating to the diges-
tive organs and consequently most laxa-
tive.
In tho seisctiou Of food tho influences
of climate and season should DO consider
cd. Food of highly stimulating charac-
ter may be used almost with impunity
during the cold weather Of cold cli-
mate; but In q warm season, and In .
warm climate 1t would be very doleteri-
Gus. Animal food being more stiniulat-
Ing than vegetable. can bo eaton In the
winter; but vegetable food should DO used
more freely in the spring and summer.
The influence of food on the system Is
modified by the age of the individual.
The organs of q child are more sensitive
aud excitable than those Of q person ad-
vanced In years. Therefore, n vegetable
diet would be most appropriate for child
while stimulating food might be condu-
Give to the health Of u person advanced
In life. /
Where the digestive organs are highly
imprcssible or diseased, It Is very impor-
tant to adopt nutritious, unstimulating.
vegetable diet rs soon rs the warm season
begins.
Habit Is another strong modifying inau.
ence. If person has been accustomed
tn an animal or Vegetable diet, and there
Is sudden change from one to the other,
q diseased condition Of tho system, partic-
ularly Of the digestive apparatus, usually
follows. When It Is necessary to change
our manner of living 1t should be done
gradually.-Literdry RepieU. ... .