Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-20
lOriginal.]
HUNGER.

body that it is fearfully and wonderfully
made. Perhaps every one has experienced
that peculiar sensation, called hunger. When
the causes of hunger are known, we cannot but
adore that wisdom which controls the least,
as we'll as the greatest things. Most persons,
perhaps, if asked why we get hungry, would
reply, because the stomach is empty. This
would be plausible answer, but not the true
one. Persons, when sick, do not feel hungry
as we'll persons do. In many instances it
must be evident that the stouachs of sick
persons are empty. Sometimes they lie for
days and take no food after having vomited
up everything they have eaten. Still they
are not hungry often the very sight of food
produces nausea We think it is plain that
although hunger is mostly felt when the
stomach becomes empty, still an empty stom-
ach is not the cause of hunger.
In the mucus membrane of the stomach,
there is contained peculiar fluid which is
called the gastric juice. This gastric juice is
essential to digestion. 1t was once thought
that hunger was caused by the action Of this
fluid on the coats of the stomach in the alb
sence of food. 1t has been ascertained from
actual observation, that ordinarily, this gas
trio Juice never secretes unless when food is
taken into the stomach, hence, when there is
no food in the stomach, there is no gastric
juice, and consequently hunger is not caused
by its action on the coats of the stomach.
The sensation of hunger has its origin in
the state of the whole body. Everything
in creation, great and small, animate and
inanimate, which stands in any way con-
nected with this world of ours, is not simply
subject to decay, but is actually decaying
The rocks are wearing away, and the bodies
of men and beasts are constantly wasting
To prevent the utter and speedy extermina-
tion of the animal kingdom, the Maker of the
bodies of men and beasts has assigned to cer-
tain members or parts of these bodies them
selves, the important work of building and
repairing These workmen are small, but
they are industrious. Each one has its
own work assigned it, and rarely does it neg
lect its work in order to perform that of an
other. The stomach is the store-house in
which is placed the material necessary for
building and repairing the body. Here, as
in a chemical laboratory, the food undergoes
changes, and is ultimately converted into
blood, and then thrown by the heart as by
force pump, through the arteries to all parts
of the body. Over the whole body there is
spread a network of vessels so fine that they
can not be seen by the naked eye. The capil-
laries, as they are called, receive the blood
from the arteries. The formative vessels re-
ceive it from the capillaries, and each goes to
work to build up its own part of the body,
and make any repairs that may be necessary.
With unerring certainty these little workmen
select the material necessary for their partlc.
ular work. Each separate formative vessel
does its own work with its own tools and with
the proper kind of material, and of the best
quality itcan obtain. Some of these little for
native vessels are making bones, others mus
cles, others are busily engaged in making
ewes and ears; some are making hair, and
others are making the nails that are found
on the ends of our fingers and toes; some
are giving the cheek its beauty and the
voice it sweetness. All are busy. None are
idle. But you are ready to ask, what has all
this to do with the sensation of hunger? Why
whenever these little formative vessels get out
of material they commence knocking at the
door of the store house. They are unwilling
to remain idle, and their cries for material
with which to build up and repair the body
are loud and importunate. These demands Of
the formative vessels Of the body for material
with which to build is what we call hunger.
The cause exists in every part of the body.
The sensation has its seat in the stomach SIM
ply because thestomach is the headquarters to
which all the workmen resort for material