The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-24

Good living is said to cause dyspepsia;
but the most healthy people I.have ever
known have been among those who lived
well-who ate freely several times day
of the most nutritious food By some it is
said that tobacco, snuff, tea, coffee, butter,
and even bread, cause this complaint; but
whoever will make inquiries on this sub
ject through the community, will find that
this is seldom true In fact dyspepsia pre-
walls, according to my experience, alto
gether the most among the temperate and
careful-amOpg those who arc temperate and
careful as regards what they eat and drink,
and the labor they put upon the stomach F;
but exceedingly careless how much labor
they put upon that delicate organ the brain.
Such people often eat nothing but by the
advice of the doctor, OF some treatise on
dyspepsia, or by weight; nor drink any
thing that is not certainly harmless; they
chew every mouthfnl until they are conf
dent, on mature reflection, that It cannot
hurt the stomach. Why, then, are they
dyspepticsl Because, with all their care
fulness, they pay no regard to the excita-
ton of the brain. They continue to write
two or three sermons or essays in week,
besides reading a volume or two, and mag
azines, reviews newspapers, ETC., and at
tending to much other business calculated
to excite the mind.
To me it is not strange that such persons
have nervous and stOmachie affections. The
constant excitement OF the brain sends an
excess Of blood to the head, and therefore
other organs are weakened and morbid
sensibility is produced, which renders the
stomach liable to arrangement from very
slight causes
81 tell you honestly what / think, says
DR.. Abernethy, is the cause of the CON-
plicated maladies Of the human race; it is
the gormandizing and stuffing, and stimula-
ting their organs (the digestive) to excess,
thereby producing nervous disorders and II
itatiOns. The state of their minds is
another grand cause; the idgeting and dis
coDtenting themselves about what cannot
be helped passions of all malignant
passions pressing upon the mind-disturb
the cerebIal action and do much harm.
This statement should be reversed,
think. It the fdgeting and discomfort
ing ourselves that makes the gOFmandizing
so dangerous. do not mean, however, TO
approve Of gormandizing; and know that
people in this country generally eat more
fhan IS necessary. Still do not believe
that good nOurishmcnt and abundance Of
it. causes many Of the diseases that flesh is
heir to. Nations that are best supplied with
food arc the most healthy, live the longest,
and have most vigor Of body and mind.
Children. especially, should be well nour-
ished. Good diet i an essential part Of
good education. The method OF rearing
children which some propose-and which
fear some adopt-of restricting them to
very ligll food that contains but little nour-
ishment, is very reprehensible. Every
farmer knows that such acourse would stint
and ruin his cattle, and it win as assurcdly
have such an effect on children. The way
70 make children thrive and do wen IS 10
give them plainly d good food. and keep
their minds free from anxiety aud chagrin.
DR. Brigham. IN Herald 81 Health.